What is canopy coaching?

[davelepka 4]

After reading another thread on this topic, I'm seeing some different definitions of canopy coaching, and it's intended uses/benefits.

One of the reasons for this is that canopy piloting encompasses a wide range of knowledge and skills. Many folks seem hung up on the concept of 'high performance' coaching, and wondering how it would be beneficial for those not interested in swooping.

I think the distinction that needs to be made here is that canopy coaching takes on many different forms.

For example, during AFF training, how much detail is tought regardng weather? How about the aerodynamics and bacis principals of canopy flight? How much time is dedicated to understanding the cross and downwind landing? The off field landing?

Tha answer to all is not much. In itself, this isn;t so bad, as the training is adequate for an AFF student. The equipment they will be jumping, the conditions they will be jumping in, and the superivsion they will have all add up to allow the student to focus on other facotrs (such as freefall, pulling, and EP's) which are pretty consuming from an attention-span viewpoint.

What happens beyond AFF however? Once the supervision is gone? This is where the student is need of some more detailed information, and this is where canopy coaching comes into play.

Fast forward 100 or 200 jumps. The same jumper has been through some basic canopy coaching, and doen well up to this point, and is ready to downsize. What experiecne does the student have to prepare themsleves for the increased capabilities of the new canopy (combined with the reduction in worked time from a faster canopy)? Does the jumper know about using brakes to position themselves in the pattern? How about having a thought process that will keep thier minds one step ahead of their canopy?

Here again, the jumper is due for some coaching. They are still on the steep part if the learning curve (which for canopies stays pretty steep up to and beyond 1000 jumps) and are making a change to their situation (new canopy) and need to make a similar change to their knowledge base.

Indeed they MAY HAVE picked up a few things the last 100 or 200 jumps, but thats a maybe, and they definatley have a new canopy. Pure luck (or lack of it) may have had them only jumping on great weather days, with great spots, and the demands of canopy flight never went much beyond their student days.

You can keep fast forwarding, and for every milestone you can reach with a canopy, there is an hour of classroom time of things you really should know, and just hoping that you pick them up along the way seems like a shitty way to go.

The scope of canopies and their performce today was a pipe dream 10 years ago. With the top end of canopy performance going ever higher, a side effect is that jumpers are progressing ever faster, still married to the old concept that 500 or 700 jumps should have ready to jump anything on the market.

Along with the increase in performance is an increase in information and skills. The sheer volume of information makes it impossible to teach all at once, and even if you could, it would prove counter-productive. A 100 jump wonder doesn't need to cloud his head with harness turns when he should be concentrating on the basics.

This is why canopy coaching is for everyone. This is also why canopy coaching is different for everyeone.

[damion75 0]

In the UK the distinction has been made slightly between the two 'main' sections of canopy coaching by calling them

Canopy Handling Coaching (CH) for the basic knowledge of how to fly, patterns, basic first hundred jump type stuff and...

Canopy Piloting Coaching (CP) for teaching the slightly more advanced parachutist what they can do with their canopy beyond flying the student pattern to the ground and moving towards high(er) performance landings.

This distinction helps me to understand where to go next... Mike - I think I'll be coming to talk to you!

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