cebra 1 #1 Posted August 11, 2020 (edited) 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betzilla 56 #2 August 11, 2020 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? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cebra 1 #3 August 11, 2020 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Binary93 65 #4 August 11, 2020 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? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betzilla 56 #5 August 11, 2020 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? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 99 #6 August 12, 2020 (edited) 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 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cebra 1 #7 August 13, 2020 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. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 137 #8 August 18, 2020 Slider is critical. Fully uncollapsed, and up to the grommets. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites