sarge 0 #1 January 22, 2003 There have been a few recent posts that got me wondering again about an unresolved question I have always entertained about : skydiving skill and predispostion... (not to say that because you were 'this-or-that-athelete' that explains why you're good or you suck, or it took you that long -or whatever-... ) But, I don't recall seeing this one before, and I always wonder about and frequently ask, "Hey, before you started jumping, what did you do?" (in an athletic context) The question centers on an exploration of the issue of athletic predispostion to a particicular skydiving discipline and relative prowess within that or those given disciplines. Some of my (un-official) emperical findings are: I have found a lot of fellow freaks are just thrill junkies; anything fast; motorcycles, snowmobiles, boats, water skiing ;motorized influenced. still safety conservative, weird... (but nontheless have excluded motorized sports as a primary catagory in the poll) R/w'ers seem generally less independent in athletic expression. Generally team sports backgrounds,,, Anyway... if perhaps this inquiry is welcomed with some prominent degree of enthusiasm, I may continue a more thorough investigation, and a more complete and comprehensive analysis. Just in case anybody else was wondering but never asked? .-- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbarnhouse 0 #2 January 22, 2003 QuoteThe question centers on an exploration of the issue of athletic predispostion to a particicular skydiving discipline and relative prowess within that or those given disciplines. water skiing and snow skiing yes...but n Freestyle what has helped the most are synchronized swimming and spring board diving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #3 January 22, 2003 I've been involved with quite a few different sports in the past, but what I love to do now besides skydive is to lift weights. I layed off the weights last year and my body ended up looking like total shit (after have been pretty damn big and fairly lean), so now I'm back at it (as of last week) and already things are turning around... As for helping my skydiving out? Well, it sure as hell increases fall rate/wing loading. It boosts self confidence and that translates well to everything.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IronMike 0 #4 January 22, 2003 Aerobatic Flying - You must think of aerodynamics in 3 dimensions, not just push forward, go down, pull back, go up. Similar to freelfying. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #5 January 22, 2003 I was a competitive swimmer for 11 years, which sometimes is a team sport, but I'm a freeflier. I did grow up doing things like water skiing, and jumping off bridges into the water, so maybe you have something there.She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #6 January 22, 2003 In years past, I participated in a combination of team and individual sports: LaCrosse (Attack), Skiing (Slalom and GS), and Fencing. Outside of those sports, I also enjoyed Motorcycling and racquetball. Go figure. However, many of the really, really, good RW guys I've had the privilege to jump with, seem to literally swim in the air, they're so fluid in their movements. Anyway, I don't know if they used to do that or not. I do enjoy RW because of the team effort, but I don't think freeflying is any different. I see the freeflyers planning out their dives and exits all the time. On the couple hybrid jumps I've done, I can't discern a difference in one mentality or mindset over the other. We all seem to land with a smile on our face. So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #7 January 22, 2003 Good question, and I suspect the answers will be varied. Might actually merit some further research, if only to establish anecdotal data. I'm going to answer it this way: I am very not good at skydiving. Therefore, any sports I have participated in did not lend themselves to my sky athletic (non)abilities. As I am a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, competed in gymnastics, ice skating, and have spent many summers playing in a pool and many winters skiing; as I was on Team Dance, Drill and Cheer teams (years ago...many years ago) have danced many years (as a child/teen) and spent one summer running away from a ball in softball (damnit, they weren't soft!!!)...I figure: either I'm simply a klutz (which is very likely) or I missed the one thing which would translate to an appreciable skill in the air... Just my .02, and I really will be interested in seeing the others' responses to this question. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
f1freak 0 #8 January 22, 2003 well , was never into organized sports. I did play sports, but they all ended up being an adult (the coach) trying to live out what they couldnt accomplish in their youth..... To me skydiving allows a person to actually be a part of a sport where no matter what you do you fit in..... It's a great thing... HAVE FUN... ...JUST DONT DIE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stacy 0 #9 January 22, 2003 I did jujitsu/judo/iado/kali for about 4 years or so. briefly dabbled in capoweira. I also fenced in college, sabre. hey, it helped pay the tuition and for 3 hours a day i didn't get in trouble for hitting people with swords as hard as i could and playing with electrical things. they even flew me all over the US to hit more people! YAHOOOO! most importantly however, i played powderpuff football in highschool. =c) my job was to run forward as fast as i could and knock over other people. pretty cool. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflyz 0 #10 January 22, 2003 Before Skydiving i had three dirt bikes and did freestyle moto x! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #11 January 22, 2003 Maybe my opinion will change on this when I get more experience, but here's my opinion. Though not a sport, I think learning to drive a car is a lot like skydiving. Driving the car is a series of minor corrections, much like flying the body. Extreme movements can get you in trouble unless you know what you are doing. I also keep my head on a swivel driving L.A. freeways, which is useful on approach. Maintaining awareness of speed is a lot like altitude awareness. And, driving is fun, but without proper respect can kill you. As far as sports goes, I think golf helps. There is an emphasis on management. You have to keep track of body position and your swing. You'll have to figure out how to get out of a bad situation. It's a fairly mental sport. There are lots of people willing to give you some advice on how to do better. And drinking is a part fo the sport. Perhaps my analyses are a bit odd, but they worked for me. - My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dterrick 0 #12 January 22, 2003 Amateur sports car racing. On the same property as my DZ. I'm a downhill skiier too and I love mountian biking the river trails. I mention auto racing because it involves