Shocking Docking!

[skybitch 0]

From time to time I seem to be entirely unable to actually dock on a formation. I've got over 100 jumps and done a bit of RW, but still, every now and then I seem to be unable to get that final satisfying 'Schoomf!' of a nice firm dock... (NO double entendres please!)
I just sometimes seem to pop up and down and back before I manage to make contact. It's driving me mental!
Anyone have any tips?
SB
(Laaarge wiv da Heeenton Massif!)

[SkySlut 0]

Sounds like you may be reaching for the formation...that will send you back and may also send you up as well. I would recommend using more legs to move you into the formation. If your forward motion is based on bringing your arms back and you arent using your legs enough...when you go for the dock your arms will come out. Drive more with the legs and you should be good.
-Slut
"I'll jump anything!"

[skybitch 0]

Thanks Slut, you may be right. It's funny, it only seems to happen when I'm tired, so may be a lazy lack of concentration making me feel tempted to reach for it...Will keep my wits about me next time and dock like a beeatch!
Bitch

[Pammi 0]

Sky-sluts and bitches...what a forum! Hehe!
Keep in mind this is from someone who sucks a$$ in freefall but just passing on some info the guy doing coach dives with me told us...that there is a column of air between you and the other person/people coming up between you that you have to really track to 'push thru' when doing RW. Is this true?
Pammi
"The question is not whether we will die, but how we will live."
-Joan Borysenko

[skymama 37]

This just struck me a funny. Look at the 2 sign off names on this thread- slut and bitch. I had a good chuckle when I imagined what it would be like for someone to wander onto this thread for the first time and see how you referred to yourselves. They'd think you had low self-esteem or something.
By the way, bitch, that was a great question, and I'm sure it's one that alot of us can relate to. Thanks for answering, slut. I'm going to keep that in mind too the next time I have trouble docking.
plain ol' mama

[SkySlut 0]

Just imagine the whuffos that hear my name when I am called over the PA system at the DZ...pretty funny, especially cuz I am a guy.
As far as that issue on moving towards the formation. Keep your arms nuetral the whole time...dont reach for the formation because you are going to be gaining surface area with your arms...drive with the legs. Have you ever jumped with someone that falls faster??? To speed up you can bring your arms into your chest so you are losing surface area...kinda the same concept. When you bring your arms out to dock on that faster faller...you are going to shoot right up. If your legs arent out driving your body...when you put your arms out to reach for the formation, you are going to backslide. Make sense???
-Slut
"I'll jump anything!"

[skymama 37]

Thanks, Slut. I can't believe you go by that name at the DZ!
Now, this is the kind of detailed information that new jumpers like myself need to know. Little movements make a whole lot of difference in this sport. But, at the DZ, sometimes I am not comfortable asking people because some of them I am just too intimidated by, and others just seem too busy. Then there are those that just seem scary!
So, how did you learn all this stuff? Trail and error? Did you have the balls to ask around at your DZ? Training classes? Are there videos for RW? Some other way? Hmmm...maybe since most of the people are males, I should invest in some low cut shirts to help me out!
Mama

[VivaHeadDown 0]

all of the above...especially that last idea. That was a winner.

[SkySlut 0]

Yep, got that name my first week on the DZ. It just stuck.
I learned the majority of flying skills from searching and reading and listening. I learned it from Dan Poynter's "Skydivers Handbook", Dropzone.com and other websites have some pretty good info. I would recommend getting a copy or finding someone who has Skdive University's Theory of Basic Body Flight. You can check it out on www.skydiveu.com, it's a bit pricey ($99) but it has some really good information of how your body falls and how it spills air when you move your body. If you dont want to buy it, find someone who has it...or even better go to Skydive U and have them show you. It was the best investment I have ever made. I also learned by just hanging out on the DZ and talking theory with people that know...you can learn 90% of the information that you need to know on the ground. I started jumping on July 1, 2000 and I have been at the DZ every weekend since. I got 150 jumps now...thats kinda how I got my name. If there is a load going up...I am on it. The best way to learn something is to totally immerse yourself in it, kinda like going to a foriegn country...the best way to learn another language is to go live in that country. Keep asking questions...it is really in everybodys best interest to teach others. Its good for the experienced skydiver, the novice and the sport as a whole...its is going to push the sport farther and keep us all safe. Good for you that you asked these questions...keep em coming!!!
FYI-most skydivers are very opinionated. You can ask the same question to 100 skydivers and get 100 different answers. Listen to them all and form your own opinion. Its you that you are responsible for, so you have to make your own decisions. Dont let any one theory force you to do something you dont want to do. Keep an open mind because the sport is changing all the time...there is always going to be something new so dont get stuck thinking that you know it all. I know I dont...
-Slut
"I'll jump anything!"

[FallnAngel 0]

Quote

Keep your arms nuetral the whole time...dont reach for the formation because you are going to be gaining surface area with your arms...drive with the legs. Have you ever
jumped with someone that falls faster??? To speed up you can bring your arms into your chest so you are losing surface area...kinda the same concept. When you bring your arms out to dock on that faster faller...you are going to shoot right up. If your legs arent out driving your body...when you put your arms out to reach for the formation, you are going to backslide. Make sense???

