Basejumper.com - archive

Was just reading an article about starting base and the author mentions that a vtec canopy is not the best choice for a beginner. What gives? I thought the vtec was the latest canopy design and is the best canopy to buy? thanks guys.

You want to jump in Australia. Talk to your mentor or someone experienced jumping in Australian conditions. If you don't have either, why are you even thinking about buying a BASE canopy?

buy a raven.

Dude, the guy asks a legit question and you jump down his throat. I think it's a fair enough inquiry and would hope that someone with some expertise might take the time to answer it. I for one would learn.....

 
I think the "want to start BASE?" -articles that are commonly available are still a very good read, but equipment wise they're a bit outdated (as far as I remember). I can't come up with a reason why you couldn't and shouldn't buy a vented canopy as your first canopy. I'd also get a 2-pin rig instead of velcro.

Of course you will be fine with no vents and velcro in most cases, but those vents were put on or canopies for a reason.

Kerkko
BASE 1184

What are you going to use it for winston?

without fact checking, I believe there is a feeling that the OP is not prepared to enter BASE, and is trying to BASE despite locals discouraging him.

in general, I prefer discouraging "bully" behavior as the target typically becomes defensive. little good then results.

BUT when the target insists on being unreasonable and not apparently listening to sound advice... harsher techniques might be appropriate to get their attention.

Read it again wwarped, I've highlighted some bits for you (Yes i am board)

Was just reading an article about starting base and the author mentions that a vtec canopy is not the best choice for a beginner. What gives? I thought the vtec was the latest canopy design and is the best canopy to buy? thanks guys

Fact finding... after reading some information compiled by someone somewhere, not really a lazy little toe rag is he?? trying to gain info b4 he starts looking for a mentor, or for a rig, or for a FJC. All Circumstantial obviously.. Maybe just trolling.

I actually could not give a shit about the guy.

Its actually quite amusing that "some" make the effot to tell him to go fuck himself, and how he should do it, and with what object, comming in here asking questions about something which you should be reading about first....

It would be as easy to say..... (revelation)

here you go little one!!!

http://snakeriverbase.com/MyFirstBASERig.pdf

now run along and play with the cars... and remember..... don't believe everything you read

My teeny little wife jumps a V-Tech Fox 195. It opens perfectly and lands her like a feather (except for one time, and not the canopys fault). I'm kinda jealous actually, and this canopy choice was recommended by folks everyone knows. Good choice.

"but those vents were put on or canopies for a reason."

Why were vents put on canopies in the first place?

please re-read my post, and other posts by the OP. it seems he is BYPASSING his local jumpers. it appears as if these jumpers found he was not prepared. I disagree with the OP ignoring the locals concerns for his safety.

>>>"but those vents were put on oUr canopies for a reason."

>>The canopies opened like shit in the first place?


Well I have no experience in designing BASE canopies, but I don't think all non-vented BASE tarps open like shit (eventhough some do, I've seen it..).

The bigger idea behind the vents/valves is probably the idea of having a flying tarp quicker, and having better chances of having an inflated (and therefore controllable) canopy in case one finds themself banging repeatedly against a cliff face, for example.

I think opening characteristics have little to do with vents/valves, more with overall airfoil design. But what do I know, I don't design them, I use them.

Kerkko
BASE 1184

edit to add: Could we do with a little less moderator talk here? Who the hell wants the moderator to speculate on every freaking thread whether someone is BYPASSING the locals or not? Let them deal with it. End of rant.

Vents can be very important and valuable
on low, solid objetcs... which are NOT the
type of objects that inexperienced jumpers
should be focusing on -- which is why I
think the author of the aritcle said to
just go with a non-vented canopy 1st.

As for the OP and the locals, I have
no idea who he is or where he lives

That's probably the worst self betrayal that you can do to yourself. "I don't need a vented canopy since I'm not going to do anything low and solid for a while". I did that when I started and within very short time after receiving my unvented canopy I found myself on top of a local B. So maybe the vents could have been beneficial there after all? The vents will not do anything bad or have any negative effects on your jumps anywhere but they might make tons of difference when you decide to go for that local B that you've had your eye on since you started BASE. And you will give it a go, sooner or later. Believe me. :) I personally do not see any reason to order any BASE canopy to any jumper at any experience level (exept the Trango which comes unvented anyway) without vents. Some experienced jumpers probably prefer to jump without vents for personal preference but I'd guess that even they admit that the vents are way to go nowadays.

