Experiencing Repeated Hard Openings

[cebra 1]

I took about a 6 month break from the sport and recently came back.  My first jump back which I packed was fine, the 2nd bam, seeing stars and car crash like bruising anywhere the harness touched me.  I thought I either forgot how to pack or didn't slow down from freefly to belly long enough.  Next jump a week or 2 later, a similar but less painful hard opening after taking more time to pack and slowing down a lot longer from freefly to belly.  I then decided I suck at packing (admittedly I have always been a crappy packer) and paid for a pack job, it was a belly jump doing camera for a tandem and 3rd time in a row a slammer that left bruising on my thighs.  I watched video of all 3 and my body position seems fine.  I fly a larger canopy, Safire2 149 at about a 1.3 WL with maybe 50 jumps on a new lineset.  I am starting to consider I may have something going on with my canopy or slider.  Any recommendations of what to check for?  I searched through a lot of hard opening related threads but couldn't locate an answer of what to do to try and eliminate repeated hard openings.  Thanks.

Edited August 11, 2020 by cebra

[betzilla 56]

Were you having hard openings before your 6 month break too, or are they new since you came back - when did the hard openings start?

[cebra 1]

Since I came back, 1st jump fine, last 3 have been hard openings...the first one was really hard.  I had never had a hard opening before including 100 jumps or so on this canopy.

[Binary93 65]

Did you change/do anything at all regarding your equipment during your break? If both you and someone else packed it and you got hard openings I guess we can dismiss packing issues (though it could be a fairly unlucky coincidence).

Maybe have someone stay with you on the jump and record your opening?

[betzilla 56]

20 minutes ago, cebra said:

Since I came back, 1st jump fine, last 3 have been hard openings...the first one was really hard.  I had never had a hard opening before including 100 jumps or so on this canopy.

If you haven't already, I'd have a trusted rigger look it over. I might be that first "really hard" opening caused some rib damage that's now allowing your canopy to inflate too quickly. Just a wild-ass guess.

These weren't the first jumps post-reline, right?

[sundevil777 93]

After 3 consecutive hard openings as you describe, don't jump it anymore - a visit to somebody/somewhere for diagnosis is appropriate.  Serious inspection with the possibility of test jumping by someone else should be considered.

Edited August 12, 2020 by sundevil777

[cebra 1]

I have maybe 50 or so on the reline. I didn't do anything to it during my downtime less leave it in the closet unpacked.   I think I will take it in to a rigger to get checked.

[piisfish 135]

Slider is critical. Fully uncollapsed, and up to the grommets.