The111 1 #1 March 28, 2004 Had to cutaway from my 14th WS jump due to spiralling linetwists, even on a Spectre 170 loaded @ 1.1. I learned: 1) Will get mods done to my gear immediately and pack grommet to BOC once I get fully cut corners (though I don't think these twists were due to my gear, this is still a nice thing to get done). 2) Next jump will be all practice pulls. From up high I will practice locking my knees together, getting both hands on my BOC, and just falling stable like that for several seconds at a time, ending with a practice toss and observing how symmetric it is. In my 14 jumps I have had 10 PERFECT openings and a few with many twists. 3) I will unzip faster, but not so fast I mess up the opening... I'm thinking as soon as I feel mostly seated up I will start unzipping (comments welcome). The worst thing about these twists I got: it started off as about 4-5 when I was fully seated, but I could tell the harness was shifted which meant this could start turning... and for a few seconds I was just "freewheeling" on the axis of the linetwists, i.e. adding several twists for a total of a hell of a lot, and the whole time I was sitting there freewheeling I was getting my zippers undone and by the time I could grab my risers the gentle turn was already starting and was a moderate spiral within five more seconds, and I chose not to fight it and cut before it became a hard spiral. I feel if I had my zippers undone in time to stop that "freewheeling" from adding the extra twists this could have turned out different. I think the most important of all of the above is probably #2. Anyway, I took a second or two after the chop to get belly to relative wind and then I fired my reserve. The opening was so hard I HEARD every vertebrae in my back crack. I'm still hurting but I think I'll be ok. My only idea to explain this (besides shit happens) is my arm wings were collapsed (because I was unzipped and had hands on handles) but my leg wing wasn't. In my two second freefall I may have gone into a headdown (to relative wind) dive, prior to reserve opening. Should I have crossed my legs (or at least closed them) while initiating EP's? I would think two seconds of freefall would not provide enough acceleration to inflate a suit wing very much, but my spiralling canopy may have tossed me sideways with a moderate airspeed to begin with... I guess better safe than sorry so next time (knock on wood) I'll close my leg wing as I'm grabbing my handles. I had never really thought of this situation before.www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #2 March 28, 2004 You lived! BTW I don't recommend crossing your legs while in a wing suit, this may tend to put you into a spiral. closing your legs should be good enough. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leroydb 0 #3 March 28, 2004 close ur leg wing... cut ur wings in an emergency....Leroy ..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigG 0 #4 March 29, 2004 Quote and the whole time I was sitting there freewheeling I was getting my zippers undone and May be chopping both the arm wings might have been a better idea at this stage rather than undoing the zippers. Just a suggestion. Anyway, glad to hear that you did not get hurt. Fly safe buddy. G. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kansasskydiver 0 #5 March 31, 2004 I was taught to bring your knees together (touching) and keep your leg wing closed. Arch at the hips and then cutaway. Hopefully I never have to do so though<--- See look, pink dolphins DO exist! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
