Basejumper.com - archive

How safe are static line jumps? I have never had a 90 or close, but some small off-headings due to wind. I think 100 of my jumps are SL/PCA, and in the witnessed/given 250-300 I have seen one little more then 90. It was crosswind aswell.
And in one case I know someone who had a 180, don't know the reasons but would like to know if more people know of other cases.

You forgot one answer :

O The last PCA i saw was done perfectly onheading by a good looking woman

So i can't vote on this one ...

That's ok, I know ALL your PCA jumps were always onheading!

But more then 20% of the people who voted said they have had or know about a 180. I did not expect it to be that much. The one case I know was a dutch guy jumping in Spain.

Anybody who voted the last option want to tell what happened and how the conditions were? Any known reasons?

Thanks!

also, for the people with 180s, were you hurt and if so, how badly? were you wearing body armor?

This thread is helping my confidence
about static lining a nice 190 foot B
that I have been dreaming about.

the flaw about this is probably that most people who "heard" about one heard about the same incident, given the rarity of offheadings in sl/pca.
i have never had or witnessed more than 20 degrees off.
and i have done/given/had given/seen quite a few.
i managed to burn holes into a bridle with mountainbiking gloves tho'...but even that one opened nice.

Seb : 2nd jump, PCA, 180°, cliff strike
but it's Seb, it's doens't count for statistics ....

During the 3 main UK ProBASE events I attended this year there were hundreds if not 1000+ PCA/SL. From memory there was 1 x 180 on the last day of the last event everything else was on heading +/- a degree or 2.
Most were performed by Dave M (weathergirl) so I am sure he can tell you numbers involved.

Yes, I agree. It probably would have been better for the last one "I have had a 180".

For me, in wind still conditions I would be sure of a onheading opening. A little self confidence based on my own experience. But I know there have been 180's. I am just curious if those that happened all had a reason like winds or body position, or if there also have been 180's in perfect conditions with perfect body position.

In my experience .....A common cause of 'off headings' on PCA's and Static lines
( other than a really shitty pack job or bad body position) is the position of the 'anchor', relative to the position of the exit.

If the PCA'r is noticeably to the left or right of the jumper....the packjob is pulled out at a 'slant' ...and can open off heading in the opposite direction.
ie ...PCA'r to the right of the jumper....jumper falls down straight ...bridal is pulling on the canopy from right of centre = off heading (usually) to the left.

Like wise...a static line anchor point noticeably to the left or the right of the jumper can cause the same.

I'm more concerned with the above on a S/L /PCA than a crosswind ( in terms of heading performance) ....unless its a real howling wind.....in which case I probably am not jumping !

Worst off Ive seen was a 100+ left off a static line...nil winds, good body position.
When we looked back at vid and analysed it , we both agreed the jumper had tied on to the rail next to him.....but had shuffled over considerably to the left ( getting a better exit position) putting his static line anchor point considerably to the right of his exit position.
Person in question was an experienced jumper ( and S/L 'r) with no real history of poor packjob induced off headings......so we figured the reason was probably due to whats described above....or that 'ol 'roll of the dice/get you anytime randomness' we have to live with in this game.

If the anchor point is off to one side, then my thought is that the risers will load unevenly, with the the opposite side first, thus causing an off heading toward that way... the same theory as with crosswind induced off headings?

Yes, that is a good point as well. I always take care my anchor point is just behind me. I have seen pictures of PCA when people who gave them were really to the side. It is like crosswind on a short delay, pilotchute to right and offheading to the left.

Actually, I was aware of 2 180's. The one montblanc mentioned resulting in a cliffstrike and the other where dutch guy jumped 55m building in spain. He did not(!) hit the building but broke his foot or ankle landing on the pavement after backing up the canopy. But on both occasions I do not know if there was wind, or other reasons.

A packjob would have to be really assymetric I think to cause offheading for a SL/PCA.

Gus, bless his socks, had shocking heading performance on S/L jumps. His freefall heading performance was much better. I recall several consecutive jumps shortly before his death where he had 90's or more offheading.

ian

I don't know how to change my vote but tonight I had a 90+ off left from a static line with the anchor point to my right (there may also have been some left shuffling at the last min to get a better exit position...) No wind, perfect body position IMO . I would guess the anchor point was 3ft to the right of my body centreline on exit.... Another lesson learned.

Anchor to the right, tension on left riser causing off heading to the left. Vice-versa. Same on x-wind jumps.