heidihagen 0 #1 July 14, 2005 last night i had a dream that was SO real it even made a kickass morning until midday when i remembered it and realized it didn't happen. it went just like this. - (i don't remember flaking) but i was on my knees, folding the canopy into a nice s fold- THEN got it into the bag with no problems like i had been doing this YEARS or something. i was even so impressed, i jumped it again (yeah, doesn't make sense, but it was a dream.. and probably something i'd do in real life too) after reading the "when did you have your first cutaway" thread, i'm kind of worried mine will be the first time i pack for myself. i wish i had taken the packing class sooner instead of waiting until my yellow card is slmost full. i've been out the last 3 weekends and haven't jumped my own yet... mainly because i can't even get it into the bag with out lines going EVERYwhere... (i've learned all the tricks, but after a while i just want it in and it gets sloppy). SO, here's my question: did anyone ever have a cutaway on their first packjob? my dz won't let me jump until i have it down-- i know that. i just need practice.i didn't lose my mind, i sold it on ebay. .:need a container to fit 5'4", 110 lb. cypres ready & able to fit a 170 main (or slightly smaller):.[/ce Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #2 July 14, 2005 Your poll leaves out "had one as a student, not my packjob." Seriously, just keep doing it till you get comfortable. The first one you jump, make sure it's one with lots of supervision. Do that for the second, third, forurth, however many you need to get comfortable. I was such a remedial packing student but now I pack for myself almost all the time and have much more confidence in my ability to pack safely, even if they're not the "prettiest" packjobs in the world."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #3 July 14, 2005 Having had several cut-aways, I would suggest not sweating it. The gear works. You just have to use it, and be sure to use it high enough.We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
heidihagen 0 #4 July 14, 2005 packers pack packjobs? kidding. i knew i would forget something in my poll... if you had one as a student using a packers, just say "no cutaway" because you hadn't learned yet.i didn't lose my mind, i sold it on ebay. .:need a container to fit 5'4", 110 lb. cypres ready & able to fit a 170 main (or slightly smaller):.[/ce Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ashtanga 0 #5 July 14, 2005 Just remember to take your time and keep it as clean as possible. I have taught over 100 packing classes and I always watched the packs that were going to be jumped and I have never had a student have a cutaway. I've seen some wild packs too but I would not allow anyone jump something that was dangerous. Have one of the packers watch you pack it before you jump it and they will make sure you do not jump anything that it SURE to malfunction. Shit happens sometimes though and any pack job might malfunction. As stated above when you have your first reserve ride, if ever, you will be glad you got it over with because it really isn't that big of a deal and your under your reserve before you know what happened. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tcnelson 1 #6 July 14, 2005 kind of a funny story... i have packed every single one of my jumps, minus my initial 15 or so, except one. it was packed by my brother who had the exact same canopy and that has been my only reserve ride. what can i say? brotherly love..."Don't talk to me like that assface...I don't work for you yet." - Fletch NBFT, Deseoso Rodriguez RB#1329 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ashtanga 0 #7 July 14, 2005 That reminds me of a time when Steve Curtis's brother packed his Stilleto. Steve came into the packing area and said to his brother, "I don't mind you packing for me but just remember to set the brakes next time." Apparently he had several line twists. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RfukfreeflyingW 0 #8 July 14, 2005 Dont be too worried how it looks. You should see what mine look like, and they've all worked so far... Hell the pretty ones normally hurt ---- -God, you are the perfect amount of dumb... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Balls 0 #9 July 14, 2005 My first packjob I packed line twists. I just kicked out of them. After I landed the coach that watched me pack said that he watched me pack the twists.---------------------------------------- ....so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildcard451 0 #10 July 14, 2005 The only cutaway I have had was a canopy wrap, so i don't think I will count it for these purposes. Make sure to maintain good control of the slider in the tail roll for your packjob. My first one I jumped that Ipacked opened like a friggin freight train. I was bruised for a week. I do rather enjoy my own packjobs now though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hemphog 0 #11 July 14, 2005 QuoteDont be too worried how it looks. You should see what mine look like, and they've all worked so far... Hell the pretty ones normally hurt Crazy how that works eh!? The ones that look great, hurt the most. The ones I make a mess with, open just right. Don't worry about packing student rigs. They usually are more forgiving. Open higher, and be ready for line twists really. I once trash packed my rig, just to see what I could get away with and if it would still open. Was off heading and twisted, but still opened and could be kicked out of. Messy lines give twists only if you've made sure there are no entanglements. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Ya we'll rape the local objects, and maybe do some jumps too!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #12 July 14, 2005 QuoteSO, here's my question: did anyone ever have a cutaway on their first packjob? Yes. It has been is/was my only cut away. Don't sweat it. The fear of it coming is soooooo much worse than when it happens. I looked up and said "Shit I just knew it." I knew exactly what to do and all was well. I even landed fairly close to the 'X' on my reserve, as I recall. And my rigger was terribly happy. He watched the whole thing from the ground and was very content to get his bottle. Now then, I did assist in packing another mal for someone else, however.... He landed it though. Brake fire AND a step through packed on a ....hmm, I can't remember, but I think it was a teeny little Stiletto! Thank God we didn't kill him, he was my instructor. ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpjunkie2004 0 #13 July 14, 2005 Jumped my first pack job on 7/10/05 - on my check dive. I had end cell closures, but they assured me that I didn't do anything to make that happen. Good luck!Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
