377 21 #1 February 23, 2010 Every skydiver is a gambler. When we pull the silver handle we are literally betting our lives on hitting a jackpot. I've won that jackpot twice. I mean what are the chances of hitting two jackpots on two pulls? They don't call em "riggers" for nothing. 3772018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yoink 321 #2 February 23, 2010 Sorry? Are you saying that packing a reserve and having it inflate is a gamble akin to hitting a jackpot? I hope it's a damnsight more likely than that! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #3 February 23, 2010 We call them just reserve packers. How about 6? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
377 21 #4 February 23, 2010 Nahh, just feels like you hit a jackpot when it opens with no problems and flies right. In fact, it feels better than anything you can get in Vegas, jackpot or otherwise. 3772018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #5 February 23, 2010 Quote We call them just reserve packers. How about 6? I hope your "reserve packer" isn't the same guy who is packing your main! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #6 February 23, 2010 Quote Quote We call them just reserve packers. How about 6? I hope your "reserve packer" isn't the same guy who is packing your main! Sure and you must be a fortune teller, just buy telling from a number. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
likestojump 3 #7 February 23, 2010 Don't call me a rigger ! I am a Nylon American ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,346 #8 February 23, 2010 Quote Don't call me a rigger ! I am a Nylon American ! I thought it was a "Kneeling American""There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #9 February 23, 2010 Quote Every skydiver is a gambler. When we pull the silver handle we are literally betting our lives on hitting a jackpot. I've won that jackpot twice. I mean what are the chances of hitting two jackpots on two pulls? They don't call em "riggers" for nothing. 377 Imagine... how the rigger feels!The son of the rancher I work for, always brought his rig to me for I&R. One Saturday, he had a reserve ride. I witnessed the whole thing and he did a good job getting material into the air. After that, I could do no wrong, back at the ranch!Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
parafredo 0 #10 February 23, 2010 Life is a gamble. You have just to try to put all chances on your side, rigger too... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #11 February 24, 2010 My dad told me while I was growing-up: "Do it right or don't do it at all!" Keep the odds on your side! Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fencebuster 7 #12 February 24, 2010 I had my first cut-away on C-1, jump #4. After I did it once I trusted the gear to save me. I have 4 cutaways and one non-cut-away reserve ride in 740 jumps. TRUST THE GEAR! I feel like I have won the jackpot 5 times. All my riggers get their choice of beverages!Charlie Gittins, 540-327-2208 AFF-I, Sigma TI, IAD-I MEI, CFI-I, Senior Rigger Former DZO, Blue Ridge Skydiving Adventures Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoryJ 0 #13 February 24, 2010 Rigga please!Not again! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pchapman 262 #14 February 24, 2010 I don't know about the jackpot thing, but here's another bit of imagery: Going for the reserve has reminded me of a duel in a Western movie. You chop, flip to belly, and there you are, face to face with the earth coming at you fast. It's just the two of you, nothing else matters. You're down to your last shot. It's the moment of truth that imprints itself on your brain. "Draw!" Your hand moves, there's a flash of silver, and you stop the earth dead in its tracks... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 3 #15 February 24, 2010 QuoteI don't know about the jackpot thing, but here's another bit of imagery: Going for the reserve has reminded me of a duel in a Western movie. You chop, flip to belly, and there you are, face to face with the earth coming at you fast. It's just the two of you, nothing else matters. You're down to your last shot. It's the moment of truth that imprints itself on your brain. "Draw!" Your hand moves, there's a flash of silver, and you stop the earth dead in its tracks... Waitress, oh waitress, can I have the same thing he is drinking. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
koppel 3 #16 February 24, 2010 I want that shirt!I like my canopy... ...it lets me down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sparkie 0 #17 February 24, 2010 Quote I had my first cut-away on C-1, jump #4. After I did it once I trusted the gear to save me. I have 4 cutaways and one non-cut-away reserve ride in 740 jumps. TRUST THE GEAR! I feel like I have won the jackpot 5 times. All my riggers get their choice of beverages! yikes, how did you manage that? only ~200 jumps / 1 reserve? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GLIDEANGLE 1 #18 February 24, 2010 Quote Quote I had my first cut-away on C-1, jump #4. After I did it once I trusted the gear to save me. I have 4 cutaways and one non-cut-away reserve ride in 740 jumps. TRUST THE GEAR! I feel like I have won the jackpot 5 times. All my riggers get their choice of beverages! yikes, how did you manage that? only ~200 jumps / 1 reserve? Actually it is worse than that! it is ~148 jumps / reserve ride (740/5).The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fencebuster 7 #19 February 24, 2010 Just unlucky I guess. #2-- Mr. Bill gone wrong, tension knots, spinning canopy slider stuck 2/3 of the way up. #3-- steering line/toggle knotted around guide ring; probably could have landed on rear risers, but felt more comfortable with the cut-away, which worked out real well with my skyhook. #4 -- new, smaller rig, shifted during free fall and I could not reach the hackey in 3 tries-- pulled sliver passing 2500. #5 Slammer after using a different packer at a boogie damaged my canopy (blown cell and broken steering lines; spinning canopy, cut away at 3,000 -- lost the main canopy and freebag in a river.Charlie Gittins, 540-327-2208 AFF-I, Sigma TI, IAD-I MEI, CFI-I, Senior Rigger Former DZO, Blue Ridge Skydiving Adventures Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
apogee77 0 #20 February 24, 2010 Talk to Rory down in Spaceland. Will Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #21 February 25, 2010 More than 4300 emergency parachutes packed and only one customer died while wearing my workmanship. Mind you, he never climbed high enough to bail out. The last few seconds of his life, he was busy trying to force-land his experimental Reno race plane. Other than that, I quit counting after more than 20 reserve rides. Most of my reserve rides were after cutting away from first-generation tandem mains that almost opened. I don't have a clue how many skydivers I have saved because the cheapskates no longer bring me booze. Oh! Wait a minute! I quit drinking booze more than 14 years ago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #22 February 25, 2010 Was that the Pond racer? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #23 February 25, 2010 Yes, it was the Pond Racer. I forget the details, but he was wearing a fairly standard Butler Chair type PEP containing a 26 foot Lopo or Butler XTC-500 round canopy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #24 February 25, 2010 Quote In fact, it feels better than anything you can get in Vegas, jackpot or otherwise. You've obviously never met Jasmine...the tall brunette that hangs out at the Riviera. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
377 21 #25 February 25, 2010 Good one Airtwardo Maybe we should give our riggers an hour with Jasmine instead of a bottle of their favorite liquor when we pull silver and have a good ride. They should get a good ride too huh? Mixing hookers and skydiving has caused problems in the past. Remember that Twin Beech jumpship from Yolo CA that crashed at that Nevada "ranch"? 3772018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
