Martini

My guess is that you just got yourself in a heap of trouble with your wife! Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I hope you find the specs you need, a rigger should be able to help with canopy sizing with no problem, There are no absolutes in sizing. You will receive no help from Parachute Systems aka. Chute Shop, once they make a sale they don't want to hear from you again. I can't understand why anyone buys their products, ALL the other manufacturers provide great products and service. I take every chance I get to steer people away from Shit Shop. The flip side of that coin is Infinity made by Velocity Sports, they provide the ultimate in customer service. Start by trying different mains to see what fits, most experienced jumpers can give you an idea of where to start just by eyeballing the rig. You'll need a rigger to work out the reserve. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I'm trying to understand what you're getting at here. A canopy stalled 20 feet up is almost certain to cause serious injury to any jumper. Think about jumping off a 20 foot high roof. It seems that the heavier jumper would sustain the most serious injuries since impact speed would be approximately equal regardless of weight but the force of impact would be greater for the heavier jumper. The force of impact doesn't really change that much for a heavily loaded canopy under your conditions because the vertical drop is the most significant factor and stalling the canopy (smoothly) would eliminate most of the horizontal speed anyway. The drag of the stalled canopy overhead isn't likely to change the outcome much either. Unusual question, did you have a reason for asking? Sometimes you eat the bear..............

You can pack, right? Think of the (free) education you'll get bagging all those different canopies. You probably need the exercise anyway. The DZ just ain't the same without ya Eugene. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Nice rig Kevin. Bring it out Saturday and get it wet. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I see some comparisons to a Stiletto in this thread and a jumper I know who just ordered one used exactly that comparison. Is there a reason not to buy a Stiletto instead of a Vision? I've owned two Stilettos and liked them both. I had my 135 relined at PD and it came back with a much longer recovery arc, I understand that newer Stilettos also have this improvement. The recovery arc issue only affects hook turners anyway which probably isn't all potential Vision owners. Not trying to be sarcastic here, but if you want a Stiletto-like canopy why buy a Vision? Sometimes you eat the bear..............

The way the weather is shaping up we might be looking at 30 second flocks from 5K. If we get altitude I hope Steve brings up an S-3 in my size, I'd like to try one out even though I'm a long way from maxing my GTI. BTW Cindy K. has 200 jumps now...........David probably knows that too. In any case I'll be there unless it pours. Thanks for setting this up. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Using a digital altimeter start your 540 front riser hookturn at exactly 1500 feet. If you plane out too high then drop down one canopy size. Repeat this process until everything is sweet. Using this method you should end up with several canopies, each being appropriate for a specific number of hook-degrees or more aptly hook/altitude-degrees (HADS). Carefully catalog each canopy so as not to become confused and never vary from the HADS formula designated for that canopy. I believe that a gentleman by the name of Byron Gremlin was the first to refine this technique. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I bought a pair of streamers for demos, haven't even seen 'em yet. They're in a waist pouch and look to be nylon about 20 feet long. They would definitely look very cool behind a wingsuit but I have never heard of this being done. Obviously there is a potential for entanglement. Anyone have any knowledge here? Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I have soft links on one rig, metal on the other. I've used both PD Slinks and Precision soft links, they have their differences but both are good. So are metal links using bumpers especially if you don't want to pull the stowed slider down. Actually I'm thinking of using Super Bandz as links with my Sabre to lessen the opening shock but I can't find them. I'd have to replace them after every jump any way and I can't afford the reserve repacks either so I probably won't go that route. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Sounds like you need a lineset. It will improve your openings and add length to your swoop. Stilettos rock. At least check your brakeline length, too short and openings get trashy and the recovery arc gets way shorter. So does swoop length. *** and love to fly it, except for a) the openings and b) the 'positive' recovery arc. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

