tony509

I am able to reach the BOC deployment handle, but it is just not as easy or natural as I would like. It is probably a combination of the two (lats and biceps), although I suspect more lats than anything. In the past two years I put on about 20 pounds in the gym. I am 5’11” and about 230 pounds. I guess another thing to consider is that I have been using rental gear, so it may not be sized to me ideally. I am looking to get my own gear soon. I am leaning toward the leg deployment setup (ROL) as this would pretty much eliminate any difficulties on reaching for the handle. I know that the leg deployment setup (ROL) is not as ideal because there is more bridal exposed. But I think that ultimately having a very comfortable and natural deployment probably outweighs the exposed bridal issue. I welcome anyone else’s point of view. Tony

Hi! First I am glad to have come across this site - lots of good information out here. OK, here is my situation - I took a few years off skydiving and just got back into it. In the 2 years between I have make some great progress in the gym. But adding extra muscle tends to decrease flexibility. On my refresher training everything seemed cool. Then when I went on the coach jump I was having problems reaching my BOC deployment handle on my practice pulls - yikes. You can imagine the terror I started to feel. When it came time to deploy I stretched hard, and in the process became a little unstable, but managed to deploy nevertheless. But deploying should be very easy and natural - not something you have to put effort into. I have since been stretching and am finding it easier to deploy with a BOC setup. However I am about to buy my first rig and am considering going with a leg deployment system as opposed to BOC. My logic being that the deployment process should be extremely easy and natural. If BOC causes me to have to really REACH for it, then I am probably better off with a leg deployment system that would definitely be easier to grasp. Any thoughts? Tony

Speaking of stretching - - I recently HAD to start stretching. I took a few years off skydiving and just got back into it. In the 2 years between I have make some great progress in the gym. Adding extra muscle tends to decrease flexibility. On my refresher training everything seemed cool. Then when I went on the coach jump I was having problems reaching my BOC deployment handle on my practice pulls - yikes. You can imagine the terror I started to feel. When it came time to deploy I stretched hard, and in the process became a little unstable, but managed to deploy nevertheless. But deploying should be very easy and natural - not something you have to put effort into. I have since been stretching and am finding it easier to deploy with a BOC setup. However I am about to buy my first rig and will probably go with a leg deployment system as opposed to BOC. Any thoughts?