tandem riser slap

[iowa 0]

This was discussed in S&T forum. Are there ways to minimize the slap from tandem risers? Until now I've discussed it locally and I guess we just figure it's part of the job and deal with it.

Bill Booth, can you shed any light on this?

Keith

''Always do sober what you said you would do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.'' - Ernest Hemingway

[billbooth 10]

Kieth;

I'm sorry, but I've never had it happen to me, nor has anyone ever complained to me about it. I'll do some asking around today, and see if I can shed some light on the subject. Did it happen to you on my rig or Strong's? On Vectors, the drogue is collapsed on bag lift off, and on Strong's, it does not collapse until after the canopy is out of the bag. This means the bag (and risers) leave the container more slowly on a Vector, and this could explain why I haven't had the problem.

[iowa 0]

I do Vector and Strong and thought it was happening on both but mavbe it's more common with the Strong. I see it on other Tan I's where I they use the Strong but when I use Vector I'm the only Tan I at two smaller DZ's so now I can't remember it being rig specific.

Keith

''Always do sober what you said you would do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.'' - Ernest Hemingway

[riggerrob 643]

Yes, riser slap does seem to be more common on Strong tandem rigs.
I have made about 100 jumps on Vector I Tandems and more than 2,000 jumps on Strong tandems. During that period I have seen one colleague knocked almost unconscious and another have his ear sewn back on. During that period I have been slapped in the head more times than I care to remember.
Because of riser slap, we have made hard shell (i.e. Protec) helmets mandatory for T/Ms at Pitt Meadows.
My personal solution to avoiding riser slap is to snap my head back as soon as the drogue release handle is pulled. By getting my head as far back as possible, I avoid riser slap most of the time.