similar speeds to freefall but in 2-D and over 1G. The reaction time and depth perception you need to pilot a GT2-240Z at 120 mph into a decreasing radius corner while either wheel-to-wheel with another competitor (RW) or alone on a hot lap (style) is similar to hi-po canopy piloting. What's radically different is the reult if you get it wrong 'in the corner' and so far I've taken the slow and safe route per Billvon's canopy 'rules'. Demo's at 1.25 under Stiletto class elipticals, however, brought an INSTANT paralell to driving the GT car after my "Street stock" daily flier. Oversteer/countersteer/ head on a swivel/ SMOOTH but DECISIVE control inputs. It's also underlined how much performance can be eeked from a "lo-po" canopy - and indeed how difficult it is to get "that last 10 percent" and why it is valuable to know and learn. Oddly enough, it was the equivalent of being in a 'not-my-fault low level canopy collison' on the race track (killed my $10k vintage racing Triumph but not me I still teach hi-po driving (scared my FJC instructor during demo laps in a borrowed C-5 Greenwood Corvete) but 2-D racing will NEVER be the same. DaVinci was right.Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sarge 0 #13 January 22, 2003 Whoahhh, very cool!!! Quote It boosts self confidence and that translates well to everything. Exactly why I included weight lifting!! although anaerobic; Most individual anaerobic and all aerobic disciplines (sports) tend to be intimately familiar with stretching, breathing and concentration-related excercises. This is consistent with a developing correlation but I'm not resolved with a premature theory. Not by far... . thanks. . btw, hows the guitar coming along? .-- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #14 January 22, 2003 All through H.S I ran track and Cross country then when I moved out to utah really got into sking!! but now that I jumping ALLL my other sports and hoobies have taken a back seat!! (and when I say back seat I mean barley hanging on to the bumper!!jason Freedom of speech includes volume Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hookitt 1 #15 January 22, 2003 Skate boarding and Gymnastics and extreme skiing as a teen. Occasional bouts of Skateboarding through out life. Rollerskating in rinks and on ramps. Bicycles... bmx and mountain bikes. cardio kick boxing and climbing around on things. Now I'm lazy and out of shape. So the plan is to start climbing again and perhaps get my sorry ass to a gym just so I can hike for six hours for a 10 second delay.My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #16 January 22, 2003 Tae Kwon Do... Helped with strength, balance, flexibility, focus & concentration...moves that involve muscle memory and coordination brought a physical awareness of my carcass that I'm sure advanced my learning curve... ...then again, "could have been the beer" ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hookitt 1 #17 January 22, 2003 QuoteI am very not good at skydiving. Therefore, any sports I have participated in did not lend themselves to my sky athletic (non)abilities. 46 jumps? I suspect your previous training will come greatly in to affect in the not too distant futureMy grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpy 0 #18 January 22, 2003 I used to rockclimb as a kid but not really anymore. I'd say any flexibility that i gained from that helps i guess but not sure really. I don't think that you can say any one sport helps with skydiving skills because i reckon each person, even though they use the same principle, effectively work in there own way. A light person's gotta be damn flexible to be able to arch enough to stay down with the majority but someone that has a natural fast speed may need to work on another aspect of their flying. ^Just my 0.02 cents (Although it doesn't really make sence ) lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #19 January 22, 2003 Quote I did jujitsu/judo/iado/kali for about 4 years or so. briefly dabbled in capoweira. I also fenced in college, sabre. hey, it helped pay the tuition and for 3 hours a day i didn't get in trouble for hitting people with swords as hard as i could and playing with electrical things. they even flew me all over the US to hit more people! yup sounds like sabre to me ...i fenced in highschool and college (foil and epee and just enough sabre to qualify for 3 weapons events but) and since have played at kendo, iaido and akido... i think any sport that has an emphasis on body awareness in space is helpful..as are other sports were visulization is key... with 200 jumps i have just under 3:00 hours of actual time spent in freefall.. in how many other sports do three hours of time in just your first class??____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #20 January 22, 2003 Quote 46 jumps? I suspect your previous training will come greatly in to affect in the not too distant future Oopsss... I forgot to update. It's 49 now. Actually, I will say, without doubt, that being flexible and knowing how to not resist impact has saved my bottom from being very badly injured on at least two occasions. As to things affecting me, I also think it's a matter of how often I actually get into the sky. I do fall quite stable. I just can't fly yet... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RevJim 0 #21 January 22, 2003 I voted running (I was x country and track in High School a looooong time ago.) Personally though, before I started skydiving, I raced superbikes. I think that helped more than anything with the balance and reflexes required.It's your life, live it! Karma RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #22 January 22, 2003 Thanks for asking, the guitar is going very well, my fingers are tough now, but now my left hand cramps if I play for more then about 45 minutes. I've got about 7 songs that I can play now, so I'm still really pumped up about all of this and am playing every day. My poor trumpet is jealous, though, since I've barely played it since I got the guitar (although I really need to, I have a gig on Sunday).--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 0 #23 January 22, 2003 I know a girl who was a synconized swimmer, and is a total natural at headdown. The 3rd time she went headdown she was rock solid and by her 10th jump she could move anywhere in the sky she wanted and dock.Fly it like you stole it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faber 0 #24 January 22, 2003 think it started around 16yeas ago,i started to look after girls,have done it since...Yep thats the only sort i ever have practiced,exept drinking beerI do be live that you will learn what you need while skydiving..The only sport i can think off that migth would efect skydiving would be gymnastic,if you want to freestyle... Stay safe Stefan Faber Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #25 January 22, 2003 you forgot the CO-ED NAKAD POGOINGMy photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