*** I can have the silkscreen made if you supply the Wagner Power Painter. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Clearly the gene pool needs a little more chlorine. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Easy choice, Infinity hands down. I'm getting my second soon. A no-brainer if you're local (even if you're not). You'll find Kelly and Jeff are the best guys around both professionally and personally. The rigs are terrific. Their prices are great. They have about the fastest production times around. They absolutely stand behind their work. Did I mention that I prefer Infinity rigs? Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Pay attention to masterrig and riggerrob. Fold/roll the outer 4 cells along the center cell (never into the cell itself) and push the center cell in so it's not exposed, Pull the slider out in front after flaking. Way out like 5-6 inches and fold it open. The slider is the key to Sabre openings. If you still can't get acceptable openings then slider pockets or a larger slider will help a lot. The Sabre is an excellent canopy, get the openings tamed and you can do a lot with it. I use a Sabre for my wingsuit canopy with a larger slider and am very happy with my choice. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I finally got around to jumping the Sabre with the slider changed out, it makes the openings noticeably sweeter. Still pretty fast but without the shock that it used to have. Jumped it with a wingsuit, after a tracking dive ( a hot one I might add) and after a freefly still going pretty fast. Much better every time. I recommend this mod to all the Sabre-1 owners with hard openings assuming that you're already using proper packing. I don't cringe every time I throw now. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I have only a few wingsuit jumps, mainly on a Sabre-1-120 (1.6) that, packed carefully, is a good solid w.s. choice. I jumped my Xaos-21-98 (1.9) once. Even though it opened twisted it flew flat but I was glad I opened high. The other day my Sabre opened with serious bad-ass twists and uneven risers(lazy packjob, bad body position and the moon was in mars) and still managed to fly stable. The Xaos would have been a surefire chopper. I'll be sticking with the Sabre for my next whole buncha wingsuit jumps. It also only cost $400. The Sabre is more stable in funky openings,I can safely open way lower, less likely to end up cut away and about $1300 cheaper to replace if it goes in the river. No-brainer. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I have a Sabre 120 I got for wingsuit jumps. It, like many Sabres, opens pretty fast but acceptably when packed to open as slow as possible. I have another slider that is the exact same width but about two inches longer front to back. I plan on switching to see what happens. Has anybody tried this with good results? Sometimes you eat the bear..............

If your vertical speed is 40 mph then you still smack the water at 40 mph.....vertical. Not to mention that you have say 90 mph of horizontal speed to deal with. Gotta be one tough duck. The way to land on a horizontal surface is to flare, just like airplanes and ducks. Good luck flaring a wingsuit. On the other hand landing on a steep slope (think snow) helps eliminate vertical impact and at the same time reduces the need for great horizontal speed. I just want to watch though. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

A pullout can help prevent horseshoes but has it's own quirks (floating handle, fussy bridle routing) and isn't always appropriate (wingsuits). It is less popular than a throwout by far, not a single one at our DZ. A pullout can horseshoe anyway (no system is horseshoe-proof) so the bag retainer bands would still help. This system is clearly not without it's own issues such as line entanglement and less likelyhood of a bridle assisted deployment in case of an uncocked pc but it seems to have merit. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I ran across this at an accuracy meet recently. The container had attachment points (one or two, I can't remember) in the main pack tray at the bottom of the reserve container. The D-bag had corresponding rubber bands that hooked to those points. The concept being that the D-bag is held in the container if the pin comes out but the pc isn't deployed. Seems simple, doesn't add much to packing chores and is the only system I have ever heard of to retain the bag. I can't describe any details because the rig was packed. The container was Canadian made, I don't know the manufacturer. Seems like something that could be added to any rig, the attachment points being the only puzzle. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

What about those of us in the northwest who often get their canopies soaked (completely dripping wet) jumping in rainy weather and landing on soggy grass? I've never heard anyone complain that their canopy didn't work as well later. Wet canopies open just fine though. If I didn't jump in the wet I'd miss half my winter hop & pops. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

"It feels like (and is) flying... " I wish. Wingsuits are only gliders. If I could fly then I could gain altitude. I'll definately buy one of those suits whe they come out. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I have a couple of suggestions and no disrespect is intended here as I'm guessing you've thought of these but...... Number one I would get a slower opening canopy than the Sabre to lessen the impact of the increased opening shock on your body when wearing weights. I have a Sabre that I bought for wingsuit jumps (and previously owned another) and believe that they are designed to open quickly no matter how you pack them. Not to mention the occasional slammer that seems to plague some Sabre owners. Also another trick which I haven't personally yet tried but has some following is the half-football (like a nerf) worn under the jumpsuit to improve body aerodynamics.Anything to reduce the amount of weight you have on your body. Half the weight in the backpad and half on a vest would help too. I often wear 8-12 lbs to keep up with the heavyweights and dislike the discomfort (but like the extra canopy speed). Obviously you're already wearing a super-slick suit, maybe providing forearm sleeves to slow down the big people could help. Whatever it takes to prevent further injury. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Someone with more experience will have to go first and set up a BMI school for this jump. Then we'll talk. But man what a ride! Sometimes you eat the bear..............