Slope soaring.

[edid 0]

Anyone know the optimal slope (in degrees) for slope soaring. Assuming, say, the glide path of a 135 Cobalt at 1.4 wing loading (just so happens to be my canopy). And where can I pick up tips, advice and training for the newcomer to slope soaring.
Finally, you'd probably need a good uphill breeze but, is it possible to get a high performance canopy airborne by running it down? Or is that just crazy talk?

[spectre230 0]

[cobaltdan 0]

have fun...(dont trip)...
i have done it a bunch of times. at a ski slope where we take newbies to try paragliding for the first time.
i tried it with our 65 cobalt befor we did plane jumps....(didn't work very well, needs a strong head wind and i cant run that fast) but on a 120 loaded 1.7 i can make it down the entire ski slope (about 1 + mile)

sincerely,
dan
atair

[froggie 0]

oh! this is too funny. i read an article in a very old parachutist today about slope soaring. ill try to locate it at the dz and get it onto the computer for you. im on ambulance duty tomorrow night so i have 12 hours of nothing to do (hopefully). will be sending it via email when i get it all done. dont rely to heavily on it though, it is old.
kel

[cobaltdan 0]

btw. on skydiving canopies i would not exactly call it slope "soaring",
more like down hill gliding....slope sinking.....?
dan
atair

[cobaltdan 0]

btw. on skydiving canopies i would not exactly call it slope "soaring",
more like down hill gliding....slope sinking.....?
dan
atair

[riggerrob 643]

If you are going to try slope soaring, start with a big canopy that is easy to launch say 260 - 280 square feet.
Secondly, pay a certified para-gliding instructor for a half-day of his/her time. That half-day's worth of instruction will prevent dozens of bruises and the occaisional fracture.