BrianSGermain

That's a classic example of what happens when your lines are out of trim. Get a rigger to do a quick check on your line trim this weekend (he/she can do it by laying the canopy out like a flat pack, to check the lines against each other since the groups won't uniformally go out of trim). This is but one example of what can happen when lines go out of trim. The result is mostly based on the specific parachute design. Some canopies will open better as the brakes setting gets deeper, while others will get harder. Some will open more off-heading, others will be more on-heading. Generalizing concepts in parachute design is the best way to be proven wrong. The best thing to do is to establish what the brake setting is when a canopy is new, and then watch it evolve. When the brakes get shorter than the "A" lines, it's time to do something about it. Just compare the shortest brake line to the center cell lines when the brakes are stowed. For more on this and other maintanence issues, please read: The Parachute and its Pilot + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I would be very careful with your definition of the start point of a "swoop". Measuring from a vertical distance lower than five feet from the ground increases the chances of someone getting hurt. This is because pilots often experience target fixation, and neglect to consider the big picture. They line up to tight to the entry gate and dive their canopy too steeply for too long, in order to fix a bad approach. This can result in an impact at or near the entry gate. I recommend measuring from two gates. The first is the compulsory entry gate, which is 16 feet tall. Missing this gate results in a zero for the round. The second gate is only 6 or 8 feet tall, and gives the competitor an extra point score. This method has proven to increase the safety margin, especially when dealing with a field of mixed experience level pilots. For more thoughts like this, please read The Parachute and its Pilot. + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

The risk is that your canopy could collapse. The chordwise oscillations can increase in amplitude such that the A-B cascade point can drift aft enough to make the nose of the canopy dive at you, and fly at a negative angle of attack, and possibly depressurize the canopy. This will cause an immediate increase in the rate of decent, and will take control out of your hands. If the ground is nearby, you are toast. (Speaking from experience) It will take you about five minutes to make the change. Please do it now. In the time that it took to debate this issue, you could have irradicated the problem. + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I think both the Samurai and the Katana are great parachutes. They fly differently, as they are targeted at different kinds of pilots. The long lines on the Katana make it dive for a very long time, which is advantageous for highly experienced, aggressive pilots. The Samurai, with its more traditional line length, tends to recover from a dive sooner, making it an easier canopy to learn to swoop on. Mistakes can be taken back quicker when the jumper is closer to the canopy. Shorter lines allow the jumper to get back under the wing quicker, and thus recover from a dive in a shorter period of time. For more evolved discussion of the correlation between line length and recovery arc, please read The Parachute and its Pilot. + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Instructors Course... [snip] Advertising. Brian - please use the Calendar to announce your seminars and this space to discuss substantila content. ~ sangiro Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Brian Germain’s Canopy Seminar Schedule 2004 Updated: Sept 22, 2004 May 14-17 Skydive Stockholm in Gryttjom Contact: Ola Jameson Email: riks@sff.se May 21-23 Jyväskylä, 300 km north of Helsinki, Finland Contact: Jouni Email: jopocam@welho.com May 29-31 Copenhagen, Denmark Roskilde Airport Contact: Thomas '112' Nielsen 112@faldskaermsklubben.dk Jun 5,6 Skydive New England, Lebanon, Maine Advanced Flight Canopy Course Website: www.skydivenewengland.com 1 (800) UGO-JUMP Jun 26-27 Skydive Tecumseh, Michigan Canopy Course Contact: Sporto (248) 790-0494 email: skysporto655@yahoo.com July 2-July 4 Skydive Burnaby, Ontario Contact: Mike Pitt Www.skydiveburnaby.com e-mail pneumatic.sports@sympatico.ca 1(800) 693-JUMP (5867) (905) 899-1528 July 6,7th Frontier Skydivers, Niagara Falls Area, NY Canopy Flight Course Contact: Amber (716) 751-6170 July 9, 10, 11 Skydive New England, Lebanon, Maine Canopy Camp and Big Air Swoop Competition www.skydivenewengland.com 1 (800) UGO-JUMP July 17-18 Paradise Skydives, Vinton, Iowa Contact: Keith Paulsen (563) 349-1657 Email: freefall@gmtel.net website: Paradise-Skydives.com Hercules Boogie Lidkoping, Sweden Seminar/Organizing July 24- 31 www.herculesboogie.com August 6-15 Seminar/Coaching World Freefall Convention, Rantoul Illinois Website: www.freefall.com Sleep Alot August 27-29 Canopy Camp Orange Virginia Contact: Mike Nischalke (703) 380-3595 flynylon@msn.com Sept 10-12 Copenhagen, Denmark Aversi Contact: Thomas '112' Nielsen 112@faldskaermsklubben.dk Sept 17-19 Skydive Stockholm Gryttjom Contact: Ola Jameson Email: riks@sff.se September 25-26 Adventure Center Skydiving Hollister, California www.1800funjump.com 1 (800) FUN JUMP (831) 636-3483 (831) 636-0117 Oct 8,9 10 Skydive Sussex, NJ (973) 702-7000 Contact: Greg Rau www.skydivesussex.com October 23-24. Skydive San Marcos, www.skydivesanmarcos.com/events.htm events@skydivesanmarcos.com. 512-488-2214 Contact: Mark DeVerter + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

