What effect does pulling on the front risers have on the canopy?

Pulling on the front risers primarily alters the flight characteristics of the canopy during descent. When front risers are pulled, the angle of attack of the canopy decreases, which leads to a more streamlined position and results in a dramatic increase in rate of descent. This maneuver is often employed by experienced skydivers to enable faster descents or to initiate a dive.

The greater rate of descent can be utilized for various purposes, such as completing a jump sequence more rapidly or positioning the canopy more strategically for landing. Understanding this technique is crucial for skydivers aiming to enhance their control and adaptability during flight, while safely managing their descent profile.

While pulling the front risers impacts stability and control, it does so at the cost of increasing descent speed, rather than enhancing stability. Thus, the other choices do not accurately reflect the primary effect of utilizing front risers during a skydive.