Little Lesson Learned

[guest]

I ran into a small hitch tonight, and even though it was minor, I thought I would share it with others to increase awareness.

I was doing a night jump at a 360ft "E". Absolutely zero winds at the exit and at the bottom of the cliff. 1 1/2 second delay and a 90 right.

Generally speaking, I always use rear risers to correct off-headings, but sometimes a particular jump may call for toggles instead of risers. One example could be a very low jump where riser corrections in a severe off-heading could dump you right into the ground. Or in the case of this jump, I had a lot of talus to clear if I wanted to take this delay and still make the optimum landing area.

Before every single jump, I analyze these different variables and decide on whether to go for toggles or risers in a given situation.

Disclaimer: If your reading this post and have not discussed the risers vs. toggles debate in the past, be aware that going for your risers is generally the accepted norm and usually the right choice in most situations. There are associated dangers with toggles such as accidentally dropping one, missing one, or not having one release. This may complicate an already complicated situation.

So back to my story...

Clean 90, zero winds, need to conserve altitude: I had already pre-determined to go for toggles in this situation.

I reached up and immediately went for the release (on slider-down jumps I rarely look up). My right toggle released but my left one did not.

In 600+ jumps, I have never had a toggle hang-up or a premature release (CR risers/toggle system). Instinctively, I raised the right toggle up to drift away from the cliff while I turned my attention to the left toggle that was not releasing.

I tugged a couple more times and then my eyes focused through the darkness and to my left hand. I wasn't pulling on the left toglle at all, I had my left hand through my left front riser dive loop!

I was stunned that I did this and promptly released the left toggle and then tended to my canopy flight and landing. A little floating in brakes and I made the clear and level landing area by 10ft or so.

Looking back, I figure that when my body swung right from the off-heading deployment, my left hand could have easily been a little more "forward" from the swing. My dive loops are very long and loose, similar to a toggle, and this is when I must have grabbed it thinking it was my toggle.

Not too big of a deal, but it could have turned into a worse situation had I dealt with it incorrectly.

And it's just a tidbit of info to share with other jumpers in hopes that will increase their awareness, even if it's just a little.

[guest]

Why do you have dive loops on your risers to begin with?? Seems pointless.

just
my two cents:7 :7 :7

[guest]

You want your single canopy BASE rig to be as clean as possible. Dive loops are just two big "snag" points you don't need.

Nick
BASE 194

[imported_Tom Aiello]

I have dive loops on my gear, and prefer them.

I started using them (and had them put on all my gear) when I started jumping a terminal wall that requires a long time on the front risers to reach the landing area (you spend the whole five minute canopy ride on front risers, trying desparately to get out of the sky before those guys in the smoky bear hats show up). They save my hands and make it easier (hence more likely) to stay on my front risers the whole time (as I should) on that jump.

I've also found the dive loops useful on a few other objects, usually in high wind, when I had to ride the front risers to make or stay over the landing area.

I guess I have them on my rig for the same reason folks put them on skydiving rigs--ease of access to the canopy's entire flight envelope.

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@mac.com

[base587]

I've used my dive loops to help me get out of traffic on multi ways.....especially when several jumpers are setting up for a tight landing area.....I can get down there quicker if need be.

They're not really big loops and they lie quite flat plus I use 'big grab' type toggles anyway....so I don't think(?) they would cause me any problems....but it is something to be aware of.

Thanks for the posting
Spence



&-) &-) &-)

[guest]

I have front riser dive-loops so I can better utilize all of my canopy's control points. Yes, it's rare that I need them, but I have used them from time-to-time when I needed to get down quicker.

I'm sure I'll get flamed for this one, but every now and then, I like to hook it in for a little sporting fun. ;-)

Nick is correct in his statement of "the simpler the better". But for me, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in this case. I always pack them flat and have never had them snag on anything. And not to say it can't happen, but I don't really see anything they could snag on.

[3ringheathen]

It seems to me that dive blocks would be a good compromise for BASE. Not quite as good as dive loops, but much easier to distinguish from toggles.

My first impression is that this is a great solution.
Thoughts?

Oh, btw, what's the big idea discussing technical issues...I thought this was just a flame board!
-Josh

[guest]

aw hell

why don't you wimps just grab the front risers as they are? it's only a seven cell, they don't have that high a load on the fronts. get some strong hands, ya (unts!

seriously, I'm with Josh on this one, I think blocks are the way to go on BASE and Skydiving gear, easy to grab, hard to snag, hard to get your hands stuck in em, and hard to confuse with steering toggles.

Josh, how is everything going dude? Shoot me an email, I am very interested to see how things are progressing with you.

-Gork