Packing safety question

[Hazarrd 1]

I am new to skydiving (54 jumps) and recently purchased used equipment and a new Sabre2 canopy. I have packed it 3 times and jumped it and everything has been fine. It has about 20 jumps total on it now. I have a lot of trouble getting it in the deployment bag so I usually end up having to stuff most of the canopy in the bag after the initial step of getting both s folds in there. My question is how safe is this to do? I usually get the 2 s folds in and then put the first stow on and then stuff the rest in. I am worried that I could be messing the lines up. How likely is this to cause a line over or another malfunction? Thanks.

.-.

[AggieDave 6]

Since I havne't seen exactly what you're talking about, I couldn't tell you for sure how bad it is.

I do know this, though. Being neat in your packjobs will not only help with the longevity of your canopy and with your malfunction rate.

Get an instructor at your DZ to point you to someone who can work with you on packing your new main.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[fundgh 0]

I know exactly what you are saying...I have had the same kind of difficulty. Practice makes perfect...after about 80 packjobs, I can now USUALLY get the canopy in the bag in a somewhat neat fashion....The odd thing is, I have had the best openings on pack jobs that look terrible, and hard openings on nice, neat packs. There are a few hints that some people might offer...I tend to put 1 s-fold in then set the bag up, and fold the second s-fold into the bag. I have never tried putting the whole canopy in the bag at once. Just keep doing it. Practice at home!

...FUN FOR ALL!

[mjosparky 4]

New ZP is always a bitch. Give it some time and practice.
Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[Dumpster 0]

You may want to consider psychopacking it, but have some one experienced do it with you the first time or two - there are one or two tricks to it. But it is an easy way to handle snot-slick ZP and get nice openings, quite reliably. And it's FAST, too.

Easy Does It

[towerrat 0]

I had the worst time learning to bag my canopy. i used to get it ready, then have my girlfriend bag it for me ( hangs head in shame).relax! maybe have someone go through it with you, and keep jumping your pack jobs. I'm not saying you won't get a mal, but it does build confidence. Keep at it and in no time it will be a non issue, Good luck!
------------------------------------------------------------

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes!

[Hazarrd 1]

Thank you for the great feedback everyone!! Most appreciated

.-.

[jumper03 0]

Quote

You may want to consider psychopacking it, but have some one experienced do it with you the first time or two - there are one or two tricks to it. But it is an easy way to handle snot-slick ZP and get nice openings, quite reliably. And it's FAST, too.

Psychopacking? What's that? PRO packing gone wild?

Scars remind us that the past is real

[Newbie 0]

i've just started jumping my own packjobs on a canopy thats brand new (well got like 40 jumps on it now or something) and always seems to spill out the bag quite a lot even after bungees have been stowed. I thought it might be a problem, but i dont think it really matters if there is excess canopy coming out the bag (someone please correct me if im wrong here), more important i think as Aggiedave said, to minimise hard openings/mals is how it has been packed, lines layed out, folds, slider position etc all of which im very wary of.

Does anyone else, once the slider has been quartered, grab the edge of the tail and literally fold it over and then under the C and D line groups? My packer told me this will reduce the likelihood of a lineover. I trust him so i do it, after all, he would know better than i would, and it seems to make sense when i think about it. Also when squeezing the air out, imagine the lines in the canopy, even feel them a little when folding the canopy in at the sides, and make sure you are not messing them about too much in there, and just try to pull the top skin of the canopy and tuck that in, rather than grabbing a great big chunk of anything and tucking that under.

Anyway i don't know much, i just started myself, but hey - as everyone at the dz says, at least they seem to be working right!

"Skydiving is a door"
Happythoughts

[matttrudeau 0]

Since your jumping a Sabre2 170, stuffing it in the bag shouldn't give you any trouble. Don't do it on purpose but it's nothing to worry about. If it was a high performance canopy you want a much nicer S-Fold going in. Like I said, do your best and if you have to stuff a little it's OK. I mean, what do you expect, the canopy is brand new?

[Tonto 1]

You may want to get a split bag, with velcro on the sides till you get you packing down. This will help you control the pack job at the point you described.

I still use one. Just replace the velcro once a year.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

You may want to get a split bag, with velcro on the sides till you get you packing down

Yeah, but once you learn how to really control the canopy, putting it into the bag...you will HATE split bags.

I did the DZ-staff-packer for about a year, packing well over 1000 packjobs (tandem and sport canopies), and quite frankly I would cringe when someone had a split d-bag.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Tonto 1]

Well... Cringe away. I don't give a flying monkey's toe.
t

It's the year of the Pig.

