Slider off?

[guest]

When would you take off the slider on a jump? What kind of conditions or reasons? I have been jumping slider down and feel if it's not broke, don't fix it. But I see a lot of videos where guys are going slider off. Why?

Thanks!

Mike

[imported_Tom Aiello]

This is one of the perennial debates. A few of the points on each side:

Slider Off:
Easier to pack (no slider in the bottom of the pack tray)
Canopy flies a bit better (lines spread more)
No Weird slider entanglement worries

Slider Down:
No need to open the links (and perform full line checks) when switching slider
Cross connector between the risers (in case of accidental riser release on one side, or possible loop through risers with unstable deployment)
Quicker switching between up/down for frequent altitude changes

Personally, I usually pull the slider down rather than taking it off (mostly out of laziness). I think it's really personal preference, though.

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

[guest]

Although possibly difficult to quantify, I feel its true, and I think many jumpers would agree, that an additional advantage of removing the slider is better on-heading opening performance. This is (theoretically) due to spreading of the lines as Tom mentions.

DT

[imported_Tom Aiello]

Heading might also be effected if the slider nudged the sides of the pack tray on the way to line stretch.

Personally, I have never noticed worse heading with the slider down.

Does anyone have any opinions about this?

I'd love to hear various opinions about slider down effects on heading.

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

[Mike]

Makes sense to think that maybe when the slider is packed down, one of the flaps of the container could flop on top of the slider. I wonder how often that happens? The flaps are pretty well shaped as to not do so. What else could it snag?

Mike

[guest]

...if a container flap was going to hit the slider, it would hit a riser if the slider wasn't there, would it not?...end result probably the same...I was taught to tie the slider down to the front risers...that way ya don't have to worry about it goin' anywhere (up), and ya still have use of the rear risers with no restrictions...as stated earlier it makes switchin' configurations a whole lot quicker and easier...

[guest]

Since I have only one rig, I tie my slider down using the tie down straps on my risers. As stated above, it makes for quicker set-up changes since in the same night I will jump from 1200' taking 8 second delays and then switch set-ups for a couple of jumps from 400' going stowed. I have also jumped a friend's rig that he has strictly for low jumps so he removed the slider. I haven't been able to tell much of a difference on the openings.
When the half moon comes back around, maybe I'll try jumping slider down and then slider off since I haven't really thought about it before this thread.