Technology is a funny thing. When I started skydiving I had to do more than 20 jumps on rounds as squares were considered 'too hot' even though I also had 350 hours gliding experience.
What may seem cutting edge or extreme now will be 'normal' in the future.....

Thanks for the guys who have replied with helpful information. In response to the above reply here is my story so you can make up your own minds. For years i have seen base jumpers in action and have thought it would be a mad rush standing on the edge of a cliff and having the balls to jump off. I have 110 skydives up so far in 7 months of jumping. I am jumping as much as i can to get over the 200 jump mark. I recently brought a 265 7 cell canopy and have been jumping it, trying to practice accuracy landings, and get the feel of how it flies compared to my 9 cell. I have found a mentor who is willing to teach me when i have more jumps up. I told him that when i hit 200 jumps to do some jumping together and if he thinks i am ready then i am keen to start. If he doesnt think i am ready i will do another 100 jumps and we will se then. Last week i actually was offered to jump with a few guys and borrow their rig. I declined the offer as i dont think i am ready yet. By the was pidge you are a bit slow this time....

"them dealing with it" or something is spilling into these forums. (see posts #2 & #4 of this thread.) I'd like this thread to be a productive discussion, not endless bickering. happily, it seems to have ended up with solid comments.

when the bickering dies down, so will my input.

that sounds like you are making an effort to stay intact. the harsh reality of BASE rarely sinks in until you witness carnage and start questioning how lucky you've been.

take it slow, listen to solid advice, and stay safe.

apologies if I misunderstood anything.

The main reason stated in the article was that vents, being fairly new tech, might have some poorly understood side effects, and the consensus wasn't out yet on how good they are.

But that was seven years ago. They're not new tech anymore. They're tried, tested and proved.

No misunderstanding, you had it pretty spot on wwarped.

LOvE HappY End EnDingS, I dO

It would be very interesting to find out who this mentor is, if there actually is one.... There is not a lot of people teaching anyone over this way and there are some that shouldn't be.... Nature will run it's course I'm sure..

i thought you were going to mentor him in the camel paddock pidge.

I say kick it oldschool and throw a Pursuit 215 into a Wonderhog. Lemme shoot video.

Your right spiderbaby sir, this has gone on too long....... Some one rig him up, throw him off, run if you have too, tell the story only to a select few untill the smoke clears...

I also would be interested to know who is "teaching" you. There are some serious morons out there pretending they know how to teach base after a few jumps of the local S. I suspect you are being "taught" by one of them.

Im not going to mention a name for obvious reasons. This person has over 4000 skydives and nearly 600 base jumps under his belt. So i wouldnt consider this person to be a "moron".

I think you might find that your new mentor is fully sik oops i mean full of shit. If he has done half that amount of BASE jumps that is a lot of jumps from the local 60m S......

yeeaahh might be a few porky pies being told there....

wel all know there are not many mentors here in oz ,and some of us know that he is going about things in a very different way,that is why alot of people dont want a bar of the person in this topic,

but back to the topic where he is asking about vented rigs or unvented ,if you go back through the articles section some are outdated and times change so maybe he needs to read all articles before posting

RESEARCH

as it does have edits in some articles updating and some not ...

even some threads that were years old were bumped up this late lastyear to ask the original writers thoughts now ....there is one which tom wrote a few years back and was asked his view now..

my 2 cents..

(the writers views are simply his own)

so how many of you have done more than a handful of low (300ish) jumps on a modified raven. fucking be honest...............

Better yet a unit 111, it's got a multi!!!!!!!!!!!! never had an off heading with that bitch, not a one. just lands like a round with forward speed.

multi is stupid

You never jumped a Unit, did you?

I have, airplane and base. Long time ago in a galaxy far far away.