MOAB - Technical Considerations………
……..and the self-evaluation process. I have made some observations in the last few months. After careful consideration of my observations, coupled with high quality digital video of many jumps, I have a few opinions I would like to put up for discussion. During canopy openings in any appreciable amount of wind I have noticed that as long as the lines are in order and straight, the pack job does not have nearly as great an effect on the direction or quality of the opening as the wind. On every occasion where there was more than a 90 degree off heading opening, wind seemed to be the main controlling factor. All changes in heading occurred immediately after the canopy left the container and before line stretch at the locking stow. Consider that this is the time of initial pressurization and that the canopy is particularly susceptible to wind-induced turn. My conclusion to this is that since we do not, at this time have a gear related solution to this, we will always have wind-induced off -heading openings. WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE OFF-HEADING OPENINGS ! Your canopy is at some point going to open at 180 degrees and you will need to turn it before you hit the wall. Let's discuss the factors involved in turning the canopy. My observations and personal experience with several wind-induced off heading openings has been that a lightly wing-loaded canopy with anywhere near a 180 and wind on the tail can not turn effectively and consistently with riser input only. Only the toggles and, if 180, the proper direction of turn (into the wind) will work. If the jumper wastes time in an attempt to turn the canopy with the risers, then the toggles are not an option and the jumper WILL STRIKE THE WALL if there is any wind on the tail. And now a brief discussion of wind and rotors is in order: whenever you have wind you are going to have rotors created by the objects that you are jumping from. There are many rock fingers in Moab and the bottoms of the canyons are filled with talus. Wind on rocks creates rotors and the slope of the talus coupled with the thermal effects cause the winds to rise at angles to the rocks. If the wind is coming from your left and you have as much as a 20 left, the canopy will have a tendency to turn into the wind. If the wind that induced this left turn is part of a rotor, the canopy will most likely turn left to 180 or more. At this point, if there is also laminar (straight) wind from behind, you will be pinned against the wall and any further attempt to turn with risers will result in a turn accompanied by a collapse of the side now facing the wall and the jumper hitting the wall again and again. It is therefore my opinion that in even light wind, immediate toggle input is indicated. Turn into the wind by burying the toggle on the side you want to turn towards and slowly release the opposite toggle until the turn is completing. Then confront the wind with toggles full up and front risers pulled down if necessary (usually not).
Speaking of toggles. I have seen several ideas and designs. I feel that all the ones I have seen are basically OK if the person is clued in on how to stow them properly. I saw one person who didn't know how to stow their toggles blame someone else when they lost both toggles on opening and almost had a serious problem. My advice to everyone is to learn as much as you can about your equipment. It's there to save your life. This is not a game and this is not the drop zone.
Now some advise for low timers and their instructors. More ground school please. If you want to BASE jump, buy your own gear and don't jump junk. . Learn your gear. Talk to the manufacturers. Read the manuals. Do not depend on others. They can't hold your hand in freefall. This is not AFF ! When you jump, you are alone. You must be SURE that you can deal with anything that happens after opening. Your accuracy needs to be top notch.
Let's discuss the exit. Body position is very important at opening. You need to do everything possible to get a good launch. Run if you can. It's not so important what position you use as long as you are getting yourself as far as possible away from the wall. There is great benefit in getting a clean exit and in getting as far away from the rock as possible. That makes it more likely that you will have an on-heading opening and that if you don't, you'll be a little farther away from the wall and have more time to turn away. Taking the longest possible delay (within reason) has multiple benefits. It gets you farther away; it increases your speed, which makes for better openings with less potential for wind-induced off-heading openings. And it's more fun. Remember, rocks are usually very unforgiving.
Concerning landing; if possible, check out the landing area. Put a wind drift indicator out. Check for rocks. Check for alternate landing areas closer to exit in case of a short glide cause by problems or delays. Let a more experienced jumper go first and give you some help on a radio if possible. Learn from other people's mishaps and avoid having your own if possible. New BASE jumpers should realize that YOU ARE NOT AT THE DROP ZONE. You are in hostile territory and unless you are sure of your landing area and your skills, you will be considerably more likely to get hurt. Almost all the injuries I have seen in Moab are the result of a poorly planned or poorly executed landing. Full body armor is in order unless you are really sure of your landings. And even then, lineovers, off-heading openings and other things will occur and put you into a bad landing area occasionally. Plan for the worst. Learn to think under canopy and do the smart thing without delay. Build your canopy skills by skydiving your BASE canopy, even if you have to buy a separate TSO'ed container to use your BASE canopy at the local DZ. Talk to hang glider pilots and paraglider pilots to learn about wind and rotors. Read all you can about hang gliding and paragliding from cliffs and in wind. These groups have been doing their thing a long time and have learned a lot; most of it the hard way with injuries and fatalities. I would like to close by reminding everyone to ask yourself before every jump "am I ready for this site in these conditions?" Are you in control of your destiny? If you are not sure about a jump, don't jump. Go somewhere safe and easy until you get better. Think for yourself. Think about the details.
STAY ALIVE - DON'T GET HURT.
Earl Redfern
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