Woody Valley exense User manual

Please read this manual before flying with the EXENSE and
EXENSE AIRBAG for the first time.

THANK YOU!
We would like to thank you for having chosen one of our products, and we invite you to read this important document, the User Manual for the harness. Please pay
special attention to the two most important paragraphs, regarding:
Insertion of the reserve parachute.
The reserve parachute is a piece of equipment that may save your life. It must be treated so that it works correctly when it is required, whether this happens in
two days’ time, or two years from now.
Adjusting the harness.
The harness forms the connection between the pilot and the paraglider, and it is an essential component in optimizing performance and the pleasure of flying. A
bad harness that is well adjusted may enable you to fly well, but a good harness that is badly adjusted may put you off flying altogether.
We are confident that this harness will give you greater comfort, control, performance and enjoyment in flight. We are conscious of the fact that reading an
instruction manual is not an exciting experience. However, please remember that the respective product is not a citrus juicer or a mobile phone, and that correct
use of the harness helps reduce the risk of flying accidents. This manual contains all the information necessary to assemble, adjust, fly and store your harness.
Thorough knowledge of your equipment will improve your personal safety and your level of flying.
The Woody Valley team
SAFETY NOTE
You have purchased a piece of equipment manufactured by us, and
so you are aware of your identity as a paraglider pilot holding the
respective pilot’s licence, and you accept all the risks connected to
paragliding including the possibility of injury and death. The
incorrect or inappropriate use of Woody Valley equipment greatly
increases this risk. In no case can Woody Valley and the Woody Valley
retailer be held responsible for personal injury caused to yourself or
to third parties, or for whatever type of damage. If you have any
doubts on the use of our equipment, please contact your retailer or
the importer for your country.

INDEX
1- GENERAL INFORMATION .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
1.1- CONCEPT ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1
1.2- EXENSE PROTECTION ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2
1.3- EXENSE AIRBAG PROTECTION................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2
1.4- S.O.S. LABEL..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2
2- BEFORE USING THE HARNESS ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1- ASSEMBLING THE DORSAL PROTECTION FOR EXENSE .............................................................................................................................................................................................................3
2.2- RESERVE PARACHUTE ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................3
2.2.1- Connecting the deployment handle to the deployment bag .............................................................................................................................................................................4
2.2.2- Connecting the reserve parachute to the harness..............................................................................................................................................................................................4
2.2.3- Inserting the reserve parachute into the EXENSE harness...............................................................................................................................................................................7
2.2.4- Inserting the reserve parachute into the EXENSE AIRBAG harness...............................................................................................................................................................8
2.2.5- Reserve parachute deployment................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9
2.3- HARNESS ADJUSTMENTS............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9
2.3.1- Back position adjustment...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9
2.3.2- Shoulder-strap adjustment .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................10
2.3.3- Chest strap adjustment ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................10
2.3.4- Leg strap adjustment ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................11
3- FLYING WITH THE EXENSE AND EXENSE AIRBAG HARNESS......................................................................................................................................................... 11
3.1- PRE-FLIGHT CHECKS ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................11
3.2- POCKETS ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................12
3.3- DUAL FLYING ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................12
3.4- FLYING ABOVE WATER...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................12
3.5- TOW BRIDLE CONNECTION.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................13
3.6- LANDING WITH THE EXENSE AND EXENSE AIRBAG............................................................................................................................................................................................................13
4- FEATURES AND ASSEMBLY OF OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES ............................................................................................................................................................ 13
4.1- ASSEMBLY AND ADJUSTMENT OF THE SPEED-SYSTEM.............................................................................................................................................................................................................13
4.2- COCKPIT AND FRONT BALLAST ASSEMBLY ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14
4.3- RELAX-BAR...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14
4.4- LEG COVER ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14

4.5- POLYCARBONATE SEAT ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14
5- MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
6- TECHNICAL DATA ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
7- CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
7.1- EXENSE CERTIFICATES......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................17
7.2- EXENSE AIRBAG CERTIFICATES ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................18

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1- GENERAL INFORMATION
The equipment supplied should comprise:
-Harness
-Wooden seat plate
-Hook-in karabiners
-Handle for reserve parachute deployment
-2 spare elastic loops for fastening the reserve parachute
The optional extras comprise:
- Speed-bar
- Relax-bar
- Front ballast pocket
- Leg Cover (wind-proof cover)
- Lightweight seat plate in polycarbonate
1.1- Concept
EXENSE is made in two versions, EXENSE (with foam protection) and EXENSE AIRBAG (with Airbag protection).
EXENSE / EXENSE AIRBAG is a product that was developed wholly by Woody Valley to meet the demands specifically expressed by our pilots. This harness was
designed principally for inexperienced pilots, though its use can extend well beyond this category, because we dedicated particular attention to the comfort and
safety of our customers.
EXENSE / EXENSE AIRBAG is a simple, linear, lightweight harness, designed for maximum comfort and ease of use. It is easy to carry around when not in the air.
Chest-straps and leg-straps are fitted with the “T-LOCK safety system” to prevent the pilot from sliding out of the harness in the case that he or she has forgotten
to fasten the leg-straps.

