RW

[WhenPigsFly 0]

Ok so I am a relatively newer jumper with 122 jumps. The other day on a 4way we went to turn a left hand donut. I didn't notice anything, except one jumper kinda floated up and was never really back in the dive. After landing I learned I had accidentally kicked her in the head. I didn't even feel it. I was just trying to keep it tight, and obviously didn't mean to air assault her lol. She was fine. No missing teeth, broken nose or anything thank God. My question may be an impossible one to answer here as there is no video and none of you were there to see, but was this my fault? If so how can I ensure it doesn't happen again? Was I too tight? When I first got my license I had a tendency to use grippers to hold on rather than truly flying my slot. I was also relaxing my legs when I got in my slot causing me to backslide when turning the first point. After some coaching from my instructor I felt I had rectified these problems, but I guess maybe I went to much the other way? Any advice is appreciated I don't want to kick someone again lol.

[blkhwk91b 0]

Murphy's Law

That's why I wear a full-face on my RW jumps.

"Better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing, than a long life spent in a miserable way." - Alan Watts

[wildcard451 0]

It's 4way. You're gonna kick people in the face, get kicked, ridden like a damned beaten mule, raped by a camera guy who found too much of the burble...etc.

Enjoy it.

[sundevil777 102]

In a donut, you are responsible to orient yourself to the person that was straight across from you (before you went to turn the donut). You should be opposite in position from them, but taking up the same space (at least the same space as they should be taking up). Keep your focus on that person across from you-keeping your position correct relative to them, and your grips should present themselves (the leg will be up against your hand) and be in your peripheral vision. If you turn focusing on getting your grip, you are more likely to over/under turn, or slide forward/backward. If you do it right, you may still kick someone in the face, but it won't be your fault.

Much of doing RW well has to do with knowing where to focus on to judge where you should be. It often is not what you might have first thought.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[WhenPigsFly 0]

I will try to pay more attention to the jumper directly across from me then, as I do remember looking at the grip of the diver to my right (the one I was responsible for grabbing) I guess no one can really tell me without having been there or seeing a video. I think I just turned faster than she was prepared for but I don't know. At 120 something jumps I don't want to be like it was her fault! As it very well might have been mine. Experienced RW guys have always been preaching to keep it tight though. Is there too tight? Dumb question I guess. I just don't want to kick anymore people in the head.

[dgskydive 0]

That is 4way. You get kicked and bumped and things can get broken.

You may not have been around then, but it was either Shannon Pilcher or Ian Bobo, but their arm got broken closing a Can-Tee. Shit happens. I have been kicked in the face breaking off from a 10way. There have been times when I thought my shoulder was gonna get ripped out trying to close a block and not stopping. So many things can happen.

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I just don't want to kick anymore people in the head.

it will happen again. Just part of it. Unless you are a crappy flier and kick people every single jump, then you may have a problem.

Dom

[WhenPigsFly 0]

Lol, no the was the first kick. I know it is bound to happen I guess. I was just looking for tips on how to make sure it is not my fault, etc in the future. Doesn't feel good knowing you could have got a friend hurt.

[GLIDEANGLE 1]

as above

PLUS, when flying a donut remember to fly forward to your grip. If you reach your arm out for the grip you will slide backwards and may contribute to the whole piece turning (if you have the grip).

The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

[Remster 30]

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PLUS, when flying a donut remember to fly forward to your grip.

SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!

Yes, you should think "forward" because donuts have a tendancy to backup a bit (due to the fact that, if you do a proper center turn, your visual should be of you going forward a bit since your head will move in reference to the formation center, and the natural tendency of people is to keep the same visual, hence a shoulder turn), but for Pete's sake, you do not fly forward TO YOUR grip!

Sorry, had to give you a ribbin'!

Remster

[billvon 3,008]

>PLUS, when flying a donut remember to fly forward to your grip.

Never fly to grips! Put your body in the right place. If your grip is there, pick it up. If not, adjust your body relative to your opposite; do not "go after the grips." This is the most common cause of donut problems.

[sundevil777 102]

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PLUS, when flying a donut remember to fly forward to your grip.

SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!

Yes, you should think "forward" because donuts have a tendancy to backup a bit (due to the fact that, if you do a proper center turn, your visual should be of you going forward a bit since your head will move in reference to the formation center, and the natural tendency of people is to keep the same visual, hence a shoulder turn), but for Pete's sake, you do not fly forward TO YOUR grip!

Sorry, had to give you a ribbin'!

Quite right.

To the OP: if there is a person you are tempted to fly toward (forward) to get a grip, don't. They need to get it back to you.

You don't need to worry about turning too fast, but realize that it is only a 90 deg turn, so it doesn't need to be fast, especially if you don't want to overshoot (and you definitely don't want to do that). Do not think so much about "keeping it tight", think of it as keeping yourself in the right place, using that person opposite of you as a reference. Focus on the center.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[sundevil777 102]

Donuts are fairly challenging, some will avoid them, but are actually a great thing to practice, back and forth - Left donut, star, R donut, again and again. If you can do that proficiently, then many other formations will come more easily than if you avoid the donut. Just make sure everyone is thinking about how to do it the same, correct way.

Donut...Hmmm....(/Homer voice)

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[WhenPigsFly 0]

Thanks sundevil777. That makes sense. I think it will take some practice, but then again so has everything in this sport so far.

[WhenPigsFly 0]

I think what glideangle was trying to get across though was don't reach out for grips as this will cause a backslide. That was part of my problem when I first started, but I have that corrected. Now I fly to my slot, and keep flying there until my hands are right there at the grips. In other words I could grab the grips or not and my body will still be in the same position. My earlier post about "using the grips to hold on instead of truly flying my slot" referred to that. My instructor had me do some drills were we did some formations where we were turning points, but without actually taking grips. That really helped me get it, and learn how to fly my slot instead of being the idiot just hanging on for dear life lol.

You know I have mainly been doing RW with jumpers that are way more advanced than me. It has been humbling, to say the least, to see how much better they are than me. I thought man I suck. I just got my Coach rating and did my first coach jump with a student that had 11 jumps. It was funny to see how much better I was than him. Kinda put it into perspective ya know.

All of your tips are appreciated. Thanks.