Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld recounts the story of his recent reserve ride, and the lessons to be learned…


Three years ago, my right shoulder started going bad. I switched my BOC to the left side. Last June I had the shoulder operated on. It’s recovered well, feels stronger and seems to have complete range of motion. Recently my left shoulder started feeling like it was deteriorating so I switched back to the right side BOC. I did a few jumps like that and they went fine. But it was a little harder to get my hand on the BOC than it should have been. I got it every time, it only took an extra second or two, but it wasn’t as easy as it should be.
One Sunday in April during the Top Flite event, I came back to pull and couldn’t get a good grip of my handle. I took another second, reached harder, stretched my fingers out to get it but… no luck. I’m sure I could’ve gotten it, it would only take a couple seconds more… dumb idea!
I immediately went straight to my reserve. I had made the decision long ago that if this happened, I would not waste time screwing around. I did just what I had trained myself to do. My PD Optimum 126 opened beautifully over my head and I had a full reserve canopy just under 2,000 feet.
What did I learn?
- If I had given it just two more tries it would have taken about 5 seconds. My Vigil would have fired and I would have had two out. There is no time to be wasted with a high speed malfunction.
- I should have switched back to left side after one jump when it was in any way more difficult than it should have been to deploy.
- I’m so glad my preparation and planning paid off. I would have gotten so much crap from so many friends had my AAD fired and I had two out.
Summary
Make your plan for your Emergency Procedures and practice them. There is not time for indecision or the wrong decision.
And when you use your reserve, and it saves your life, buy your rigger dinner. Thanks Carolina Zuazo!
Addendum
I switched back to the left side. Pulling is easy on the left. I’m doing serious stretching to increase the range of motion.

- Dan BC’s Reserve Ride - 26th April 2023
- Skydiving Safety Briefing by Dan BC - 22nd March 2023
- Be CALM! - 4th August 2022
- Let’s Talk About FEAR - 18th January 2022
- Take Charge! - 16th August 2021
- P3 Power Play 2021 - 15th July 2021
- One Big Family - 10th June 2021
- Let’s talk Canopy COLLISIONS - 18th May 2021
Please check out my book 'Above All Else' here
https://www.amazon.com/Above-All-Else-Skydivers-Adversity/dp/1616084464/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3GVTJD4PNPB86&keywords=above+all+else&qid=1555432052&s=books&sprefix=above+all+else%2Caps%2C206&sr=1-1
- Dan BC’s Reserve Ride - 26th April 2023
- Skydiving Safety Briefing by Dan BC - 22nd March 2023
- Be CALM! - 4th August 2022
- Let’s Talk About FEAR - 18th January 2022
- Take Charge! - 16th August 2021
- P3 Power Play 2021 - 15th July 2021
- One Big Family - 10th June 2021
- Let’s talk Canopy COLLISIONS - 18th May 2021