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1.2- EXENSE protection
EXENSE is fitted with dorsal protection in foam with a thickness of 17 cm. A sheet of high-density polyethylene on the outside of the foam dorsal protection
provides a barrier in the case of collision with pointed objects, and the reinforced external fabric reduces the damage that could be caused to the harness by
abrasion. This dorsal protection was designed to help the pilot in case of impact, reducing the energetic intensity of deceleration. However it cannot completely
eliminate the risk of injury.
1.3- EXENSE AIRBAG protection
The airbag provides excellent protection against the shock caused by impact. Its structure based on semi-rigid compartments ensures that about 60/70% of total
protection is provided even without complete inflation, which occurs during the launch phase.
When preparing for flight, before putting on the harness, check that the zip on the back is completely closed. In any case, the performance of the airbag
underneath remains unchanged, because the opening between the airbag and the rucksack is of dimensions to ensure consistent results whether the zip is open
or closed. When the zip is closed, the part of the airbag behind the back, corresponding to the large rear pocket, functions more effectively. When folding the
harness, make sure that the padded section around the airbag inflation valve does not suffer any tight folds which could eventually mar its correct functioning.
1.4- S.O.S. label
This label, coloured red with white lettering, is readily visible in a pocket on the right shoulder-strap padding. It is easy to pull out, and it is fastened to the harness
to prevent it from being lost. On the back of this label, you can write the information that you think should be given to rescue personnel in case of accident.

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2- BEFORE USING THE HARNESS
EXENSE / EXENSE AIRBAG must be assembled by a qualified paragliding professional, such as your instructor. More specifically, great care has to be dedicated to
inserting the reserve parachute into the harness in the correct way. Only after this has been performed should the pilot adjust the harness for maximum comfort.
2.1- Assembling the dorsal protection for EXENSE
Woody Valley recommends that assembly should be performed in the sequence detailed below. In case of doubts or any other problems regarding this procedure,
please consult your instructor, your Woody Valley retailer, or the importer.
Normally the product is supplied with separate dorsal protection, rolled and packed separately. In this case, follow these steps for its installation
a. Remove the protection from its packaging (once it has been removed from its packaging, it may take about 2 hours to return to its normal shape)
b. Open the zip inside the rear harness pocket
c. Insert the foam protection, which will automatically fit into the correct position
Do not place the foam protection below the cross-buckles on the back of the harness.
Should it be necessary to remove the protection, just extract it following the steps described in point “b” above.
2.2- Reserve parachute
The housing for the reserve parachute is below the seat in the front part of the harness. The container is large enough for most reserve parachutes on the market
today. The reserve parachute has to be linked to the harness before it is inserted into the built-in pocket. This connection takes the form of a dual bridle fixed to
the harness at shoulder height, for better load distribution and to ensure a correct landing position in the case that the reserve parachute is deployed. This helps
reduce the risk of injury to a minimum. The reserve chute bridle has a large central loop coloured red, and this is reinforced with a cover in Cordura 500. At the
extremity of the loop, there is a Velcro band which enables the link with the reserve parachute to be held firmly in position.

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2.2.1- Connecting the deployment handle to the deployment bag
EXENSE / EXENSE AIRBAG is supplied with a handle for reserve parachute extraction. It is identified with the number 6; this handle alone should be used for this
purpose.
The black loop attached to the handle itself should be passed into the loop on the deployment bag, and then the entire handle should be passed through its own
loop and pulled tight. For easier extraction, the loop attached to the deployment bag should be positioned laterally with respect to the centre of the reserve
parachute. If your deployment bag does not have this loop, please contact the retailer from whom you purchased the reserve parachute.
2.2.2- Connecting the reserve parachute to the harness
There are three different methods of attaching the reserve parachute bridle to the harness bridle.
First system:
Use a screw-lock karabiner with a breaking strength of at least 2,000 kg. In this case, the bridles should be held in position within the karabiner using elastic bands,
to prevent the karabiner from rotating and taking the strain laterally instead of vertically. The karabiner’s screw-lock should be tightly screwed shut to avoid any
possibility of it opening accidentally. This type of connection can absorb a higher opening shock than the second system, and for this reason this is without doubt
the recommended system.

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Second system:
The reserve parachute bridle is passed through the loop at the end of the harness reserve parachute bridle. The reserve parachute itself is then passed through
the large loop in the reserve parachute bridle. This connects the two bridles. The loops should be pulled as tight as possible to avoid any chance of dangerous
friction developing between the two bridles during the shock caused when the reserve parachute opens. To ensure that the link between the two bridles remains
tight, remember to fasten the knot using the Velcro strip on the harness reserve parachute bridle.
Third system:
If you are using a reserve parachute with directional control and dual bridle, or if your reserve parachute in any case has a double-riser bridle, it can be connected
to the harness using the two loops positioned at the base of the harness bridle, near the padded shoulder straps. In this case, the harness’ reserve parachute
bridle will not be used, and so it should be folded, fastened using two elastic bands, and positioned under the cover behind the pilot’s neck.

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The two connections should be made using screw-lock karabiners with a breaking strength of at least 1,400 kg. In any case, it is important to verify that the length
of the bridle is sufficient to position the reserve parachute inside the harness pocket, and that there is sufficient play to enable the parachute to be taken out of
the pocket without causing the reserve parachute deployment bag itself to open during extraction.
IMPORTANT: To prevent anomalous lateral loads, the bridle should be attached to both the loops on the shoulder straps. Not to just one of them.