Basically, these are both about staging the deployment. The two techniques are generally called "direct" and "indirect" slider control, although the locking stow also serves some other purposes.
>I saw him make a 6" single stow w/ rubber band, and set the stow between the tail pocket and the canopy
This locking stow is a form of slider control, often called indirect slider control.
The idea is that the stow keeps the slider up in the pack job until you get to line stretch. This prevents the slider from sliding down the lines too early, which could result in very hard--to the point of injurious--openings.
The locking stow is also used to stage the deployment. The idea is to keep the canopy together in a bundle until it reaches line stretch. This prevents the lines from being pushed outward while they are still slack, potentially creating tension knots (or worse). It is for this reason that some people also use the locking stow on slider down jumps.
>I've also heard of jumpers making a stow(s) of slider in a rubber band.
This is "direct" slider control. It keeps the slider up in the pack job until the pack job achieves line stretch.
>How much slider should you grab with this technuiqe
It's going to depend on your slider/line geometry, which is peculiar to each canopy and size.
The most common techniques are to use a tailgate rubber band, and either double the rubber band, or double the slider. I've seen one (very) experienced jumper who takes a bite that approaches six inches. I personally tend to take about an inch or so. But it's really going to depend on the canopy in question.
>...and why?
Same reason as indirect control. To prevent the slider from descending prematurely.
There's a good post by Dwain somewhere where he explains why you need at least one of these on every slider up jump. Let me see if I can find it.
Hope this helps.
--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@mac.com
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