Chin down or up?

[Cacophony 0]

On opening, would it be better to put your chin to your chest or your head back? I have heard both. What do you do?

[kopelen 0]

I always put my chin to my chest. I find it easier to keep my head there. so who knows what's next

[jdhill 0]

If I am juping my full setup, I tend keep my chin down until I can tell the canopy is snivelling nicely. If I am jumping less than my full setup or my FF helmet I usually watch. Choosing the right canopy is important when doing canopy work, something that opens consistantly soft is best in my opinion.

Josh

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke

[freeflir29 0]

I put my chin on my chest for the first part of the deployment. Then after the canopy starts sniveling I look up. Usually, if you are going to get slammed it will be line dump or something that will happen just as the canopy leaves the bag. Hopefully, you will still have your head down and it won't injure your kneck. That's my theory anyway.....*Shrug*

[quade 4]

At the time I deploy I continue to watch the group until I feel the bag leave the container. After the bag leaves the container I begin to raise my chest and shift the aim point of my ring-sight to look at the horizon. By doing this I feel that the actual opening shock is transmitted down the neck in a straight line as opposed to a whiplash -- like you might receive by looking up or down.

I feel this also gives a slightly softer feeling to the opening and allows you to watch out for jumpers that may have had short tracks & high openings.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[YahooLV 0]

Chin down for me. Why would I like to encourage an entanglement with a line that has decided to go another way and hurt me, when I can tuck my chin down, hopefully have a smooth opening, and then look back up for the check. We've lost too many people due to line wrap problems.

My suggestion, look down, get an open canopy, then look up. The opening shot isn't worth it.

http://www.curtisglennphotography.com

[Danger 0]

I never look up at my canopy as it opens. This puts you in danger of injuring your neck with a hard opening. With a hard opening the slider may come over your links and interfer with your helmet.

Putting your chin to your chest can also be dangerous if there is a hard opening. Your neck muscles are near there strech limit and that snappy opening may over extend those muscles.

Watch the horizon as the canopy opens. This keeps your spine in a nice straight line allowing movement either way. If need be grap your chin cup with the left hand upon deployment to stabilize your neck.

The best advice is learn by FEEL how your canopy opens so you don't have too watch it everytime.

Danger

[SniperCJ 0]

I do neither. As the deployment stands me up, I focus on te horizon so the opening shock is directed more straight down my spine instead of foreward or back.

Ive haken a couple of bad openings with my head on my chest. I didnt like the neck strain it produced.

JC

[CameraGeek 0]

I agree with Sniper - LOOK AT THE HORIZON UNTIL THE CANOPY IS COMPLETELY OPEN AND FLYING!

It's the safest way and the easiest on your body.

My opinion, but I have 2000 camera jumps.....

Robbie Culver

[Cacophony 0]

Thanks for the advice people. I'll definately try it out and figure out the most comfortable position.