{"id":32717,"date":"2021-03-18T17:35:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T17:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=32717"},"modified":"2021-04-14T11:02:15","modified_gmt":"2021-04-14T11:02:15","slug":"the-road-to-nowhere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/the-road-to-nowhere\/","title":{"rendered":"The Road to NOWHERE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Julian Barthel argues that, if you’re always pushing to get the next canopy, you’re not getting the most from your current model. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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You’re on a ROAD to NOWHERE <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Road to NOWHERE
Composite image \u2013 Pete Allum under his Valkyrie and Lesley Gale\/RV on a Texas road <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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There are few things that are as devastating as watching someone hurt themselves under canopy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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It is not the actual impact that is the worst part, even  though it is horrible to watch and I hope you never have to witness it. It is also  not the moment of getting to the crash site and seeing the person hurt. The  worst part is the seconds leading up to the accident, when that terrible cocktail  of helplessness, horror and nausea hits you square in the stomach as you  witness the incident unfold in slow-motion and you know exactly what is about  to happen\u2026 <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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I wouldn\u2019t wish this experience upon my worst enemies. So here I am to call  attention to the tragic flaw which we as a community pay the price for all so often with a blood sacrifice to the canopy gods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We pay the price all so often with a blood sacrifice to the canopy gods<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What I mean by that is the hurried, aimless and uninformed decision to advance to a smaller parachute without having put the work in to control our current  wing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You don’t learn to fly with this much control by rushing to a new canopy before you are a Total Master of your current wing \u2013 Photo: Pablo Hernandez of the PD Factory Team, landing on the Nyavn River, in Copenhagen, Swoop Freestyle FAI World Championships 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The downsizing decision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Motivations range from wanting to skip a size to fit the main in the new smaller  container, being bored with the current wing or simply wanting to go faster without learning the correct techniques, or even worse impress others. All of this  of course without the right guidance or preparation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we fly a canopy that is too advanced for our skill level and are in over our  head, we expose ourselves to acute stress, which has been shown to have a  detrimental effect on our attention1 <\/sup>as well as our cognitive performance2<\/sup> (thinking, reasoning and remembering). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, not only do we run out of altitude faster on smaller, more aggressive wings, but we also stack the odds against us even further by limiting our attention and  decision making if we are not equipped with the correct knowledge and  techniques. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effectively, we are becoming that Guy <\/em>everyone knows is just an accident  waiting to happen. We are stirring up the recipe for someone to feel that terrible sensation in the groove of their stomach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If our decision to downsize is fueled by the want to go faster, chances are we  aren\u2019t even close to getting the full performance envelope out of our parachute. ‘Progressing’ to a smaller wing without learning the correct technique is just going to make us another bad canopy pilot on too small a parachute. Eventually we will run into the limitations of bad technique and will have to invest in coaching to unlearn bad muscle memory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Progressing’ to a smaller wing without learning the correct technique is just  going to make us another bad canopy pilot on too small a parachute<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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It’s important to be completely confident if doing a jump over water, not under a wing you’re on the edge of control \u2013 Image by Renald Louchart, landing perfectly on Diani beach, Kenya<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Some NACs choose to take the downsizing decision out of your hands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, there has been enough concern regarding unsafe canopy piloting that some national federations like the French and the English have put new  regulations into effect which highly restrict downsizing by controlling permitted wing loading for jump experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me restate that so it sinks in: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enough people have shown bad decision  making with canopy choices that federations deem it necessary to regulate everyone\u2019s ability to choose what wing they can fly. <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

That is not a good place to  be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong, a smaller canopy or higher wing loading comes with  benefits such as better wind penetration and increased responsiveness. I love  flying small, highly loaded parachutes because it is challenging and lots of fun, so I understand the appeal. But like all things worthwhile, good canopy piloting skills take work and dedication.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like all things worthwhile, good canopy piloting skills take work and dedication  <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Maybe you’d like to take up competitive canopy piloting \u2013 Photo: Author Julian Barthel, smashing it at a CP Accuracy comp, by Emma Reynolds<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Improving your canopy piloting skills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Skydivers, including myself, throw vast amounts of money, time and energy at  learning to fly their body in the sky and in the tunnel, but in a lot of cases, when  it comes to learning to pilot and land our wing safely we have reservations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want it or not, piloting our parachute is a necessity on every jump and the ugly truth is that human error under perfectly functional wings is still the leading  cause for injury and fatalities to date in our sport. All you have to do is browse  the USPA Incident Reports<\/a>3<\/sup>, and it becomes blatantly obvious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that more people are seeing the value in canopy piloting education. What I enjoy the most about teaching canopy courses is to witness  how people fall in love with flying their wing and discover that there is a whole  other discipline to be enjoyed after the free fall is over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most obvious reason to learn at least the basics in canopy piloting is to  gain confidence and trust in your ability to fly and land your parachute safely in  any condition, making the airspace safer for yourself and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some people that is enough, and that is absolutely ok. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we need to move away from is the idea that we have to downsize for  downsizing\u2019s sake. <\/strong>There is an inherent attitude that because you are  experienced, you should jump a small canopy, and skydivers that do not fit in to that idea get a weird look as if there\u2019s something wrong. If you find a wing that you feel comfortable landing in all conditions and you are happy with its openings and performance envelope, stay on it. You would be surprised how  much time it takes to truly dominate a wing. I don\u2019t remember where I heard it,  but I agree with the statement that \u201cIt takes 500 jumps to get to know a canopy,  and another 500 jumps to master its performance envelope.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we need to move away from is the idea that we have to downsize for  downsizing\u2019s sake<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Maybe you just enjoy freefall and are not really interested in downsizing, ignore peer pressure to downsize for downsizing’s sake \u2013 Image: Augusto Bartelle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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And if you want more, there is so much more to discover:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n