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Thanks all for the insight and comments. It's always great to hear from more experienced jumpers dispensing knowledge. It's given me a lot to think about. Yep, that was me jumping with Dan in the leopard suit. I'm really disappointed I didn't get to put in more jumps there at Borki - it was my first time jumping there. Still, we did get a three way in at the end of the day, with me jumping rented gear. I've been thinking a lot about the possibility of an incompletely cocked pilot chute. What I wrote in my original post is a little misleading - I cocked it after it was already in the bag, and then pulled the kill line again after closing the container. I noticed the bridle just above the closing pin scrunched up a bit, and so I popped the container to adjust it, just to be _sure_. However, there's always the chance I missed something in this process. Now I'm leaning more towards pilot chute in burble. I'm really tempted to say it's just that the canopy is too big for the container, but I know that's probably not the case. I've checked the kill line length on my pilot chute and it's fine. After reading Bill Booth's pointers on pilot chutes I checked mine and the only issue I have is that the apex, when fully inflated, lies right AT the level of the skirt. That's something I'd actually noticed a while ago, and had struck me as odd. It's not the kill line that prevents the apex from extending further "above" or "below" the skirt (depending on how you look at it - right side up or upside down). There's a piece of tape running between the apex and the point where the mesh attaches to the bridle. It's this tape that prevents the apex from extending further away from the bridle and "above/below" the skirt. I'm definitely going to have one more rigger look at the pilot chute, but hand tosses show it seems to function normally and inflate fully. Anyway, the rig goes off to ParaAvis tomorrow, and hopefully I'll have it back and can get it packed by next weekend. Now's a very convenient time to have the mods done anyway, as all the dropzones around Moscow will be closed this weekend for Victory Day celebrations.

One of the other things I'd thought about - it definitely could have been PC in burble. Unfortunately, I have no way to find out exactly what the deal was. However, 3 delayed openings in 12 jumps seems a little excessive. After the first two delays I made it a habit of looking over my shoulder to witness the deployment, and had no problems. However, on this most recent one, I didn't look. I'd like to do some pack jobs on the main and pull the bridle by hand to see if I can get it stuck in there, but unfortunately without a reserve packjob that's kind of pointless, and I'm going to send the container off at least for the Cypres Mod and RSL before getting the reserve repacked.