heidihagen 0 #14 July 14, 2005 congrats jj!!!!i still have 1 dock and a check dive to go before i get mine. my yellow card has a place forr two packjobs (assisted & unassisted), so it should work out perfect as soon as i get the hang of it. i've had end cell closure and line twists too... i really just meant something worth cutting away when i said "mal" heyeeeee jayeeeee--at least it was your only one. what was it? i'm not sure i can ever pack for anyone else. we'll see!!!i didn't lose my mind, i sold it on ebay. .:need a container to fit 5'4", 110 lb. cypres ready & able to fit a 170 main (or slightly smaller):.[/ce Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zoter 0 #15 July 14, 2005 Follow the 'basic rules' of packing ( I wont go into them here in detail other than...) brakes set.....lines centered/material outside....slider against links and quatered.....good line stows I experiment with the rest of the pack job on every other jump and have yet to have a problem....other than it sometimes opening quicker or slower than I expected. Follow the 'basic' rules of packing and relax....go jump it In fact ( as many will confirm) some of the best openings are on those 10min call packjobs ... Go figure...! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut 0 #16 July 14, 2005 i wouldn't qworry about it..... i pack the same way for every jump prtty much ( well sometimes it's pretty slopy now, but back when i had less than say 400 jumps i always packed the same way and no idea what i did wrong on this jump but it wasa line over that cleared itslef on a very hard opening..... had all kinds of line burns on the top skin after we inspected the canopy..... oh and turn up the volume the audio is pricless..... my 86th jump......(and one of only a few video's onthe video vault here on dz.com) www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/gallery/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=Video_Vault&image=wingnut_rippedmain_qt.mov&img=&tt=mov ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallinWoman 1 #17 July 15, 2005 I have had two reserve rides in 300 jumps....and I did not pack either of them...one was packed by a DZ packer...and one was when I was demo-ing a Javelin. My first jump on my own pack job I threw out and said, "please open please open please open...." and it did. Now I am a bit leary about jumping another person's pack job ~Anne I'm a Doll!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #18 July 15, 2005 First of all, when the hell did I pass you in jumps? Second: I started learning to pack around jump 13 or 14. By the time I was at jump 18 or so, they just let me go (that was my pre-second unassisted pack job), and I'll tell you what - I have packed some ugly, ugly shit into a bag since then and thought "there's no goddamned way this will work", but it did! Funny thing about that first full pack job... I forgot that I was the one who packed it until I was under canopy, I was unstowing the brakes and went "Whoa, holy shit, the fucker opened!" cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ravan 0 #19 July 15, 2005 I'm still working on filling my packing card, and have yet to jump my own pack job....will probably do that this weekend. I have no fear of jumping my own pack though, after I was made the butt of a practical joke at my DZ... my first pack job on an exp jumpers rig, I was nervous to see it jumped, the guy jumping it seemed even more nervous, taking about chopping it and the cost of a re-pack etc... I found out his jump order and watched the skies with much anticipation ( half the DZ came out to watch it) out he came, collapsed end cell and went into a high speed spin, the guys around me are yelling at Lenny to chop it ...my nerves were shot, I had packed a damn mal! until all eyes turned to me and they started laughing. The fuckers pulled a good one over on me. I found out it was actually a nice soft opening. He pulled hard on the front riser for the spin . Food, Fornication, Freefall Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Travman 6 #20 July 15, 2005 I was convinced I was going to get a cut away on my first pack job. I had packed and repacked several times before it came time to jump it. It was probably the best opening I have ever had. Still yet to have a cutaway..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot90 0 #21 July 15, 2005 Quotekind of a funny story... i have packed every single one of my jumps, minus my initial 15 or so, except one. it was packed by my brother who had the exact same canopy and that has been my only reserve ride. what can i say? brotherly love... My son packed my 2ed chop. He was afraid I was going to be mad Heck i was teaching him, so i told him it was the teachers fault. Most chops are no big deal. However they can get costly Pack like you have no reserve and everything will be fine. Your canopy wants to open, it likes to fly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dharma1976 0 #22 July 15, 2005 learn to pack on tandem canopies, then once you have that down, you can pack anything ;) the trick that helped me the most was the one knee the s fold, one knee on the side to hold it steady. (PS I am also a packer now, with well over 700 packjobs (300 of which were in the last two months and include tandems)http://www.skyjunky.com CSpenceFLY - I can't believe the number of people willing to bet their life on someone else doing the right thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skychick312 0 #23 July 15, 2005 Ok I had a cutaway at jump # 17...I did not pack that one, bc I was still working manifest....I had a complete container lock due to a misrouted briddle!! Opps....I learned how to pack then and ever since it has been just fine! The worst that can happen is yeah you gotta cutaway, but you have a back up... I have over 8,000 pack jobs now so if you have any questions Pm me or email, whichever! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Be the change you wish to see in the world! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
heidihagen 0 #24 July 15, 2005 tandems? noooo.... i'm still trying to control a 170! i see what you're saying though haha! i know it's going to open, i'm just worried about what it will look like! the lines start moving from the center when i start to put it in the bag. our packer taught me the knee trick as well!!! i need to get better at that though because as soon as i let pressure off, i ruin it. that too!!!i'm also scared of a really hard opening. >>when the hell did I pass you in jumps? hey gru--- when you learned to pack! Quote threw out and said, "please open please open please open...." i'll be saying "please open prettty please open pretty.." thanks alli didn't lose my mind, i sold it on ebay. .:need a container to fit 5'4", 110 lb. cypres ready & able to fit a 170 main (or slightly smaller):.[/ce Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darshiva8 0 #25 July 15, 2005 Just breathe, Heidi. ************** For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. ~Leonardo da Vinci~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
