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Let me preface this by mentioning that I have little experience landing in any type of water conditions. One at bridge day and one into a stagnant canal.

A cliff I'd like to jump the only viable LZ is a massive section of flat shale with relatively shallow water flowing over it at (and this is very much an estimate) 7mph or so.

The landing would be into the wind, and against the flow of water. I expect the canopy will drop tail first into the water. I'm going back and forth with myself trying to decide whether or not it would quickly get out of control.

My default plan at this point would be to land, hang onto one toggle and just chop it, to keep the nose from filling up. It's occurred to me that maybe I'm just overthinking it, and I can just wrangle it up of the water before it becomes an issue.

Does anyone have some experience with type of thing?

4-6 inches or 4-6 feet of water? It's a pretty big difference.

So you have near 600 jumps in 2 years and own 4 rigs and your not confident to land in 6" of water with a cutaway?

Ok in far north Queensland Australia we try not to land in the middle of the water (it is 20m deep). we try land by the side of very slippery narly rocks and lay canopy over rock then you are anchored. If shit happens cut away. If you want to swim with canopy never let go of toggles, pull them both in as far as you can and swim.

Rocks and trees are your friends, work together

Or do it when river is frozen

http://vimeo.com/85942573

That piece of shale is dry when the water is low. I wouldn't do it with the water that is enough flow to take you for a ride.

While we may be talking about the same river, we are almost certainly not talking about the same exit. The typical piece of shale for the main exit is very exposed at the moment. And I checked the water data for the river and it's currently fairly low so I don't expect this LZ to ever be free of flowing water.


I'm sure I can do it with a cutaway. I guess I'm just looking for info on what to expect when a canopy drops in swift moving shallow warer. (Also it'll be 3 years sometime this week)

can you not land, yard on the brakes to drop the canopy and just grab the front of the cells before they fill up? Seems like you should be able to grab the canopy before it soaked away. if not, cut it away and hold a riser set and release the other. You could always hook up a climbers runner to a tree or something heavy with a caribener hooked to it and when you land, cut it away, and then hook one of the three rings to the caribener while you figure out the canopy. That way it for sure doesn't go anywhere.

Your 1st problem will be tge PC drag when inflated with water. KIll the PC 1st (water is around 200 times the same mass of air) and your canopy will follow. Assuming if one can swim, This is the water landing training I give;
get rid of the rig and canopy by doing the foldback chest strap quick release. swim to the PC (do not underestimate the drag of a PC inflated with water!!!!!!!!!) Grab the apex of PC Grab 1 steering line above the slider if you left it on and drag the canopy by that corner without letting go of the PC apex and swim accordingly.
1. Get away from the gear. swimm around and
2. arrest the PC. and
3. grab 1 steering line and use that as tow point.
To bring the canopy out of the water, put the trailing edge in one hand and drag it out tail first. It is not possible to do it any other way quickly without damaging your canopy or having super human strength. beleive me. fast moving water needs a plan.
take care.
space

What. The Fuck. WAS THAT?

Should have taken a 3-way off.

It was an analog zoom of opening.

I suggest the catch and release program... its just a fuckin canopy

https://vimeo.com/m/58211243

6:17

That's a good video. Did he ever find his canopy? My guess would be no.

"I lost my canopy!" haha that was funny till i thought about how sad id be.

He did not.