Primary stow on low jumps

[RB]

what is peoples opinion on use of primary stow on short delays (freefalls and SL). Do you use it? Why? Cons and pros?

thanks,
rb

[crwper]

I've used the primary stow on almost all my jumps, including a handful of 111-foot s/l and 210-foot f/f.

As far as s/l goes, I can't imagine the small added force causing a premature break. Provided the break cord doesn't go early, it's all the same.

For low f/f, I would think that the canopy has enough inertia that the difference in speed between canopy & jumper will be more than enough to pull the stow.

With these two things in mind, I tend to fall back on the idea that fewer rigging changes between jumps means a lower chance of getting something wrong -- or jumping with a configuration other than what you thought you had. Provided it makes no difference in low f/f or s/l, and if it helps with regular f/f, then you may as well leave it in place.

Michael

[JOMAN]

I may be a little confused. I only use my primary stow for slider up jumps. When i have the slider down or off i do not use the primary stow I only use the tail gate. I only have a 140 jumps so I may just not understand something here. Does using the primary stow all the time depend on the type of canopy you are jumping ? Or do some jumpers use it all the time. This is the set up i was shown by my friend. He has 1000 base jumps and is pretty knowledgeable

[imported_Tom Aiello]

>...do some jumpers use it all the time.

Some jumpers use it all the time. Others leave it off on slider down jumps.

Personally, I tend to use it on most of my slider down jumps, except on zero delay (static line or go and throw) jumps. Ultra low freefall (sub 200') I make sure to take it off.

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@mac.com

[greeny]

This may be a little off topic:

I had my canopy snivel on me comming off a 1000ft A. 6 Sec delay, zp fox v-tec, slider up. I think it was because my primary stow was too big or too tight. Every thing worked fine but the mouth of my canopy stayed closed. Just as I reached for my breaks ( before I could pop them ) it banged open. I think it cost me around 100ft maybe a little more.

As for what I do:

I use primary stows on all slider up and most slider down jumps.
on the lower slider down I still put the bite in the primary stow pocket as normal but I don't stow it in the band, just lay it in place.

I'm not saying this is right. I'd love to know what people think............

[imported_Tom Aiello]

>...on the lower slider down I still put the bite in the primary stow pocket as normal but I don't stow it in the band, just lay it in place.

I've done exactly that many times. I can't tell a difference between that and no stow at all, except that my "muscle memory" just tells me to put that bite in there before I remember that I'm not using the stow band. That means I'm marginally more comfortable with the pack job.

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@mac.com