This was great. I wish such a guide existed back in the day. I got out of the sport in 2007 (9700 jumps) I was a coach and AFF-I, into swooping. I had a velocity 90', Jedi 105', and Stiletto 97' and weighed 185 pounds. The Stiletto was definitely the workhorse. I had over 3000 jumps on mine and used it for demos, big-ways, etc and they were commonly referred to as spinettos, but I thought this was due to people who didn't pack them properly when the wing-load was over 2.0 or over. The velocity 90 was the most radical canopy I had flown. It flew longer and faster than anything I had piloted, plus it would hold carving swoops for longer distances. Best wishes.
Spinetto, aw yes the ultimate nickname! I had my fare share doing back to back wingsuit loads during camps with students, had to jump a stilleto 120 on the backup rig and well... just see my wingsuit student videos and youll realise the spinetto lives up to it's name! All the best!
I have a thousand on my stilettos, mostly 120, and 3 of 5 mals we're line twists. I had a ton of line twist on stilettos, probably over 50, and only had to chop 3. You're right tho, my stilettos were definitely the workhorse! I'll never forget the first velocity jump I had. Doing a camera jump, tandem, I was on back to back to back loads and I needed the DZOs rig, and usually he had a stiletto 135 in it, except for this day. He was getting a new line set, and man, I'll never forget the thoughts going through my head the instant I saw the color and the way it opened.A velo 103! Holy shit! I'm a goner, I thought! At that point, I was jumping a stiletto 135, and it was the smallest I ever jumped. As I'm sniveling through 1700, on the rear risers, praying to God it doesn't spin up, (this canopy was a chop nightmare, including 2 back to back loads in eloy on new years day), I was under canopy about 1400' and hauling ass. Collapsed slider, 900', 90 degree turn, flying like my ass is on fire through the landing area, completely out of control, over inputting my toggles, canopy almost touching back and forth to the ground as I miraculously slid on my feet to a stop. Took a few minutes to stop laughing and gather myself together, and then I knew I would have a velo one day. Thing is amazing!
The Crossfire is horrible for learning how to swoop. It recovers much too fast and teaches you bad habits that you'll have to un-learn when you swoop. The Katana is the only non-crossbraced canopy that will prepare you for going crossbraced.
@@Frickflyers I have not. I've have many jumps on a CF2 99. It was a great canopy for all-around skydiving, but I switched to a Katana for all my canopy courses.
Hello Brian, Indeed! But as I mentioned the C tier includes both canopies specifically designed to prepare you for crossbraced wings and also includes wings that will be suitable for progression but also good as all around wings. The purpose of putting both the KT and the SA in the same tier and to include the SA in two tiers is to show jumpers that might be less experienced and looking for a first wing that the SA platform is very versatile and depending on the wingloading might be good as a first wing or as a last non crossbraced wing. Love your work btw, huge inspiration ever since I was a child!
@@JesusActual hey! The helix looks to closer to a B tier and the Airwolf to an A tier! Its only a paper based opinion since i havent jumped any of them
great video! I have around 150 jumps and still treat myself as a beginner. I did my last jump with 185 sq ft canopy and going to downsize to 170. what would be your suggestion on canopy type and brand?
@@Frickflyers Thanks! I still have a way to go on my 1.35 wl Sabre 2. But as I get better at 90’s I’m thinking maybe I should switch to a Crossfire 3 at the same wing loading instead of downsizing my Sabre 2 to 1.5 wl and then switching to the Crossfire 3. I’ll definitely have this conversation with my canopy coach.
Oh man, I had a JVX 69 all sail but never jumped it. Came from a Katana 97 with which I did competition. I'm talking 2010 here, the JVX was brand new model of canopy. Nobody had seen anything like it. I had it for a couple of weeks, then I quit the sport (for reasons....). I sold it to some Norwegian dude who jumped it at swoop comps in Dubai. Would've loved to know how it felt flying it but my DZ refused me to jump with it. It was a beaituful canopy, bought new (because there were no used ones lol) full black canopy with one cell white and the deadoulos logo on it. Now I'm back after 13 years getting back into the sport. What canopy you ask? A 135 Sabre2. But I do plane on progressing fast to smaller canopies. The Crossfire 3 seems interesting. I had a Crossfire 2 107 in the past and at that time the Crossfire 2 was considered a more docile and less aggressive Katana.
I agree with this...but also kind of disagree. You're not taking wing loading into account. My exit weight is 180. A Pulse 210 would be boring as hell (probably E Tier), but a Pulse 107 would be a blast (probably B Tier).
What you mention is correct but this video is not about wing loadings its more about different canopy platforms. If you think about it a Petra 330 could be used as a student canopy and a small enough Safire will fly far and fast but that's not the point of the video. And its also because of different canopy sizes and WL that I include the sabre2 in both D and C tier because that canopy was designed to be versatile. A small Pulse is uncommon at best and not in any way B tier, more like a stiletto in C tier.
The "Comp Velocity 71," which may not be properly marked in the video...Is/was this your canopy, or do you remember buying it from somebody? The reason I ask is it's the only color I have ever seen of the same one I sold years back.
Hey! Depending on the wingloading the Sabre2/3 can be flown a a very docile first canopy or as an agressive intro to swoop canopy. I only included PD and NZA because they are the only 2 manufacturers I have jumped a lot
Would be a super cool vid because I don't think there is an overview of all of them in video form, and actually hardly any overview if them generally. Plus need side mention of colins lanyard etc. :)