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I agree. That's why I use a syllabus when I do the full course. The hard part about doing the short "boogie taloks" is that I have to rush a bit to get the important things in there. I will make an abreviated syllabus for the short course. Thanks! + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

You may want to check out my book on the topic: "Vertical Journey", on vertical skydiving. I put a bunch of heart into it. I think you'll dig it! + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

First: Practice the physical behavior that saves your life, over and over again so that it enters your "working memory". Second: Stay as calm as you can. Panic will break off your accss to your neo-cortical functionality that will save your life. Stay calm and you will know what to do. These are the only actions that can increase the chances of makeing the correct decisions. For more on performance in high stress situations, read: The Parachute and its Pilot. I think you'll love it. + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Why don't you give me a call: (845) 876-3008 I may be able to help. + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I think you will be happy to hear that the 3rd Edition has been edited. I haven't had complaints about it. As for the issue of line-tension, it is at the heart of parachute control and stability. Line tension is the energetic connection between you and your wing. If you want your motion to be closely correlated with that of the wing, better stay connected to it! Bri + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Wondering if folks that attended the two-part Convention seminar would share their feedback in this thread. I need this kind of feedback to help improve the class. Is there material from the book that you would prefer I spend more time on? Thanks, everyone for your input! + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Brian Germain’s Canopy Seminar Schedule 2004 Updated: July 13st, 2004 May 14-17 Skydive Stockholm in Gryttjom Contact: Ola Jameson Email: riks@sff.se May 21-23 Jyväskylä, 300 km north of Helsinki, Finland Contact: Jouni Email: jopocam@welho.com May 29-31 Copenhagen, Denmark Roskilde Airport Contact: Thomas '112' Nielsen 112@faldskaermsklubben.dk Jun 5,6 Skydive New England, Lebanon, Maine Advanced Flight Canopy Course Website: www.skydivenewengland.com 1 (800) UGO-JUMP Jun 26-27 Skydive Tecumseh, Michigan Canopy Course Contact: Sporto (248) 790-0494 email: skysporto655@yahoo.com July 2-July 4 Skydive Burnaby, Ontario Contact: Mike Pitt Www.skydiveburnaby.com e-mail pneumatic.sports@sympatico.ca 1(800) 693-JUMP (5867) (905) 899-1528 July 6,7th Frontier Skydivers, Niagara Falls Area, NY Canopy Flight Course Contact: Amber (716) 751-6170 July 9, 10, 11 Skydive New England, Lebanon, Maine Canopy Camp and Big Air Swoop Competition www.skydivenewengland.com 1 (800) UGO-JUMP July 17-18 Paradise Skydives, Vinton, Iowa Contact: Keith Paulsen (563) 349-1657 Email: freefall@gmtel.net website: Paradise-Skydives.com Hercules Boogie Lidkoping, Sweden Seminar/Organizing July 24- 31 www.herculesboogie.com August 6-15 Seminar/Coaching World Freefall Convention, Rantoul Illinois Website: www.freefall.com Sleep Alot August 27-29 Canopy Camp Orange Virginia Contact: Mike Nischalke (703) 380-3595 flynylon@msn.com Sept 10-12 Copenhagen, Denmark Aversi Contact: Thomas '112' Nielsen 112@faldskaermsklubben.dk Sept 17-19 Skydive Stockholm Gryttjom Contact: Ola Jameson Email: riks@sff.se September 25-26 Adventure Center Skydiving Hollister, California www.1800funjump.com 1 (800) FUN JUMP (831) 636-3483 (831) 636-0117 October 2-3 Skydive San Marcos? Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Brian Germain’s Canopy Seminar Schedule 2004 Updated: July 1st, 2004 May 14-17 Skydive Stockholm in Gryttjom Contact: Ola Jameson Email: riks@sff.se May 21-23 Jyväskylä, 300 km north of Helsinki, Finland Contact: Jouni Email: jopocam@welho.com May 29-31 Copenhagen, Denmark Roskilde Airport Contact: Thomas '112' Nielsen 112@faldskaermsklubben.dk Jun 5,6 Skydive New England, Lebanon, Maine Advanced Flight Canopy Course Website: www.skydivenewengland.com 1 (800) UGO-JUMP Jun 26-27 Skydive Tecumseh, Michigan Canopy Course Contact: Sporto (248) 790-0494 email: skysporto655@yahoo.com July 2-July 4 Skydive Burnaby, Ontario Contact: Mike Pitt Www.skydiveburnaby.com e-mail pneumatic.sports@sympatico.ca 1(800) 693-JUMP (5867) (905) 899-1528 July 6,7th Frontier Skydivers, Niagara Falls Area, NY Canopy Flight Course Contact: Amber (716) 751-6170 July 9, 10, 11 Skydive New England, Lebanon, Maine Canopy Camp and Big Air Swoop Competition www.skydivenewengland.com 1 (800) UGO-JUMP July 17-18 Paradise Skydives, Vinton, Iowa Contact: Keith Paulsen (563) 349-1657 Email: freefall@gmtel.net website: Paradise-Skydives.com Hercules Boogie Lidkoping, Sweden Seminar/Organizing July 24- 31 www.herculesboogie.com August 6-15 Seminar/Coaching World Freefall Convention, Rantoul Illinois Website: www.freefall.com Sleep Alot August 27-29 Canopy Camp Orange Virginia Contact: Mike Nischalke (703) 380-3595 flynylon@msn.com May 29-31 Copenhagen, Denmark Aversi Contact: Thomas '112' Nielsen 112@faldskaermsklubben.dk Sept 17-19 Skydive Stockholm Gryttjom Contact: Ola Jameson Email: riks@sff.se September 25-26 Adventure Center Skydiving Hollister, California www.1800funjump.com 1 (800) FUN JUMP (831) 636-3483 (831) 636-0117 October 2-3 Skydive San Marcos? Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

