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Welcome to the wonderful world of skydiving. For me the first time I jumped out of an airplane I considered it nothing less than a spiritual experience. Very calm and peaceful. I knew then that I was hooked. As I’ve progressed I’ve taken joy in embracing the fact that this is a survivors sport. I love learning everything I can about minimizing the risk and maximizing the experience. I hope I never loose the passion iv found in skydiving and hope the same for you.

I recently experienced a Tention Knot in my right stearing line. It put me into a violent spin after releasing my breaks forcing a cut away. Why are Tention knots hardly ever discussed as a malfunction, and what is the best way to clear them. If its possible at all. I realize that the easiest way to avoid them is proper packing, but the only time ive heard a discussion about them is in passing. usually in regards to a cutaway malfunction, and usually on TRs

The thing is I just had my stearing lines replaced during my last pack job at the suggestion of my rigger. That was about 5 weeks ago and ive made about 12 jumps sinse then. Im still curious as to what else could have caused that tention knot. My stowes were good and tight as far as I could tell. Does anybody know if its some what common to get a tention knot in your stearing line. Because i had never heard of it before my malfunction.

Thanks for the input. my sabre has always gotten pretty extensive twists in the stearing lines. and I have used the tecnique youve mentioned several times. but not recently. Its good to know what could have caused the tention knot. I had no idea that twists in the stearing line could cause it. Ill defenetly start doing it on every pack job now. Thanks for the advice.

It was the last load of the day and I was planing on a high pull from 1200ft. I just wanted to enjoy the ride and the view. On the way to altitude we got a call back from the pilot that the uppers were 35 knots. Plus there were storm clouds that were starting to surround the drop zone. I decides on the way to altitude that a high pull wasnt a good idea and let the pilot know. Instead I desided to do a 2 way with another fun jumper who had manifested for a one way belly jump. We exited and had an uneventfull frefall. We turned and tracked at 5000, and i pulled at 3500, right into one of the hardest openings ive ever had. After looking in front of me for other jumpers I looked up to check my canopy. I almost immediatley noticed a tention knot on my right stearing line just above the slider and out of reach. I went to unstow my breaks to try and pump the tention knot out, but as soon as i released my breaks my canopy threw me into a violent spin. I knew immediatley that i would chop it. I grabed my handles and cut away. Because of the spin i was in when i cut away i was oriented with my side facing the ground. I pulled my reserve in the same orientation. My reserve opened immediatley. That big beautifull bright orange canopy! After I released the breaks on my reserve I noticed that it was turning to the left. I had to correct the turn with right riser pressure the rest of the way to the ground. After I landed I found out that the reserve that had just saved my life had been recalled for the same reason I had just experienced. I have a ravon 1 G that was manufactured in 1995. All in all I was glad that i reacted the way I should have. I didnt really have time to think I just reacted. I remembered my training and I go over my emergency procedures in my head on every ride to altitude. what bothers me is my inability to remember some of the details. I droped both of my handles after i cut away. I dont remember doing it and I didint realize i did it until the next day. Also I never checked my altimiter after i deployed. I have no idea at what altitude i cut away. I quess that really doesnt matter because a cut away was the only option in my mind. It just bothers me that i never looked. I was also glad that i decided not to do a hight pull. does anybody know at what part of the packing process whould a tention knot on the stering line be packed. Im thinking it would have to be during the stow, but ive been unable to talk to anybody about it. Im glad i experinced the cutaway and made it back to the ground safetly. Im looking forward to going back up soon.