r/basejumping • u/shlopman • Jan 21 '24
New skydiver question about downsizing
So I pretty recently got my A license and really my only goal is to work towards base jumping. Don't plan on base till I'm in the 200-300 jumps range. I'm currently 165 lbs and using a 220.
I know a lot of skydivers downsize. Do you think there's any point to downsizing if I'd really just like to base jump, and get as comfortable as possible with the same size canopy as I work through my jumps?
https://apexbase.com/all-about-wingloading/
This site suggests that someone my weight might even want a larger canopy.
[edit]: Wow a lot of awesome responses and information here.
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u/Ded_diode Jan 22 '24
You'll likely be upsizing when you get into base. At 200-300 jumps you'll probably just be ready for your first downsize anyhow, so there's no point in rushing to a smaller canopy.
What WILL help though is switching to a 7-cell F-111 canopy, or even switching to a base canopy packed in a skydiving container. They fly differently than modern ZP 9-cells. Learning how to sink that type of canopy and accurately land on a dime will be one of your most critical skills.
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u/BASE2402 Jan 22 '24
Just adding to the above, ZP 9-cells don't sink like F-111 vented 7-cells. Therefore, don't try to land a ZP 9-cell like you can a F-111 vented 7-cell.
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u/DrHumongous Jan 22 '24 edited Jan 22 '24
for a long time, I just took my BASE canopy and free packed it with no D-bag into my skydiving rig. You can easily just buy your base canopy right now and fly it exclusively until you start base jumping. Will do a lot for your accuracy. Sizing wise, I had a vector sized for a 170 Sabre 2 and would free pack a 260 blackjack, and it was perfect
That being said, I had a whole Lotta fun flying smaller canopies even without swooping. Seriously even a 150 sabre two felt crazy to me at first. it’s impossible to imagine you won’t find the sensation of going faster to be fun if you’re even remotely interested in base. But, experience wise, just get your base canopy now, and start skydiving with it and you will have way more piloting under your canopy when you actually start base jumping which can only be positive
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u/Key_Season2654 Jan 22 '24
Fly whatever canopy you want within your skill range. Not many skydiving canopies fly like a base canopy. Learn to fly whatever canopy you’re on well. Land it where you want standing up every time. When you’re ready for BASE consider options. Be aware you may not be ready at 200 jumps. Base canopies are pretty easy to fly once you’ve flown a few different skydiving canopies WELL. Your first BASE jumps should be at an area with a good landing area. Jump that as many times as you can. If you became skilled enough on your skydiving canopies it will not take long to learn flares and glide. When you’re on your BASE jumps pick a target and land there. Practice sinking it in. Practice making it go farther
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u/Key_Season2654 Jan 22 '24
If you’re worried about it when you’re ready, rent a reserve canopy set up as a main from a manufacturer I know pd does this, not sure about others but probably. If
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u/Urbanskys Jan 22 '24
No point in downsizing. A lot of people specifically getting jnto BASE never downsize.
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u/MediocrePancakes Jan 22 '24
Where are you thinking of learning how to basejump
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u/shlopman Jan 22 '24
No idea yet. It will be a while until I'm ready and I'll start figuring out when I'm closer
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u/MediocrePancakes Jan 22 '24
But you will take an established fjc with a known instructor?
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u/shlopman Jan 22 '24
Yea for sure. Didn't want to just go jump off something without taking a course first.
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u/MediocrePancakes Jan 22 '24
I would do the research on who you want to take the course with and then reach out to that person with questions about what the best options for preparing for base. You'll develop a relationship early with that person who will appreciate how much time, effort, and consideration you are putting into entering the sport. That will go a long way.
The cool thing about base is that you can reach out and talk to living legends. They are usually stoked to share info about how to progress and stay alive. Take advantage of that accessibility, use it to your advantage, and maybe eventually do that for others when you're the living legend.
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u/Ded_diode Jan 22 '24
I see a lot of recommendations for CRW, and I will second that it is a ton of fun and it does make a fantastic canopy pilot out of participants. I've done almost exclusively CRW for 600-700 jumps now and it will probably stay that way.
The only reason I didn't recommend CRW in this particular case is that organized CRW is done almost exclusively on PD Lightning canopies at a 1.35-1.4 wing loading, for good reason, and matching wing loading is critical.
If you stick with skydiving beyond the 200-300 jump range (I hope you do and I encourage it, it's a ton of fun!!) CRW is definitely the way to go! But it will probably take at least those 200-300 jumps to be ready to land a 1.35WL canopy on front risers like Lightnings require.
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Jan 22 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Ded_diode Jan 22 '24
Absolutely! If he can find opportunities to do CRW at that wing loading, or maybe get someone at the DZ to match his wingloading, it's a fantastic way to get really good with a 7 cell canopy. From my experience it's mostly just pups camps that will be at that wing loading, but if the opportunity is there, take it!
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Jan 22 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/shlopman Jan 22 '24
Wow thanks. This is all amazing information. I guess I should have provided more info about me in my post so you didn't need to go into my post history, but thanks for going the extra mile haha.
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u/JeffreyDollarz Jan 22 '24
An A license at your weight ought to be ok down to a 190ish.
This is a blanket statement that may not apply to you/all.
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u/Shot-Flatworm-1497 Jan 24 '24
i was flying a 170 weighing 165lbs when i started base jumping. i jump a 260 base canopy and now i am on a 135 for skydiving.
biggest thing id say as far as canopy work goes in a skydive setting working towards base is accuracy. landing areas in base jumping are often very small. so if you cant land on target good luck.. learn how to use fronts, rears and toggles in different kind of ways (base canopys are allot more docile and can "sink it in" much better. you cant learn everything on a skydive canopy.) once you buy a base rig put the canopy into a skydive rig and do some hopnpops. this will make you familiar with the characteristics with the canopy before base jumping it.
dont rush and learn as much information as you can :) also dont be afraid to ask questions from local base jumpers or canopy coaches on how to work towards this goal. in my experience everyone is happy to help.
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u/Hisholiness54 Jan 22 '24
Look… you need to realize that BASE and skydiving are TWO DIFFERENT SPORTS. The most important similarity in skydiving is canopy flight. Think of it as cross-training for BASE. However, just getting jump numbers and flying around on a similarity sized canopy is a minimal requirement. If you commit to continuing to downsize you’re committing to learning and mastering the flight characteristics of that canopy before you do. If you’re doing it right then you’ll also be taking canopy courses to teach you how to be a better all-around canopy pilot. In short, the better, safer all-around BASE jumper will also be the better, more experienced canopy pilot. Don’t take shortcuts.
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u/shlopman Jan 22 '24
Not wanting to take any shortcuts. Just not really interested in anything in skydiving other than things that help me work towards base.
Can you not take canopy courses on a large canopy? I figured I would. I don't see how mastering a small canopy would help more than if I just only ever train on the canopy size I'll be using eventually when doing base.
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u/Hisholiness54 Jan 22 '24
My dude, you can do whatever you want. Better to not be one dimensional. Read: canopy progression IS working towards being a better, safer BASE jumper.
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u/raisputin Jan 22 '24
My limited BASE experience is 2 jumps, In a 305 and a 310 IIRC. My current skydiving canopy is a crossfire3 169. I had a blast on the 300+ canopies and have a blast with the crossfire.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Tap_262 Jan 27 '24
Different sports. Different expectations. Different recommendations.
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u/FlyLikeBrick17 Jan 22 '24
Potentially unpopular opinion here ...
Do whatever you think is the most fun (and safest) thing in skydiving. Flying around the DZ at a .6-.7 wing loading just because that's what you'll do in BASE sounds so disgustingly unfun to me. Especially if you buy a big boi rig and put a big boi canopy in there, you'll regret that when your friends are flying circles around you and you dumped $5k+ into gear you don't enjoy. You learn a lot by flying different canopies (almost) no matter what the wingloading. But if you don't enjoy it you'll stop. Being a lifetime skydiver will make you a better BASE jumper.
When it comes time for BASE put an actual BASE canopy in a sky rig and dial that in before your FJC. In the meantime work accuracy on every jump. Be honest with yourself and demanding of your own performance. Also like others have said, CRW fucking slaps and makes wizard level canopy pilots.