So, I had my first cutaway yesterday. It seems I owe beer (a bottle for the rigger isn't a tradition in Russia...go figure). Here's the story, as well as some questions I want to throw out to help prevent it from happening again. It was my second jump of the day. I was jumping a Scorpion 150 (made by a Russian company, ParaAvis), in a Mirage G3 150/150 container with a Tempo 150 reserve. This is a system I bought about a month ago (used container and reserve, new main and kill-line pilot chute). I'd put 12 jumps on this system before my malfunction, and was very happy with it except for one detail. On two previous jumps, I'd experienced very slow deployments. Each time I'd continued to freefall an additional 2-3 seconds after throwing the pilot chute before feeling line stretch and the risers start to unstow. I wasn't totally sure there really had been a problem - after all, it could all have just been in my mind. But I had a _feeling_ there was something inhibiting deployment - closing loop too tight, pilot chute too small, or container too tight. Perhaps even pilot chute not fully cocked (unlikely, but possible). I was jumping my own packjob. After an uneventful sitfly, went to belly at 5500 feet, waved at 3800 feet, and started deployment at 3200-3300 feet. One second passed. Two seconds passed. Three seconds passed. Still in freefall. At a little over four seconds I was sure there was something very wrong and went to emergency procedures. First I went for my cutaway handle. I pulled red, and halfway through the cutaway procedure, felt the main risers start to deploy and a tug as my main started to inflate, as well as what I think was one of the risers releasing. Continued pulling the cutaway handle, swept my left arm down to clear the cables, and threw away the handle as I felt myself return into freefall (well, not really return as I never completely left freefall, but felt myself returning from a standing orientation towards a bellydown). Immediately pulled silver and was quickly under a beautiful white Tempo reserve. Not even a harsh/violent opening - just very swift. My Digitude read 1580 feet, though I didn't look at it until checking the canopy, clearing airspace, and spotting my main and freebag. Actual reserve opening was probably at about 1800 feet. After watching my main and freebag for a bit, to judge where they might land, I headed for the landing zone for a very nice landing (though I misjudged the flare and ended up falling back on my butt). So, here are all the things I can think of that could have caused this total mal: 1) Flawed pilot chute 2) Uncocked pilot chute 3) Closing loop too tight 4) Bag lock 5) Canopy pack volume too large for container I'm relatively convinced the malfunction was caused by forcing a main canopy that was too big into a container that was too small for it. Yes, it was a 150 main in a 150 container, but a Scorpion 150 has a large pack volume for a 150 (something I only learned after buying it), and it's always required a bit of technique to get it into the container. Inspection of the pilot chute by myself and a rigger showed no problems. I'm absolutely sure the pilot chute was cocked (while packing for this jump I'd actually had some trouble initially cocking the pilot chute, and went so far as to pull the pin on the container so I could rearrange the stowing of the bridle. I then closed the container, and cocked the pilot chute. Hell, it was cocked and then some). The closing loop was tight but not unreasonably so. And inspection of the d-bag shows that all rubber bands were unbroken, leading me to believe it was NOT bag lock. So that leaves only door number 5 - canopy too large for container. I'm convinced this is what caused my two previous slow deployments, as well as this latest incident (which itself was another slow deployment - it's just that main deployment started after I'd already decided to go to EPs and started pulling handles). I talked to a rigger about the problem and he recommended unsewing a portion of the bottom two corners of the main container in order to allow for easier main deployments. I'll be taking the container to ParaAvis (a local canopy/container manufacturer) probably on Wednesday to have this done, as well as have an RSL installed and have the G3 Cypres modification done. Luckily, I'm still here to tell the tale (and not listed in the incidents forum). However, things I wish I'd done differently: 1) I wish I'd looked over my shoulder to "see" the problem 2) I wish I'd jabbed the main container with my elbows to try and dislodge the main before going to EPs One simple remedy that I think could have prevented this mal is to simply not rotate the d-bag when placing it in the container. All three times I experienced delayed openings (including this cutaway), the d-bag had been rotated. However, on 6 jumps I did not rotate the d-bag, and aside from making the container EASIER to close (go figure), I experienced no delays in deployment. I'm planning on making this regular practice even after the container modifications are done. Specifically, on my kill-line bridle, there is a very stiff, unflexible section that extends about one inch above the d-bag. I believe the pressure of this stiff section of the bridle pressing against the reserve container is what kept the d-bag from deploying. My questions are: 1) Is there anything I might have missed or could have done better in saving my own life? 2) What will the effects from this container modification be? Will it make it more difficult to put a normal-sized 150 in the container? Does anyone have any experience with such a mod? 3) Is it common practice to have this one inch stiff bridle section directly above the d-bag? This is my first kill-line system, so I don't have any reference. 4) Is there any reason it's dangerous NOT to rotate the d-bag? I've read that rotating the d-bag helps prevent bag lock by stopping line stows from interacting, but I don't personally agree with this (again, if I'm wrong, correct me). As I understand it, rotating the d-bag only makes the d-bag better fit in the container (which in my case isn't even really the case). Sorry for all the questions. A lot of them would be better posed to a rigger, but I'm in a country where I have only intermediate knowledge of the language, and so explaining some of this to a rigger would be difficult. Blue skies & thanks for any help, Will

