Need Advice for Tri 135 Snappy Openings / Replacement Chute

[ed5k 0]

Hi folks,

I have an original Triathlon 135 which was re-lined 150 jumps ago. It's always opened hard, me being 42 now, I just can't take the consistently quick openings anymore.

Here is some more info and things I've tried:
- The pilot chute is older but still in good shape.
- I have a collapsible slider (but always remember to un-collapse it.)
- The chute has 400 of my jumps on it and probably only 100 before me. So it should not be (and does not look) worn out.
- Rig I use is a Vector III.
- I've tried rolling the heck out of the nose.
- I've tried rolling each half of the nose and stuffing it into each side of the center cell.
- I've tried rubber banding the slider to the D lines to delay it.
- I've tried rubber bands instead of tube stows.
- I've tried wrapping the rubber bands twice.
- I always come out of my track and slow down before deploying. (Not doing that spells "done for the weekend" for me...)

I can't seem to find the right set of things to slow the opening down. Do you have any suggestions for me? I'm even willing to take suggestions on a different canopy! :)

Thanks everyone,
Ed

[RiggerLee 61]

Some of the old tri's were prone to hard openings. I'd look around for a slightly larger slider or a domed slider. You can get an after market for not too much money.

Lee

Lee
lee@velocitysportswear.com
www.velocitysportswear.com

[lyosha 50]

If you're worried about the openings, you may want to consider a different canopy. I may be a beginner skydiver, but I've been warned to stay far, far away from triathlons by multiple people, some of whom have gotten seriously injured by those openings.

Safire2s and Pilots are supposed to have good openings. I've heard good things about the Spectre too. Demo them and see if you like one of them.

[faulknerwn 38]

I have a bunch of Tris which open actually quite soft. I find my Tris open best if I do nothing to the nose but pull the slider all the way out in front. I use them for camera jumps on a regular basis and they open nice. I find if I bury the nose that I get a "snivel snivel pop" while if I don't I get a nice smooth snivel.

You can get a local rigger to sew a lip on the slider. That will almost certainly fix the problem.

You might also check the size of your pilot chute - a large pc on a smaller canopy can cause it to open quickly.

[flaperon 0]

I always thought that Triathlons were known for soft openings. I've owned my 135 since 1996 and it gets a little snappy when I don't bother to roll the nose but otherwise nice and soft. Perhaps the re-line job was not up to spec...?

[Skydivesg 7]

If I had a canopy that did that to me, I wound not be asking advice other than how much I should ask for it when I sell it.

This sport is risky enough - just get rid of it. I know the Pulse gives good openings.


Be the canopy pilot you want that other guy to be.

.

Be the canopy pilot you want that other guy to be.

[ufk22 33]

Don't know if this will work on your canopy, but I had an Interceptor when I was starting. The only way to get acceptable openings was to roll the nose to the B lines.
Get rid of this canopy

This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

[Rickendiver 6]

flaperon

I always thought that Triathlons were known for soft openings. I've owned my 135 since 1996 and it gets a little snappy when I don't bother to roll the nose but otherwise nice and soft. Perhaps the re-line job was not up to spec...?

I have a Pilot 168ZPX that gave me a series of violent, asymmetric openings at about 140 jumps. I tried a bunch of different packing techniques (none worked). I finally had the Spectra line set measured and was found to be out of spec - some lines were too short and some were too long. Had it relined with Dacron, and it now opens very soft

[SansSuit 1]

You might try the Precision Pack, also known as the Psycho Pack. http://www.precision.aero/omega_pack.htm

Peace,
-Dawson.
http://www.SansSuit.com
The Society for the Advancement of Naked Skydiving

[councilman24 37]

None of the things you've tried have much chance slowing it down. Its opening the way its supposed to and the way I want my canopies to open.

Changing slider is you best bet. masterrigger on here is one person that can help if you local rigger can't. A bigger slider, a slider pocket, or a dome slider may help. If you want soft openings the.surest bet is a different model canopy.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[irishrigger 32]

if it has always opend hard, it s just the way the canopy is. i would have questioned that a long time ag. i dont a few jumps on a triathlon and they have always opend soft for my big butt!
couple suggestions, get you rigger to check the line trim again and also have them check your Cross-ports or Vents inside the canopy. i have seen a couple canopys that had quiet a lot of damage there, that could also speed up your openings.

but i agree with the others a bigger slider or a modified one should help you.

my 2 cents

[yeyo 1]

I had about 900 jumps on a Tri 150 before I moved to a Tri 135.
I was getting "hard" openings on the 135, so I put the 150 slider on it. Problem solved.

HISPA #93
DS #419.5