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Risers v. Toggles is a personal choice. I have been a riser guy in the past, but switched over to being a toggle guy in the last six months or so. I found that it is definatly possible to over amp on your risers (front OR rear) and effectively cancel out the desired response from your canopy. Risers can be touchy motherfuckers.

Whichever you decide (if you decide on only one) you should go with what you feel most comfortable with. Get the canopy under your control as soon as possible, HOWEVER you can without hitting the object.

I'd also like to state the obvious; that there are two sets of risers, a pair of toggles, a harness and two groups of lines on a ram-air BASE system, and inputs to any of them can affect your canopy's flight. Too many people seem to fly as if their toggles are all that stands between life and death. Learn to fly a parachute using the WHOLE SYSTEM! If you think that front risers are taboo in BASE (or skydiving, for that matter), I hear the local bowling alley is giving a twofer on lessons, just for you.

Don't confuse luck with skill.

I pulled this off and made a separate thread, since we were getting away from the original topic, but the discussion looks both interesting and valuable. ~ Tom Aiello

They are? Ooops....

Question Huck....

What would you personally use on a 180?

I tend to use toggles very quickly. The only time I was Directly facing the object, the wind blew me away so even though I risered it backwards and away, I could have done a slight left turn toward the landing zone and missed it.

I've read and talked to others who have stated, if you are saying "oh shit I'm facing the object"... Use toggles. If you are wimpering and Bracing for Impact with the object, use risers.

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Years later, I still use toggles.

 



In all honesty, my preference is to go with toggles, BUT...
It really totally depends on the object, the canopy, DBS v. SBS, etc. Typically I pack for the object I'm jumping and won't exit until I've rehearsed the worst case scenarios with my particular configuration. There are scenarios where I would use the rear risers to stall, and reach accross with one hand to the opposite front riser to stuff air into the canopy and get the canopy turning faster.

Some objects I would just practice jumping on a toggle and cranking it around. Take a day of skydiving your BASE canopy and practice different methods...you will learn a shitload and be really glad you did.

I hope that made a little sense.

It makes perfect sense. Thanks for the reply.

I have skydived only one of my canopies for that very reason. It's about time to do it again with the other one. Thanks again

use riers if altitude permits and toggles when it doesn't...you will sink a lot more with risers