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Just wondering what most people are doing and why they choose what they do.

I think the argument I'd make for leaving it on is that I don't have to worry about making a rigging mistake. However: there's still sum rigging (the toggles) regardless of the choice, that extra stuff in the tray seems messy, and the rigging isn't too difficult to double and triple check if you do take off.

Maybe also taking into consideration if I'm making lots of no slider jumps in a row or switching between objects frequently.

What are all the experienced people's thoughts here?

I just configured my rig for a no slider jump last night by removing the slider. Why?

1) It's cleaner for packing
2) It's cleaner for deployment
3) The canopy performs better in the flatter profile.
4) An added benefit is that the harness (and therefore your body) are a bit more likely to face the same direction as the canopy on opening. IMHO, with a given opening heading, say a 120 left (god help you), you are more likely to get a line twist if the slider is on and holding the ends of the risers together than if you had removed slider.

Im not experienced.. but if you do most slider down/off it migth be easyest to remove it(i have done that).But if you change between objects alot its another storry..i think.. he he

One reason to leave the slider on is that it can act as a cross connector between the risers. This saved one jumper last year when he had an accidental riser release, on one side, but the canopy remained inflated enough to land him (in water).

If you're doing fast slider down aerials, the slider might also help keep your body from flipping between the risers and creating a step through.

How did this happen? Did the riser break, or was cut away somehow?

Did he forget to make a gear chek before jumping?or what went wrong?I thiink i saw that video.A violent 1riserspin just before inpact whith water rigth? could he walk from there?

That would just make your pack job longer,it wouldnt be a mal if you turn them once,But if time if a big factor like say 2 gainers from 200ft it migth be inportant.I have seen serval students(skydive)even do such a manuver whith slider(ofcours),and no problem landing it.

Here is an excerpt from page 29 of the Ace Owner's Manual.

As it states, the decision is not so critical. If you constantly switch from slider to non-slider type objects, possibly are not too organized or have little rigging experience: leave it on. If the opposite is true then take it off and your slider-off packjobs will be easier and lower bulk. FYI, the details of removal or securing it in place are on the following page.

I encourage everyone to check out the manual on our web page . It is available for download or viewing in the Document Library. Personally, I feel a lot of it's content has applicability to all canopies.

Enjoy
Adam Filippino
Consolidated Rigging, Inc.

Tip: Slider-down or slider-off has long been a point of debate within the BASE community. The fact is that there is no right or wrong choice, but there are right and wrong ways to execute that choice.
If you take it off, be sure of your rigging. If you leave it on, be sure to properly secure it.



The following list of positives and negatives associated with each method should help you decide your preference.


Slider-down:
Pros:
¨ Easy reconfigurations between slider-up and slider-down configurations.
¨ Minimal chance for misrigging.
¨ Slider can function as a cross-connector in grossly unstable deployments .


Cons:
Adds bulk to pack job.
¨ Must be properly secured.

---

Slider-Off:
Pros:
¨ Less bulk and cleaner in the pack tray.
¨ Can allow canopy to spread further in flight, slightly improving glide.

Cons:
¨ More complex reconfigurations between slider-up and slider-off.
¨ Greater chance for misrigging
¨ Must carry tools and slider to reconfigure.

Interesting thoughts, however, I don't think that these are really reasons one should use to make a decision whether or not to leave the slider on the canopy.

The slider is designed to slow the opening of the canopy. If it is not used for that purpose, IMHO, it should be removed. (For similar reasons, I don't leave my tailgate in for slider up jumps)

My .02

Mark

I'm glad someone finally brought this up.

I prefer to tie the slider down and will do so until I can no longer jump, unless they invent something to allow it to come off easier. Constant removal and installation of sliders greatly increases chances of rigging errors.

I'd rather have to remember to tie the slider down than to properly tighten connector links, reinstall rubber bumpers and zip ties, perform line checks, etc.

It's a personal choice. Nobody should be criticized for their decision to do one or the other.

CYA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jason, I'm not trying criticizing anyone for leaving the slider on and tying it down. I agree that the possibility of rigging errors during the removal of the slider is very real. (Personally, I've developed habits and checks during the process of putting on/removing the slider which make me more comfortable doing so)

I'm guessing here, but I'm pretty sure that the people in the examples that Tom gave probably left their sliders on for reasons similar to yours.

I'd just hate to see a low-time jumper reading that to say "you should leave your slider on to act as a cross-connector in case a riser unintentionally releases". I think that if you are afraid of your riser unintentionally releasing, you should inspect your gear again OR you should stay home.

I agree.

I wish there was a way to take off the slider between opening and landing...

In some (rare) instances, I will tie my slider down for a jump or two. But mostly, I prefer to have it out of the way for shallower delay jumps.
I like to hook my BASE canopy. I have had a slider affect the front riser performance of my canopy pretty dramatically, and don't want it to happen again. I realize rigging errors happen--but in short, if you're not comfortable re-configuring your own BASE gear, you have no business jumping from anything other than an airplane. Rigging is an extremely important part of this sport--and it is this reason that I think one should have 4-500 skydives (generally) before they begin real BASE jumping.

BASE is not a weekend warrior type of sport--there is no 'part-time' BASE jumper...you're either in or your out. Those that get into the sport that just want to make "a jump now and then" are incidents waiting to happen. I can't emphasize enough: BASE and skydiving are two totally different sports--you will die if you don't respect that fact.

/rant

You guys are thinking way to much about this. You just need to buy more GEAR!
Have a rig or two for slider off and a rig or two for slider up. No rigging involved. Just don't forget which one is which! Damm I love buying gear!

C-Ya
$Broke$ Dave

I dont really see the big issue in removing a slider or set it on again.If you know how your gear works and why,it take no time to do that job,inkluding line control.But then again if you want to repack whith in 15min i can see the problem,but then again,im just a newbie,i dont need thouse kind of jumps,were i have to pack faster than im confertalel whith.

i guess most slider off/down jumps will be bandit jumps,there you normaly only get that one jump that nigth and have a minimum of 12hours before be needed again..there you have plenty of time to get a slider on/off to another jump
Then we have slider up jumps dont know how many which is bandit jumps and how many there are legal but it sure seems as more legal jumps(compared to slider down/off) meaning(normaly)a big B or some cliffs,were you dont really need to take the slider off..

funny thourgth,did you start at thouse #´s?I feel the same but i think its migt just becours i did that myself...

could you please tell that to my nearest dz?they hate BASE but its okay by paragliding

yes I did. Even if I started BASE when I had 50 (or 5000) jumps...I'd feel the same way in hindsight.