Learning to Skydive with base in mind

[Trent]

Hey all,my friend who does ground crew for me has decided he wants to learn to base jump.The only problem is he has not even done a skydive yet.I told him he needs to do at least a couple hundred skydives first and thats if they are done mostly all on seven cell f-111.Then he must do a first base jump coarse if he is ready.He is starting the PFF program in May and I am looking for an appropriate skydiving rig with a 7 cell f-111 main canopy.He is 210 lbs with gear.My question is what canopys might be suitable and should he stick to the between .7 to .8 wing loading.I intend to teach him accuracy and canopy skills after that.
thanks for any advice
Trent

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[imported_Tom Aiello]

If you can find a Raven, it would work fairly well. PD 7 cells would be a good choice, too. Both are cheap enough not to break the bank, and should be fairly available second hand.

You might want to get in touch with Clint at Skydive Moab and see what his BASE Canopy Training program looks like. It should give you some ideas as far as what to work on. I think he's using actual BASE canopies, though, so I doubt he'll have much help on the "which canopy" issue.

If your friend is going straight to BASE, why not start him skydiving on an actual BASE canopy, preferably the one he'll use for BASE? That way he won't have to buy two canopies.

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@mac.com

[imported_mknutson]

I would recommend _ONLY_ getting a Super Raven though.

I just a Super Raven III which is a 243' and I am about 180 Lbs. I would have gone bigger, but it was just too big for skydiving.
I BASE a 260' or a 280 for my weight.

I totally agree with you Tom, if you want to eventually BASE, just skydive a BASE canopy from day 1.

[imported_Mac]

there are plenty of people who say they wanna BASE early in their skydive days.........

BUT there are also many people who have wanted to BASE and not skydived and entered a world of dedication and extreme sacrifice to realise the dream................

these people are few and far between - but if you search you will find them - just look toward Rim-licker (although he wont want his name attached to such devient acts........ he knows who he is!!)

[Trent]

Ok, so if say for example he puts 200 slider up skydives on a brand new base canopy;how much base life will be left for this canopy?
thanks
Trent:)

[imported_mknutson]

I would say still plenty!
I would hope that a MFG would talk about this.

But, 200 skydives is just breaking a canopy in.

200 base jumps could be half the canopies life.

Much of this comes to the care of the canopy. I have sen canopies with 1000+ skydives be fine, but I have also seen canopies with 25 base jumps be trashed.

[Scott R]

I have also been looking for a canopy to use for skydiving that was as equivelant to a base canopy with out shelling out the dough for a base canopy.
I have been told by a few well known base jumpers that a canopy like a pegasus is closer to a base canopy than a skydiving reserve like a raven, Raven's have a slightly higher aspect ratio. The only thing is finding a pegasus with out a million jumps on it already; if you do let me know first :D
I'll probably end up getting a raven though!

[imported_Johnny Utah]

Scott,
Ravens are very similar to BASE canopys. I have several BASE jumps on a Raven...not bad. A Cruiselight XL would be a good choice too if you run accross one in good condition.

Have fun, dont die!
Johnny Utah

johnnyutah101@hotmail.com
http://johnnyutah.com

[RB]

Is there a safe way to train for slider down (line mod) canopy control on a skydive?

[imported_Tom Aiello]

It depends on what you mean by "safe".

If you are just looking to feel how the canopy will fly with the lines outside the rings, try triple risers.

If you really want to practice with the lines outside, send me an email. I worked out a way to do it a while back that isn't exactly "safe", but did work for some test jumps.

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@mac.com

[imported_Johnny Utah]

>Is there a safe way to train for slider down (line mod)
>canopy control on a skydive?

Assuming you understand the difference between the way the toggle inputs affect steering and flare with the steering lines going through the grommets and guild rings vs. not going through them. In short, since the steering line does not have to travel as far using the line mod, the same toggle stroke tends to result in a less responsive canopy reaction.

The danger is if you do not have your toggle settings dialed in for this, you may find yourself unable to turn the canopy (quick enough) in a situation where your safety is at risk. For example, your jumping a canopy for the first time slider down and need to turn to avoid obstacles or make your landing area, but the canopy wont turn much if any when you pull the toggle all the way down.

If you go to turn and find yourself in this situation, you can do what is called TAKING A WRAP. The more skilled you are at doing this in an urgent situation, the better chance you have at pulling it off. I have had to take one, two, or three wraps on BASE jumps.

Practicing TAKING A WRAP on skydives is a good way of developing the skill before you really need it on a BASE jump. SAFETY NOTE: Dont practice it with an altimeter on your hand and practice it up high. You should take a wrap with both hands simultaneously.

To take a wrap you keep the toggles in your hands and with a quick motion rotate your hands so each steering line makes a wrap around each hand. If necessary it can be repeated to shorten the steering lines more. If you needed to take a wrap to get the canopy to turn then you should keep the wrap all the way through landing to give yourself a full flare. Adjust your toggle settings before you jump the canopy again.

Another tip that can help you get deeper input on the steering lines while using the line mod is to do your toggle stroke keeping your hand(s) close to your body vs. keeping your hand(s) out away from your body. This can also be practiced on a skydive.


Have fun, dont die!
Johnny Utah

johnnyutah101@hotmail.com
http://johnnyutah.com