How long would it take to get to Oz? We are shipping airmail to all points outside the USA, so it should be only about a week. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Here's the newest shedule updates, complete with a California stop!! Brian Germain’s Canopy Seminar Schedule 2004 Updated: June 29th, 2004 May 14-17 Skydive Stockholm in Gryttjom Contact: Ola Jameson Email: riks@sff.se May 21-23 Jyväskylä, 300 km north of Helsinki, Finland Contact: Jouni Email: jopocam@welho.com May 29-31 Copenhagen, Denmark Roskilde Airport Contact: Thomas '112' Nielsen 112@faldskaermsklubben.dk Jun 5,6 Skydive New England, Lebanon, Maine Advanced Flight Canopy Course Website: www.skydivenewengland.com 1 (800) UGO-JUMP Jun 26-27 Skydive Tecumseh, Michigan Canopy Course Contact: Sporto (248) 790-0494 email: skysporto655@yahoo.com July 2-July 4 Skydive Burnaby, Ontario Contact: Mike Pitt Www.skydiveburnaby.com e-mail pneumatic.sports@sympatico.ca 1(800) 693-JUMP (5867) (905) 899-1528 July 6,7th Frontier Skydivers, Niagara Falls Area, NY Canopy Flight Course Contact: Amber (716) 751-6170 July 9, 10, 11 Skydive New England, Lebanon, Maine Canopy Camp and Big Air Swoop Competition www.skydivenewengland.com 1 (800) UGO-JUMP July 17-18 Paradise Skydives, Vinton, Iowa Contact: Keith Paulsen (563) 349-1657 Email: freefall@gmtel.net website: Paradise-Skydives.com Hercules Boogie Lidkoping, Sweden Seminar/Organizing July 24- 31 www.herculesboogie.com August 6-15 Seminar/Coaching World Freefall Convention, Rantoul Illinois Website: www.freefall.com Sleep for 2 weeks September 3-5 Canopy Camp Orange Virginia Contact: Mike Nischalke (703) 380-3595 flyinpoint@hotmail.com May 29-31 Copenhagen, Denmark Aversi Contact: Thomas '112' Nielsen 112@faldskaermsklubben.dk Sept 17-19 Skydive Stockholm Gryttjom Contact: Ola Jameson Email: riks@sff.se September 25-26 Adventure Center Skydiving Hollister, California www.1800funjump.com 1 (800) FUN JUMP (831) 636-3483 (831) 636-0117 Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Pip and I have had numerous conversations about his approach technique. He understands that his method is a cautionary tale, and that he would go further if he turned higher. He simply loves the adrenalin rush. That is his choice. I have huge repect for Pip's ability to remain calm depite the ground rushing up at him on landing. If you stay cool, you can get away with almost anything. The altitude of initiation remains a secondary parameter to the angle of entry in the completion phase. . Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Brian Germain’s Canopy Seminar Schedule 2004 Updated: June 29th, 2004 Dates are still available!! July 2-July 4 Skydive Burnaby, Ontario Contact: Mike Pitt Www.skydiveburnaby.com e-mail pneumatic.sports@sympatico.ca 1(800) 693-JUMP (5867) (905) 899-1528 July 6,7th Frontier Skydivers, Niagara Falls Area, NY Canopy Flight Course Contact: Amber (716) 751-6170 July 9, 10, 11 Skydive New England, Lebanon, Maine Canopy Camp and Big Air Swoop Competition www.skydivenewengland.com 1 (800) UGO-JUMP July 17-18 Paradise Skydives, Vinton, Iowa Contact: Keith Paulsen (563) 349-1657 Email: freefall@gmtel.net website: Paradise-Skydives.com Hercules Boogie Lidkoping, Sweden Seminar/Organizing July 24- 31 www.herculesboogie.com August 6-15 Seminar/Coaching World Freefall Convention, Rantoul Illinois Website: www.freefall.com Sleep for 2 weeks September 3-5 Canopy Camp Orange Virginia Contact: Mike Nischalke (703) 380-3595 flyinpoint@hotmail.com May 29-31 Copenhagen, Denmark Aversi Contact: Thomas '112' Nielsen 112@faldskaermsklubben.dk Sept 17-19 Skydive Stockholm Gryttjom Contact: Ola Jameson Email: riks@sff.se Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I will be offering more than one seminar at the Convention this year. The first will be a general class on canopy flight safety. It will be held in the evening in Grissom Hall, outside the main gate and to the left. The second course will be smaller and much more In-Depth. This will be an all day affair, and will cost $100. I will be limiting class size so that we can get into some serious detail. A third evening talk is on the table as well. This one is on the Psychology of Skydiving. Hopefully there will be room in the schedule... I will have copies of the books as well. Dates are not in stone yet, but the big class will be toward the beginning of the week, and the Day course will be on Wednesday (most likely). Look forward to seeing you there!

