QTPi 0 #1 May 1, 2003 After reading Holly's incident report I was curious about this. I have soft links and I'm not even sure I know what bumpers are. Could anyone educate me? -- A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. -Oliver Wendel Holmes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emartin 0 #2 May 1, 2003 hi, angelee, it's beth from aggieland... instead of slinks, some people have hard metal d shaped links that hold their canopy to their risers. in order to protect the grommets of your slider from getting nicked on these hard links, people place plastic tubes that form fit around the tops of the links as a barrier. the plastic tubes are called bumpers. i bet todd has some next time you're out...you can see them. ps. congrats on your 100th. i'm very happy for you! B Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QTPi 0 #3 May 1, 2003 O.K. I know exactly what you're talking about now. I knew what the hard links were but I didn't know those tubes were called bumpers. I think Mark has them on his rig. Thanks! -- A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. -Oliver Wendel Holmes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #4 May 1, 2003 If you come to the DZ this weekened, I'll show you a rig with rapid-links and bumpers. You can also put bumpers on your Slinks, PD makes some now specifically for Slinks now. --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QTPi 0 #5 May 1, 2003 Quote You can also put bumpers on your Slinks Why don't more people do this? Is it recomended? -- A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. -Oliver Wendel Holmes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #6 May 1, 2003 Because most people who use Slinks use them to be able to pull down on their slider and stow them behind their necks.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QTPi 0 #7 May 1, 2003 I collapse my slider but I've never stowed it behind my neck. Is it safer that way? -- A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. -Oliver Wendel Holmes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #8 May 1, 2003 Its not so much a safety thing (although as shown recently, it can be), its more of a performance thing (and a lot of times 'I wanna look cool' thing).--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverek 63 #9 May 1, 2003 Quote You can also put bumpers on your Slinks, PD makes some now specifically for Slinks now. Can somebody post a picture of PD Slinks BUMPERS? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
relyon 0 #10 May 1, 2003 Here is a pic of rapide (hard) links with soft bumpers. Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #11 May 1, 2003 I searched PD's site and couldn't find a pic or even it being mentioned, but we have a set two laying around the DZ from some Slinks that have been recently ordered, so we could show you those this weekend.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #12 May 1, 2003 Quote Its not so much a safety thing (although as shown recently, it can be) Having your slider behind your neck could be a safety thing in the other direction. If it isn't secured back there it can come back up and end up in your face - at the worst possible time of course. If it is secured back there it could be a problem if you need to cut that main away. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerm 0 #13 May 2, 2003 Quote Its not so much a safety thing (although as shown recently, it can be), must have missed that thread in the move.. can you elaborate on this for me, please? Landing without injury is not necessarily evidence that you didn't fuck up... it just means you got away with it this time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #14 May 2, 2003 Quote Having your slider behind your neck could be a safety thing in the other direction Great point Lisa! I don't know why I didn't mention that, but you are most definately right.(the thread is in incidents, the one about Holly).--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #15 May 2, 2003 I have hard links and bumpers. I recently had the slider come flying down and instead of stopping at the bumpers, ended up flapping in front of my face. I can see how this could have led to a collision with another jumper because of obscured vision and the fact that I was trying to collapse it in front of my face rather than over-head. I was also wondering on people's thoughts, on stowing the slider in front of your chin. I've seen some pro-swoopers do this....Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,016 #16 May 2, 2003 >Having your slider behind your neck could be a safety thing in the > other direction. If it isn't secured back there it can come back up > and end up in your face Have you ever seen that happen? I haven't. I've had my slider go back up the risers, but then it seems to just sit there under the brake guide rings. It seems like the wind is blowing it _away_ from my face. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #17 May 2, 2003 Quote Have you ever seen that happen? Haven't seen it, but I've heard about it. Although now that I think about it, those people may have been putting the slider under their chin... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rigging65 0 #18 May 2, 2003 Quote >Having your slider behind your neck could be a safety thing in the > other direction. If it isn't secured back there it can come back up > and end up in your face Have you ever seen that happen? I haven't. I've had my slider go back up the risers, but then it seems to just sit there under the brake guide rings. It seems like the wind is blowing it _away_ from my face. I watched a very competent pilot have his slider pop up from behind his neck (the kill-lines slipped loose) and inflate, then flop over in front of his face. He very nearly lost it on landing, but managed to pull it out and slide it in without injury. It doesn't happen much, but then again, neither does cutting away once you've stowed your slider...6 of one, half dozen of the other. "...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward. For there you have been, and there you long to return..." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