Yo ernguru, I live in Moscow and jump at Stupino. Stupino's a nice place, pretty big, relatively busy (think 35+ loads on a normal day). I haven't had a chance to visit Kolomna, Egorevsk, or any of the others - there are about 12 around Moscow to choose from. Hopefully I'll be heading to Kolomna next weekend and can give you some info. All the dropzones are pretty far from the city - I'd guesstimate about 100 kilometers from the center. Most can be reached by electric train, but it's much better and faster to travel by car. The trip to Stupino takes 2.5 to 3 hours by electric train. If you won't have a car in Moscow, you can organize carpools with other jumpers relatively easily. Check out www.dropzone.ru for more information about Moscow dropzones and contact numbers. A couple of things to consider when choosing a dropzone near Moscow - how much do you want to jump, do you prefer a small dropzone vibe, do you want to do helicopter jumps (both Stupino and Kolomna have Mi-8 helicopters, probably a few other DZs as well), do you want to do high-altitude jumps (in about 2 weeks there should be helo jumps from 22,000 feet at Kolomna)? Feel free to shoot me any questions you might have. If you don't speak any Russian, be warned that it can be very difficult to navigate Moscow. There will almost certainly be someone who speaks English at the dropzones, but you won't be able to ask random people on the street for help/directions. Blue Skies, Will

Exactly my point though. When giving advice to others, we give advice that is by and large more cautious than need be (better than giving advice that's not cautious enough). I do this just as much as anyone else. But for people making a decision on whether to downsize, start swooping, etc., they start with the advice of other experienced jumpers (which will probably be very cautious) and then make up their own mind about what is appropriate for them and the amount of risk they're willing to accept. And this rarely is as cautious as the same advice they would give others. Hence the "I'm ready for this next step/smaller canopy, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else" situation. I would argue that a jumper's decision to downsize isn't wrong just because he/she wouldn't recommend it to someone else at that skill level. What it means is that this jumper at this skill level is personally willing to accept the risk (and hopefully has a good idea of the risk involved).

Oh my God!!! There are no traction pads in that bathtub. An accident waiting to happen. Seriously though, I'd be curious to find out if the same statistical adage applies to skydivers, that you're more likely to be injured in the bathroom. Considering our addiction, I don't know where you'd be more likely to be injured - in the bathroom or at the DZ (or possibly at the bar after the DZ).

My God, that phrase just about sums it up for me. "The sport that governs nearly every waking thought of my life." Getting back to wingloadings though, the advice given in skydiving always tends to err on the side of caution. Hell, when I give advice (which of course never happens as I'm a 56-jump know-nothing), I always err on the side of safety. But we all know we often don't hold the same standards for ourselves that we hold for others. My own case in point, I just returned from a 9-month break, and promptly started the season by downsizing from a 190 Spectre to a 150 Scorpion. Is that kind of transition a conservative thing to do after a 9-month lapse? Hell no. If someone else had asked me for my thoughts on such a switch, I would have told them "ask someone who has more experience than me, cause I don't know shit in this sport, but personally it sounds like a bad idea to me." However, for myself, I knew the change was the right decision for me - without a doubt. After just 40 jumps on a 190 Spectre, I felt like I was driving a schoolbus. Having just moved to another country where I couldn't find a used 170 container anywhere just confirmed my choice to get a 150 system (hell, finding a 150 container was difficult enough - I really think people downsize a lot faster, and start a lot smaller here, than in the US). The point being, it's great to advise people to be cautious...it's great to try and keep people from overstepping their bounds. But there's definitely a limit to the caution. It's unreasonable (though sensible) to put a good 200-300 jumps on every canopy, and learn to fly it completely, before downsizing. If everybody did that, it'd take 1000 jumps to hit a 1.5 wingloading (and while for some that is good, not everybody needs it). The advice will always be to "take it slow and steady," but the reality of the situation is that some of the advice out there really is _too_ conservative. When you're 100% ready to progress, educate yourself about all the effects of your decision, be ready to take a step back if you make the wrong choice (hopefully before ending up on the incidents forum), and accept the possible results.

