peek 21 #1 July 17, 2002 Due to our continuing accidents during canopy swoops, I would like to propose a concept about them, and that is that every canopy swoop you do is basically a type of demo, or exhibition jump. That is, every landing where someone is watching, which is most landings. And with demo jumps comes more difficulty, emotion, ego, etc. (Refer to the USPA Skydivers Information Manual, the section about exhibition jumps.) We need to evaluate these landings as we do them to insure that we are not letting the "demo factors" of the landing cause us to do something that we would not normally do with a non-swoop landing. I recently found myself thinking (and hope I continue to remember to think) during my downwind leg, about "why I am doing this swoop?", and "what am I thinking that others are thinking of the landing?" I hope it helps. Maybe this attitude can help some of us keep from doing something wrong on our "demo". Please be careful. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #2 July 17, 2002 This is as true as it gets Gary. The number of demos that you would walk into with out scoping the area, looking at all possible outs, winds etc should all be taken into account when you are going to do a high proformance landing. Its not just enough to know how to swoop, but knowing when to swoop is also important. Not many people will do jumps into stadiums on a VX74, most grab the right tool and the right mind set for the job. I've got caught up in the "I have to impress some one with this landing" mindset and it cost me a rip on my canopy. I'm hoping to never find my self in that mind set again.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyhi 24 #3 July 18, 2002 I had someone tell me once to fly every flight like I had to explain my actions to a mishap analysis board. And if I was doing something I wouldn't feel comfortable telling them, maybe I shouldn't be doing it. Same principle, I think.Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #4 July 18, 2002 Who are you trying to impress? What sort of reaction are you trying to ellicit? Low hook turns will definitely get the spectators' attention, but that attention is more likely fear! Fear that that you will injure yourself or collide with another jumper on short final. Gradual carving turns ellicit less spectator response, but they will impress the judges - and big money sponsors - at blade-running competitions. Ask yourself: am I hook-turning because I am immature and need an audience ("look at me! look at me!"), or am I doing a mature carve because it will lead to big bucks? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyhi 24 #5 July 18, 2002 QuoteWho are you trying to impress? What sort of reaction are you trying to ellicit? I thought I was agreeing with the original post, but trying to put it in an anecdotal form, which I usually find easier to grasp, possibly due to undetected brain damage at an earlier age. If I implied an endorsement for snap hook turns, then I failed to adequately present my case and I apologize. As an aside, from my experience, you will impress as many whuffos with a zero forward airspeed landing as a high speed swoop.Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #6 July 18, 2002 QuoteWho are you trying to impress? Chics QuoteWhat sort of reaction are you trying to ellicit? Get them to show me the goods of course.... Just joking!!! Good thread....most people get themselves in trouble because they get so focused on the outcome that they forget the steps necessary to get there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
polarbear 1 #7 July 19, 2002 QuoteAs an aside, from my experience, you will impress as many whuffos with a zero forward airspeed landing as a high speed swoop. Yep. Most whuffos think the swoop artist did something wrong to get going the fast, while the slow canopy pilots making soft, on target landings impress them. It makes sense...most non-skydivers are afraid of it; they want to see it in its safest form. "Holy s*** that was f***in' cold!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thrillseek 0 #8 July 21, 2002 I think i know where you were going with this, Gary. Today, I did my first demo. (yes, i bought the beer) I jumped into my home town for family and friends/neighbors and they were just thrilled to see me come in and make a soft, easy landing. I think that scaring people on landings is rediculous, especially people that we jump with. I have a number of people that i jump with that like to swoop, however, only one or two really do radical hooks. Personally, I never have seen the attraction in scaring people when i skydive...usually, i try to be an ambasador of safety and show them that we aren't all a bunch of wackos...maybe that's just me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #9 July 23, 2002 Good point: non-jumpers are scared by fast landings. Way too many times, I have been walking my tandem students out to the plane when they see aggressive hook turners. Then I have to spend a couple of minutes calming them down by reassuring them that our parachute is three or four times the size of what they just saw and that I like to land tandems slowly. Remember that when you do demos, the crowd only remembers three things: 1, Did you survive? 2. Did you land in the correct stadium? 3. Did you stand up the landing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
