Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpfcso!hpfelg!larry
From: larry@hpfelg.HP.COM (Larry Chapman X3117)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Re: my first reserve ride (don't try this at home!!)
Message-ID: <2020019@hpfelg.HP.COM>
Date: 23 May 91 15:37:02 GMT
References: <1991May22.195426.17798@ge-dab.GE.COM>
Organization: HP Elec. Design Opr. -FtCollins
Lines: 31

> Nntp-Posting-Host: sundae10.dab.ge.com
> 
> Well, I got my first reserve ride this weekend.  I thought I would
> bare my soul for some net-wisdom.  I have 16 jumps (8 using hand-deploy).
> I was using a different rig than what I had been using in the past, and
> it had the pilot chute in a *slightly* different place than what I had
> been using.  For some reason (probably stupidity) I did not do any
> practice rip-cord pulls on this jump.

Man oh man, at our DZ you get grilled like a fish in a wharf eatery when
you "borrow" someone else's gear.  This is especially true of someone
with so few jumps.

If I were you I'd go to the DZ operators and suggest they implement a
bit more supervision.  I've seen experienced jumpers grope for quite
some time on "strange" gear even when they did practice on the ground.

I good rule of thumb is to pull a grand higher whenever there's any
risk of pulltime "brainlock" for whatever reason.

> Well, guess what,  when it was
> pull time I couldn't find my ripcord.  I tried 3 times, then popped
> the reserve (my first time doing this).  Boy was I in for a surprise.
> It came out so hard, it about knocked me out.  Now, I have to go to
> the chiropractor every day for the next 2 weeks because of whiplash.

Reserves opening at terminal can be vicious.  But boy does a quick 
opening feel "good" at 1000'!!


-- LSC