Some jumpers found landing to be difficult, hard and physically taxing. Today, equipment is made in as many types, shapes and sizes as there are jumpers. Each jumper can find several parachutes that work well for his size. A parachute can be matched to a jumper by considering the ratio of a jumper's weight to the planform area of a parachute. This ratio is known as the wing loading.
Wing loading is the average force per area that is exerted on the parachute surface.
The total upward force must be equal to your weight. Wing loading is calculated be dividing your weight by the canopy area. It should be between 0.6 and 1.0 for most people. The wing loading will be over 1.0 for high performance canopies. Wing loading influences how a canopy flies.