Tolgak

I didn't see anything. I didn't really try to look at it. I went by feel (meaning I panicked and forgot to look), and it felt way too long for the canopy to open. It was a good 2 seconds of waiting with no opening. After cutting and pulling reserve, I watched where the bag (slowed by pilot chute) and other parts fell and we went to pick them up after I landed. The bag's lines looked slightly more sloppy than when I put them in, likely due to my excessive efforts in trying to pack it into the container. As far as I know, nobody came up with a definitive answer to why the canopy didn't open. It was all speculation and I'm just reporting the various things I heard them say. One of the staff pulled on my lines to show that the pilot chute definitely would have had enough force to pull the lines from the stows. However, from what I felt, it was pretty clear that the pilot chute was out and inflated. I knew the bag had come out because I felt the change in the pressure on my back and was somewhat lifted from my shoulders when it happened. There was a noticeable difference in fall rate both at the start of the malfunction and after the cutaway. When I next talk to the dz I will see if they came up with a good answer. If it was just a stuck pin, it doesn't seem like the bag would have been released if I cut away. I too was really pissed when I pulled reserve. I let out a nice, hearty "FUUUUUUUUCK!!!" at the opening... because the first thing that entered my mind was the potential cost of everything I would have to replace. I also remember being offered aid when I was putting my canopy into the bag (that I refused) and was angry at myself for not taking that offer. I was also planning another jump that day, which I had to cancel because of these new costs. I will return this weekend to continue jumping and getting RW skills in, but I will sadly have to jump less because I have to replace a cable and pay for a reserve packjob. Dropzones are terrible places for inspiration. What does one think when one looks up for a sign only to see a bunch of people falling?

Yesterday, on my 41st jump and packjob #10 (I think), I had a bag lock which resulted in the obvious necessity to cut away and pull reserve. After recovering all the gear, some of the staff at DeLand looked over it to see what could have been the problem. Some said that it could have been my pilot chute being caught in my burble, though it looked to others and to me that my lines and canopy weren't stowed very well. In any case, I'm not as concerned about why it happened (I am more than willing to ensure that I do not make the same packing mistakes again) as I am my response to the incident. During the malfunction I felt no fear and only a slight rush to pull my handles. Afterward, I was barely affected by the possibility of what could have happened. Is it normal for cutaways to be so indifferent toward a high-speed malfunction? It isn't a normal occurrence by any means for my life to be in danger and while I've had serious emotional issues throughout all of my past, I thought I pretty much got over most of them by now. How did you react to your cutaways after they happened (if they ever did) and do I have a problem for not being affected or is it a non-issue? -Tolga K. Dropzones are terrible places for inspiration. What does one think when one looks up for a sign only to see a bunch of people falling?