I was always under the impression that when you wanted to start free flying you do a fair number of solo dives first in the sit postion learning how to control movement in all directions and then go to head down solos. Then move to jumping with other people in these configurations. Call me conservative but I see myself staying in the sport for quite sometime so what is the rush? If you get 100-200 jumps a year you will get going in free flying soon enough. But then again what do i know im just a lowly Whuffo!
Sky Canyon Wingsuiters
AFFI 0
I am probably wrong about something here, my freeflying and understanding of it sucks...
When the body is in a head down orientation the rate of descent increases and the amount of body surface area on the relative wind decreases thus making it more difficult to control oneself. The slightest adjustment in body presentation can cause a skydiver to “cork” which means they rapidly change orientations from vertical to horizontal and with the increased rate of descent it will propel the body across the sky at a very high rate of speed. I remember when I had around 175 jumps or so I was getting some freefly coaching from SS - just me and him in the air, he was my freefly coach. I corked and when I saw the video I was astonished how fast I flew by him, just a blur.
If I would have collided with him at that rate of speed we both would have likely ended up dead, it would have been like him standing on the side of the road and me jumping out of the back of a pick up truck going 100 MPH and hitting him so it’s a good thing he was able to get out of my way /or/ that I luckily missed him.
Now take that level of danger and put 2 or 3 or more skydivers in a head-down orientation on the same group, what you have now is an exponentially increased rate of danger (did I say that right? exponentially ? I am trying to look sophisticated here!).
Learning vertical flight is much safer when you have one beginner and one experienced person coaching, then before/between coach jumps the person learning should make X number of solo’s to work on vertical flight with the sky all to themselves. I think SS had me doing 10 solos between coach jumps.
To add to that before I was able to get him to coach me in the vertical I had to prove myself with an ability to sit fly proficiently (forward, backward, sideslide, turning, fall rate changes).
I am not very good on my head, about as graceful as a hippo with a spear in it's ass...
-
When the body is in a head down orientation the rate of descent increases and the amount of body surface area on the relative wind decreases thus making it more difficult to control oneself. The slightest adjustment in body presentation can cause a skydiver to “cork” which means they rapidly change orientations from vertical to horizontal and with the increased rate of descent it will propel the body across the sky at a very high rate of speed. I remember when I had around 175 jumps or so I was getting some freefly coaching from SS - just me and him in the air, he was my freefly coach. I corked and when I saw the video I was astonished how fast I flew by him, just a blur.
If I would have collided with him at that rate of speed we both would have likely ended up dead, it would have been like him standing on the side of the road and me jumping out of the back of a pick up truck going 100 MPH and hitting him so it’s a good thing he was able to get out of my way /or/ that I luckily missed him.
Now take that level of danger and put 2 or 3 or more skydivers in a head-down orientation on the same group, what you have now is an exponentially increased rate of danger (did I say that right? exponentially ? I am trying to look sophisticated here!).
Learning vertical flight is much safer when you have one beginner and one experienced person coaching, then before/between coach jumps the person learning should make X number of solo’s to work on vertical flight with the sky all to themselves. I think SS had me doing 10 solos between coach jumps.
To add to that before I was able to get him to coach me in the vertical I had to prove myself with an ability to sit fly proficiently (forward, backward, sideslide, turning, fall rate changes).
I am not very good on my head, about as graceful as a hippo with a spear in it's ass...
-
Mykel AFF-I10
Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…
Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…
sparkie 0
same here, I try stuff solo..nothing as fancy as head down btw, unless its by mistake heh.
The more I jump the more I realise i dont know crap yet.
I play around a bit in FF but for now I mainly focus on honing the skills that will keep my legs from breaking on landing and the EP drills.
To bastichu: dont be so stupid as to think u cant post when <500 jumps. I dont consider myself mentally challenged but I do realise I am learning (and re learning some basics that have slacked) every single jump. It's not hard to imagine that ppl with many more jumps than u are a bit further on the learning curve?!
The more I jump the more I realise i dont know crap yet.

To bastichu: dont be so stupid as to think u cant post when <500 jumps. I dont consider myself mentally challenged but I do realise I am learning (and re learning some basics that have slacked) every single jump. It's not hard to imagine that ppl with many more jumps than u are a bit further on the learning curve?!
QuoteTo andy: dont be so stupid as to think u cant post when <500 jumps. I dont consider myself mentally challenged but I do realise I am learning (and re learning some basics that have slacked) every single jump. It's not hard to imagine that ppl with many more jumps than u are a bit further on the learning curve?!
Come again?

1338
People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.
Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.
People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.
Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.
sparkie 0
QuoteCome again?
sorry andy, meant bastichu. edited
i can see why you think he needs more jumps according to numbers but for all you know he could be really solid at his stage. not everyone is at the same level. some people just arent as coordinated as others. i think the ONLY person to make the judgment whether or not he is ready is his coach and the others he is jumping with. not random people with ass loads of jumps. i had about 130 and was solid in my sit. went to jump with an LO but he took the first jump to assess me. he was quite surprised thinking that i would be back sliding or something of that sort. so just accell faster than others. i think its wrong to hold others back jsut because of their numbers. having 200 jumps vs 500 jumps wont help me any bit in the situation of a first cutaway imo
Live Love Learn FLY
Group issues aside, I find the notion of a stable stand more interesting, and I like seeing the view head up. But as far as I'd gotten is a one foot stand (and not stable on rotation)
Share this post
Link to post
Share on other sites