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

Quote

New ZP is always a bitch. Give it some time and practice.
Sparky

Ain't that the truth.

Mostly its just practice and persistence. The folks I see around the DZ that have trouble packing ZP are the ones that get frustrated and then let someone else do it for them... so, in the end, they never learn.

[mjosparky 4]

Quote

Quote

New ZP is always a bitch. Give it some time and practice.
Sparky

Ain't that the truth.

Mostly its just practice and persistence. The folks I see around the DZ that have trouble packing ZP are the ones that get frustrated and then let someone else do it for them... so, in the end, they never learn.

You can alway start a dead pool on how long it takes a person to pack a new ZP canopy.
Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[fergs 0]

Darren,

Only one answer - learn to psycho pack and keep packing that way til you leave the sport. It will:

- pack muuuuuch easier
- pack much faster (you'll make more loads that way)
- open more consistantly
- open softer
- less wear and tear on your canopy
- keep your blood pressure down
- make you a happier skydiver

Either find someone on your DZ who psycho packs or find instructions on line (one site is: http://precision.aerodynamics.com/psycho/psycho_pack.htm ).

I'd add that psycho isn't in PD's manual, so you should not consider it an "approved" packing method. Do so at your own risk. Or your own gain. Your choice.

But I've been packing parachutes since the late 60's - you name it, I've packed that way. The last 7 or 8 years I've done nothing but psycho (except reserves). Since then my life has been great. Great openings, easy pack jobs (ESPECIALLY new canopies), and fast work.

Although not 100% necessity, you could get a 6" extension to put from the canopy end of your PC bridle to the attachment point at the canopy. In other words, you'll have more bridle inside the deployment bag after packing. This makes the job a bit easier again. When you see and read the psycho instructions, it'll make sense.

So there's my view on packing - especially new canopies.

Go and enjoy!!!!!!

fergbird

[AggieDave 6]

Clicky

http://precision.aerodynamics.com/psycho/psycho_pack.htm

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[hookitt 1]

>>- less wear and tear on your canopy

Why do you say the canopy will receive less wear and tear?

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[freakydiver 0]

I've always found rolling instead of S folding allows for a much more manageable bag stuff. PM me if you want more specifics. I just suggested this to someone three weeks ago and they were like no way so I'm not going into detail unless you want to hear about it. Also - I've NEVER had a mal, so its a pretty darn safe technique IMHO.

Blue ones...

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

[Malfunction 0]

I am the resident packer at my DZ, so I may have some advice.

First, maybe it is just experience on my part, but I have no problems with BRAND NEW ZP. I seem to be able to pack it just as easily and old, worn out F111. Again, it may be because I have TONS of packs under my belt.

Second, Pro packing is simple enough, but the challenge is getting it in the bag. Pro packing makes the canopy pack just a little fatter than flat or psycho packing, and a LOT bigger than the roll pack.

My way of packing utilized every part of your body that can hold the canopy down. Once you are ready for the S folds, Use your right hand and hold down the lines/slider/label, use your left hand to hold down the top of the canopy - move off to the left of the canopy. Move your left hand underneath the canopy where you are going to make your first S fold. With your right hand, lift up the label and lines, and with your left hand, slide the canopy underneath. Your first S fold is complete. Use your right knee and hold that S fold in place (usually putting your knee on top will force it to stay). Right hand lays where the next S fold will be, Left hand grabs the top of the canopy again. Make second S fold by bringing left hand on top of knee, moving right knee out and replacing with right hand, and laying the canopy down. Move your body to the lines (straddle the lines with your legs) and use your knees to hold the canopy in place. SLOWLY reach for the D-bag, and begin the difficult process. Hold firm with your right knee, slightly release pressure from your left knee and slide the d-bag underneath the canopy. Use your hands to tuck the canopy in as far as possible. Do the same with your right. If you did it right, you should be able then you move to the top of the D bag and use your weight to close the bag and make the first line stow.

It sounds complicated, but it takes me all of about 30 seconds from S fold to that first stow. I would be happy to show you, but I live in Iowa.

I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it.
- Voltaire

[Hazarrd 1]

Thanks again guys for the great suggestions. Crappy weather on the east coast all weekend so I probably wont get to practice packing much. Hopefully it's blue skies elsewhere

.-.

[Malfunction 0]

Dude, if you have your own rig, pull the pin and walk the canopy out, then repack it. I did that like 12 times one weekend. Practice, practice, practice. That is my theory...

Maybe it's just me, feel free to disagree

I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it.
- Voltaire