Yo Zephr, I've been living in Moscow for 9 months now, and I'm sorry to say I've never heard of Eurograd. Is it near Moscow? You sure you don't mean Egorevsk or Kolomna? I've been to Stupino a couple of times. I'll probably be visiting Egorevsk (and Borki and a few others) before July too. There are something like a dozen various dropzones to choose from all around Moscow, each with a different atmosphere. One nice thing about several of the dropzones in Russia is many of them have one (or more) helicopters in use, with lift tickets running the same as for a normal plane ride. At Stupino, they've actually got a huge Mi-8 helo that takes a load to altitude in about 8 minutes (guessing, never have timed it). That's about twice as fast as the L-410 plane they also use. Lift tickets are now running about $12 - $13 to 4000 meters. Anyway, PM me if you have any questions about DZs around Moscow, or if you have any extra info about Eurograd. If it's near Moscow, I might just let you twist my arm to visit it and give you a review. I'm assuming you speak some Russian or have friends in Russia. If not, getting around Russia will be very difficult. At the dropzones there'll definitely be someone who speaks English, but don't expect average Joes in the street to be able to help you in English.

I learned that a Scorpion 150 packs like a 175 (you should see the look on my packer's face having so much trouble putting a 150 canopy in a 150 container). I learned a 3 hour trip to the dropzone, 3 hour trip home is totally worth it for just 3 jumps. I learned I love helo jumps!!! I learned rain at 110 MPH really sucks!!! Especially when you're hitting the pointy ends ;^D I learned girls with cats are really boring. And they're not worth dating no matter how good the lasagne is. I learned skydivers are the most considerate, most helpful, coolest people in the world - voobshe okhuitel'nie!!! I learned Juan is now a Tandem Instructor! Kick ass.

Cool, Thanks for all the swift replies - I learn something new every day. Big Blue Ones, Will P.S. I'll be sure to post some info about the Scorpion once I've had a chance to put it through its paces.

By the way, I did a pretty thorough search for previous posts on this subject and didn't find anything. Apologies if I'm bringing up an issue that's been addressed before.

Okay, so I'm an American living abroad at the moment. I just picked up a Mirage G3 container and Tempo reserve. All covered under US TSO certs. However, for the main, I decided to go with something a little more local, and threw down for a canopy from the little known (in the US) Russian company, Paraavis. http://www.paraavis.com The main looks to be in great shape, well built, professional, all ZP, and so on. In short, inspecting it visually, it looks on par with anything PD or the other manufacturers produce. However, it's not TSO'd in the US. In another 9 months I'll be returning to the states, and would like to bring it back with me to use there (after thorough testing here, of course). Does anyone know if it's legal to jump a non TSO'd main in the US if the container and reserve are all up to snuff and TSO'd? Here's what I think is the appropriate section from the SIM: From looking at the SIM, my first impression is that I should be good to go. I'm assuming the key phrase is "one approved reserve parachute, and one approved single person harness and container." Anybody have any more concrete experience? I'd hate to get back to the states with a canopy I can't jump and can't sell.

What up Ro? Glad to hear you saved your own life. Just wish I could have been there to see it (and enjoy the free beer). I'd always been wondering how long your were gonna be able to go before pulling silver Have you posted the video anywhere? skydivingmovies.com? I'd like to check that out. Hopefully I'll run into you again sometime at Williston - next time I can make it over there. After all, I still owe beer! Again, congrats on not dying!!! -- Will

Hey frankiebrina, You can find tons of information about jumping smoke at the following links: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=347152 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=286963 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=188565 As soon as I saw my first video featuring smoke, I knew it was something I wanted to do. But from reading those threads, it is clear that there is a LOT that can go wrong from jumping smoke, the very least of which are a permanently stained rig/jumpsuit/canopy, serious burns to your body, and holes in the canopy. I'm about as green as green gets in this sport, and I'll be putting smoke off for a long while. --Will

And don't forget the all-too-common side-shooters. You aim for the bowl with the best of intentions and next thing you know you're looking to replace that soaked roll of toilet paper. Luckily those side-shooters only fire left and right, and never up.