That makes perfect sense, Slut! I got hooked up with an experienced jumper on Sunday, just spur of the moment...he had just graduated from a coaching course and one of the JM's at the dz connected us. Anyway, we did a simple 2-way, me diving out after him and docking on him. Then we released, he turned 90deg and I redocked on his side, release, then redock face-to-face. We just repeated that until 5000'.
What I learned is exactly what you said, SkySlut...that when I reached out to him I not only changed my fallrate, but I was also pulling on him because I was backsliding too. When that happened I just let go of him and flew myself back into position to redock. It was a really great jump and I learned alot! In fact, he gave me his email addy so we can hook up again. How cool is that?! On a side note, I've been a little frustrated with my jumping lately, feeling like I'm not really making any progress. The guys I've been jumping with are lots of fun too, but we're all newbies (~40 jumps), and we're having real problems just docking on each other after exit. I'm thinking that if we are able to make some individual jumps with the more experienced skydivers out there then we newbies will be able to do better when we jump together.
P.S. to SkyMamma - Not sure where you jump, but maybe you can find someone experienced like I did...that is willing to jump with you just because it's fun and they can teach someone that's anxious to learn!
Blue Skies,
Karen

[SkySlut 0]

I know exactly what you are talking about...The only time I could get to jump with a real experienced skydiver was when there was no one else there that they could jump with. Its really frustrating that when you are a newbie...you are pretty much doing solos or jumping with other newbies. You tend not to learn as much, so I would recommend that you make use of those times when an experienced skydiver is willing to jump with you or, if you can afford it, pay for some coaching...it will be worth your money. You will get much better and then experienced skydivers will be more willing to jump with you because of your newly found skills. The alternative is to learn from watching newer skydivers which means that you may start picking up some bad habits. That really does suck, though...I remember thinking to myself "what the f*ck??? they only jump with me when they dont have anyone else to jump with???". Its a pretty rough way to start a skydiving career and it can be slow if you dont take advantage of the learning tools that are out there. It sucks but its the reality of skydiving life.
-Slut
"I'll jump anything!"

[skybitch 0]

Thanks for the advice guys...just as a point of interest...isn't it funny how you perceive yourself as a skydiver? I have 130 jumps but I still think of myself as a newbie.....I don't think I'll be an Old Hand for quite a while yet!
Maybe it's to do with the relative amount of experience at an individual's DZ? Lots of the guys where I jump have 3000+ jumps, so I've got quite a few jumps to go....
Oh, and Sky Mama - the thing about the low-cut shirts? I recommend it...Not only will you be able to attract assistance when struggling with a small closing loop or a slippery canopy and a small bag, you will also be able to secure yourself a fine selection of jumping partners to choose from...usually
This is one occasion where female inequality works in our favour
SKybeeetch

[cdunham 0]

Try docking with your nose, not your arms. Sounds dumb, but it works! If you can get your face in there where is belongs, you should be able to just close your hands on the grips - no reaching!
Also, don't fixate on the slot, focus on the center of the dive (and/or your local part of it), and get yourself into position relative to it. The grips should just be there, if the point is well-designed.
Soft eyes. In other words, don't laser focus on one small point. Relax and open up your field of view to take more in. This is a general sports thing, and it also lets you experience and enjoy more of the dive.
Hope this helps! God knows I'm still trying to make it work!
--
The most powerful weapon on Earth is the human soul on fire
-- Ferdinand Foch

[skybitch 0]

Thanks CD, that makes sense...here's to a kick ass weekend (nearly here!) of shit hot skydiving action!
Nose docking here I come!
SB

[skybytch 273]

Skybitch! Huh. Nice name. Just remember that I am THE Skybytch... as long as we all remember that I guess I'm okay with you stealing my name...
As for docking, try to relax. When I'm bobblin' around up there it's usually because I'm trying to impress someone with my flying skills and I'm all tensed up. As you come in to dock, take a nice deep breath, think relax, then drive on in. The "dock with your nose" tip is good; that should keep you from reaching for the grip, which is something else that can send you up/down/all around.
Also remember that you want to fly all the way into your slot, fly your slot, THEN pick up the grips. What you don't want to do is get close, take grips and THEN settle into your slot; doing that adds a lot of tension to the formation (which is bad and gets worse the larger the formation is that you are docking on).
pull and flare,
lisa

[cdunham 0]

Yes, good point, um, 'bytch.
Another thing you might try, um, 'bitch, is doing a "no grips" dive once is awhile as a drill. What you want to do here is any random RW dive, but rather than grabbing wrists and grippers, just touch with open hands. Forces everyone to fly their slots, and not rely on the tension from the grip to hold you there (which we all know is wrong, but all do anyway, when we forget or get desperate).
Man, another rainy weekend in New England. Rats.