tbrown

Excellent article. I returned to the sport in 2003, after a 22 year layoff. The ONLY thing I would add to Larry's list would be to get signed up for a canopy course as soon as possible. Canopies nowadays blow the doors off anything we had in the 1970's or '80s - even the student canopies. They're a lot of fun, but they demand respect and it only takes one mistake to put you in the hospital - or on your pals' next ash dive project. Learn how to fly today's canopies !

Use a RSL or MARD. The one cutaway I had in eleven years, my RSL had me at line stretch as I was pulling the ripcord handle out of its pocket (an I used the "old school" method of one hand on each handle). I was really impressed with how that worked, pulled the ripcord all the way anyhow (an empty pull), but the peace of mind of being opened so quickly was well worth it. Besides, too many people have bounced from chopping too low with no RSL and then not being able to find the other handle.