With more than 40,000 canopies manufactured by Performance Designs in the Sabre line, the Sabre3 has some big shoes to fill.
The original Sabre was released in 1990 and more than 20,000 were manufactured until the Sabre2 came on the scene in 2001. By 2018, the Sabre2 reached 20,000 canopies sold like its predecessor. One of the biggest improvements skydivers talk about from the Sabre to the Sabre2 is a softer opening.
ChutingStar recently conducted a main canopy survey, and PD's Sabre/Sabre2 line topped every category as the most popular first canopy, your favorite main canopy and the canopy most recommended to others as their first main canopy. It also tops the list as to which canopy you're currently jumping.
Here are some of those comments from the survey when asked what canopy has been your favorite:
A huge thank you to the 187 of you who responded to the main canopy survey the first two weeks of May at ChutingStar.com!
This one was a bit more long-winded than our past surveys, but we felt that was the only way to truly get feedback on main canopies that are so varied by manufacturer, type and size as well as everyone's different experience level. We truly appreciate all of you that took the time to complete this survey.
After sorting and reading through all the results, comments and feedback, we've found that we can't sum this up in one article. So we're going to be doing a series of articles over the next several weeks in our blog
What we can tell you so far is that the 187 of you who took this survey have a combined 280,876 jumps! The average number of jumps for those responding was 1502 and the average mains you've tried is 9. So the responses were in-depth and rich with information.
PD's Sabre/Sabre2 topped every category as the most popular first canopy, your favorite main canopy and the canopy most recommended to others as their first main canopy. It also tops the list as to which canopy you're currently jumping. Continue reading →
Icarus World applauds those that have made skydiving their life by working to teach, mentor and coach other skydivers. In return for their service in the sport, Icarus is offering a discount program on its main canopies as well as the Nano reserve.
To apply, you just need to submit a reference letter from your DZO with your order to ChutingStar. Once approved, you'll receive the discounts noted below.
You also have the option for the Icarus Logo on your canopy at no extra charge through this program. Continue reading →
The Bungee/Ball Slider Keeper is a tent tie-down that can be modified to use as a slider keeper at the top of your reserve pin cover flap. The purpose of this slider keeper is to hold the slider down behind a jumper’s head after the canopy is open so that the slider doesn’t interfere with cameras, the line of sight and/or allows the risers to open up further. This is not a gadget for all skydivers. Consult with your local DZO, S&TA, instructors and peers before using the Bungee/Ball Slider Keeper. This keeper can cause a delay during a cutaway if the slider is stowed in the device.
A magnetic slider keeper is mounted to the top of the reserve pin cover flap. The purpose is to hold the slider down behind a jumper’s head after the canopy is open so that the slider doesn’t interfere with cameras, the line of sight and/or allows the risers to open up further.
This is not a gadget for all skydivers. Consult with your local DZO, S&TA, instructors and peers before using a Magnetic Slider Keeper. This type of slider keeper can cause a delay during a cutaway if the slider is stowed in the device.
A magnetic slider keeper, such as the Flexvision XL Slider Keeper, is used after you have a fully open and functional canopy.
As you watch for canopy traffic, collapse your slider and slowly bring the slider down to the base of the risers, behind your head. Stow the slider between the loop of fabric between the magnets. Release your steering lines and fly your canopy.
Past posts on rigging forums at one time focused on one manufacturer's solution to keeping a collapsed slider at the base of the risers after opening without anchoring the slider to the container. Many jumpers have concerns about a number of slider holders that connect the slider to the top of the reserve container, which could potentially cause a cutaway delay.
When Team Method (Steve-O Utter, T.J. Landgren and Nate Gilbert) arrived at Atlanta Skydiving Center in 2001, the freefly team showed-off a new slider block design. Over the next few years, ChutingStar riggers tweaked and modified the design for strength, durability and aesthetics.
This is often a topic of debate, how do you determine whether a canopy is Crossfire or a Crossfire 2 and how to determine the difference between a Safire and a Safire 2. There are some quick and dirty ways to tell the difference. Unfortunately, we see some crazy things in this sport so the only sure fire way to know is to submit the serial number to manufacturer so they can scour the archives. Continue reading →
After sorting and reading through all the results, comments and feedback, we've found that we can't sum this up in one article. So we're going to be doing a series of articles over the next several weeks in our blog
What we can tell you so far is that the 187 of you who took this survey have a combined 280,876 jumps! The average number of jumps for those responding was 1502 and the average mains you've tried is 9. So the responses were in-depth and rich with information.
PD's Sabre/Sabre2 topped every category as the most popular first canopy, your favorite main canopy and the canopy most recommended to others as their first main canopy. It also tops the list as to which canopy you're currently jumping. Continue reading 
To apply, you just need to submit a reference letter from your DZO with your order to ChutingStar. Once approved, you'll receive the discounts noted below.
You also have the option for the Icarus Logo on your canopy at no extra charge through this program. Continue reading 
