Re: [andy2] 180 offheadings
Hi Andy,
my thinking on the subject is this...
180's with a little time use toggles to turn. You lose less altitude and can possibly make it to a better landing area.
180's with not much time use one rear riser (or two). You lose more altitude and could possibly stall it but your first priority is not hitting the object, then land in your alternate landing area/s.
Only you will be able to tell how much time and space you have to clear and turn away from an object when that time comes. A lot of factors come into play as you are turning and after you have turned so make sure all the scenarios are played out in your head. How much altiude can you eat up and still make a "good" landing area???Winds(thermals, rotors,etc), LZ's, ground obsticles(power lines, buildings, trees, rocks, etc.) Oh and there is a way to "pivot" a canopy in place more or less. It eats up at lot of altitude and is very difficult to do correctly and finish exactly 180. It consists of both rear risers, then both risers on one side (there is more to it than this). You have to let up at the correct moment or you could be continuing around to meet the object again except maybe a little harder than you would have before. It's hard to simulate in skydiving because of the opening speeds and pressurization charicteristics but give it a try. I'm assuming your meaning slider down jumps right, cause most slider up jumps you should be far enough away from the object not to hit it
I've not hit an object yet so my thoughts might be wrong with this but I would suggest NOT sticking any limbs out in front of you. You may think they can help to brace you for impact but I think they they will just break. I would try to turn my body so I hit with my side and make sure nothing is sticking out to "snap". Also, the canopy will keep flying towards the object over and over again unless you turn it so don't "give up" after the first strike. This is where I think Valved type canopies will really help by not slammimng you repeatedly into the object trying to inflate and pressurize.
Just a couple of quick thoughts before I go out and make a jump
Jason