The 3rd Edition is now shipping. Thanks for your patience everyone. I got 1050 of them, so they should last a while. (perhaps not!) Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I hate to break up your bitch session here, but we have the ability to effect the outcome here. This is not an unchangible situation. If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Let's get out there and change things! Teach Teach!! Teach!!! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I think we are on the same page here. As long as mentors keep teaching, and students are willing to learn, we will get where we want to go with this. I just got back from another great canopy flight course in Tecumseh, Michigan. Once again I am impressed with the committment of many jumpers to further their education. Bravo, Tecumseh! I believe that if those that are excited about learning spread their enthusiasm and inspiration, the sport will continue to evolve in a the right direction. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

As with most designers, I make my canopies do what I believe they should do. Therefore I will usually prefer mine to those made by someone else. I believe that airlocks are a good idea, and improve the safety margin in bad air. I will therefore steer my friends in that direction so that they are less likely to spend time in a wheelchair (like I had to). No Air: No Wing. ;) Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Ok, here's where it gets weird. The measurements that are currently used are actual area in the computer. The inflated area will be significantly smaller, as the span is noticibly compressed due to the non-linear nature of the skins. The chord is not changed all that much. If anything it gets somewhat larger in that parameter. In essence, both the surface area and the aspect ratio are lower in flight than in the computer. This means that a 105 is more like a 90 in flight, or perhaps even smaller. Cross-braced canopies have less distortion, and so are larger in flight for the same amount of fabric area. This is partly why they are able to support higher wingloadings than traditional bicells. Apples to apples is not all that easy... As long as the customers base their judgements on performance and not a number, they will end up with the right canopy. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com