Basejumper.com - archive

Is there any special way of folding the pilot chute if you're going to launch with it in your hand? What else do you need to be careful of (obviously bridle route etc).

I'm sure others here can offer their insights but I was taught to do it this way (which is the way the Basic Research & Vertigo folks taught it at Bridge Day)...

* Take the bridle & PC completely out of the BOC pouch if you have it stowed.
* Place the bridle in between your thumb & index finger (fingers facing up) and extend your arm out as far as you can to your side. Start at the base of your rig and extend outward. Basicaly what you're doing is determining the length of bridle needed to cover your arm's reach.

Also, but placing the bridle in between you thumb & index finger (facing up) you orient the bridle such that if you go unstable or inverted, you can still pitch without the bridle hanging up on your arm.

* Once you get this length, take in a little extra (maybe 2 inches or so) so that you have a little slack to cover the throwing motion, but not so much that the bridle could catch on you or your equipment.
* Now that you have the bridle length set to cover your throwing motion, and with the bridle still in between your thumb & index finger, s-fold the portion of the bridle between your right hand & PC into your right hand. When you reach the mesh of the PC you should have a neat wad of s-folded bridle in your right hand and the PC in your left.
* S-fold the bridle mesh into your right hand.
* Take the remaining PC topskin & fold it into your right hand as well.

What you should wind up with is a "layered"PC & bridle in your right hand... bridle, then mesh, then topskin.

Test to make sure you have the bridle slack correct by doing a couple practice throw motions with your right arm. You shouldn't get any tension in the bridle when you do this.

If that's all OK the only other thing to do, if you have it, is to attach the bridle velcro tab to your rig's velcro tab (this helps avoid bridle hang-ups on your rig).

Get a gear check & then jump & pitch!

This way, and many other ways exist to fold a PC. There is one thing I would say is golden:

Make the whole thing very neat!!!!!
When you EVER cram a PC into a pouch, or into your hand, you are asking for trouble. It is the lifeline. PERIOD.

Another thing about Zennies post, when mentiond about folding bridal until the slack is gone and your arm being extended has a direct route to the bridal attachment of the container....
If you have a shrivel flap rig, there is very little chance of opening the container by tugging on the PC and bridal before jumping.

But on a pin rig, the chance goes way up to accidentally pop the pin(s) before jumping. Just keep that in mind.

Maybe we're thinking about two different things here. I added that you should add about 2 inches so you have some slack. Or are you talking about when you run your hand down the bridle to get the initial length?


This reminded me of another thing I was taught. When you have B-12 snaps and are going hand-held, make sure you have your PC stowed or your bridle otherwise out of the way before you start setting up the PC. Snap your B-12 around the bridle and... well, you probably have a pretty good idea. I snap mine up before I do anything else.

In any event, follow up with a gear check just to make double-sure.

I'm pretty sure that Mick was trying to say that velcro rigs are better for going hand held. A little tension won't open your shrivel flap, but it might pop your pin. So, if you are just starting out (the kind of person going hand held and needing guidance in folding the PC), you're probably better off with a velcro rig.

Wouldnt you jump it whith the snivel flap open,if you go handheld or realy low?
I agree about the velcro,for newbies.I also think ill start up again whith that.

Stefan Faber

I don't understand. Can you elaborate on what you mean by "flap open"?

I prefer rigs like the Gargoyle or Prism, where closure is the same regardless of altitude, and you don't have to open flaps for low jumps.

Sorry i was thinking on a Vertex. or Perri Pro. Where you have closed the pins off by this flap.

With or without those flaps closed, the pins can still pop if you tug on them.
It takes far less tension to pop pins than to tear off the whole shrivel flap.

Of coarse I have seen a "Velcro Supprise" rig with 80 year old velcro that was not the case...

Just some quick

If you jump 3-400ft and have a Vertex,would you then still lock the flab(protecting the pins)?

In the BR manual it says its only for stowed jumps,but i keep hearing that pin rigs opens faster.How should i understand this?

I mean,lower=handheld or even s/l but you guys still use pin rigs for thouse low jumps,rigth?