jeremy556 0 #1 October 17, 2006 I had my pre-second cutaway on Sunday on my 63rd jump. Had just done a 2 way, on deployment I had closed end cells, as usual, on my Sabre2 210 (or so I thought), and went into a hard right turn. I pulled both the toggles and tried to counter the turn, and tried pulling on risers, but the right side was still not inflated and still in a hard diving turn. I executed my EPs as trained, pulling the cutaway was a LOT harder than doing it in the hanging practice harness, and about a half a second after feeling myself back in freefall pulled my reserve handle (no RSL ring on the risers for this demo canopy). The white Smart 160 reserve was a nice sight to see when I looked up. Had an uneventful though very short canopy ride to a nice landing. I am not shaken up by the event at all, I heard that a lot of people question their continuance in the sport after their first cutaway but I have gained confidence in my equipment and myself. I had somewhat dreaded my first cutaway but while it was happening it was really just automatic, I didn’t feel scared or think about what could happen or anything like that, it was really just: this is a malfunction I cannot clear or land, so pull the right handle, pull the left handle. I was about 1000 times more scared doing my tandem when I got to the door. I really wasn’t sure after it happened what exactly my malfunction was, and was actually worried all the experienced jumpers and instructors would think I chopped for something stupid being that I am sub-100 jumps, but I knew I had a real malfunction. Fortunately a few people from the ground were watching and let me know that is was in fact a line over. We were able to recover the main in a cow field and the freebag and reserve PC from a tree. I retained my handles so it ended up being a cheap reserve ride, except for the beer and the bottle for the rigger (I still owe the bottle). I deployed at 3500, which put me under a mostly open canopy at around 2600. I think that I chopped at 1500 which was only a few spins and a couple of seconds while under the main, and was under the reserve at about 1000 feet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtimebabe24 0 #2 October 17, 2006 I am also sub-100 jumps. Sounds like you handled it well. Congrats! Blue Skies!"The most wasted day of all is that upon which we have not laughed..." Nicholas Chamfort. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigmike21 0 #3 October 17, 2006 Do they charge you extra when yu cut away or just the beer and liquor? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeremy556 0 #4 October 17, 2006 If you drop handles it is a few bucks, freebag and PC over a hundred, lose a main and you are looking at over $1000. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yamtx73 0 #5 October 17, 2006 Plus the cost of a repack of course...The only naturals in this sport shit thru feathers... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeremy556 0 #6 October 17, 2006 But they said since it was demo gear I didn't have to pay! I was standing there with my wallet open at the time too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yamtx73 0 #7 October 17, 2006 Now that's cool... I believe most places you'd have to pay for the repack.The only naturals in this sport shit thru feathers... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sparko 0 #8 October 17, 2006 Good job landing a reserve loaded at 1.3 with 60 jumps... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeremy556 0 #9 October 17, 2006 Yea, bad on me for not even knowing what my reserve was on demo gear before jumping it. We had gusty winds to 16+ mph on Sunday and I think that helped me to have one my softest landings ever. Once the reserve did open and I saw it, I thought “oh shit that is small, prepare to PLF” This was not my usual rig. I got my usual rig, and the Cypress battery was dead so it was doing a 9889 and shutting off. My wife had told me she had “a bad feeling about today” a little while earlier, otherwise I would not have thought anything of jumping without a Cypress. So I got a different rig than usual with a functional Cypress. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jarrodh 0 #10 October 17, 2006 Im glad to hear you handled it well. Nice heads up reaction. I dread the day I look up and see a ball of shit and have to cutaway, but I certainly will if i need to.2 BITS....4 BITS....6 BITS....A DOLLAR!....ALL FOR THE GATORS....STAND UP AND HOLLER!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #11 October 17, 2006 There is a way to add a RSL ring to any risers. It's part of Ray Farrell's FAA approved retrofit, which isn't sanctioned by some manufacturers. I'm not going to try to describe it here, it's not something you should make yourself. But ask a rigger about adding a ring on a loop to demo risers without an RSL ring. It has the added feature that if the riser breaks (an old problem) the ring stays. And hopefully you pulled the packing data card to check that the rig was in date and the cypres was upto date for batteries and service. Along with a full pre jump gear check. You should have looked at what the reserve was then. Just because someone hands it to you don't rely on it being right.I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZigZagMarquis 9 #12 October 17, 2006 QuoteI retained my handles so it ended up being a cheap reserve ride, except for the beer and the bottle for the rigger (I still owe the bottle). You still owe the bottle to your rigger who just saved your life AND it was your first reserve ride!!??! Its bad karma to keep your rigger waiting... Anyway, good job, you're still walking and breathing, so, no second guesses... but, after this experience, do you think you'd mess with a spinning mal for as long as you did or go for your handles sooner or not? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
