OSOK 0 #1 November 28, 2005 I jumped with a fellow packer to work on my fall rate. We exited unlinked... the whole time he was below me. I was "arching" as hard as I could, and I could see him flat as a box trying to float up to me. I know I have a problem arching hard... for some reason it's hard to push out since I have nothing to push up against, like on the ground. I'm about 5'9 and my body weight is 140lbs. The dude I jumped with is heavier than me... maybe 10 pounds, at max. Also, I know weights would do the trick but I kinda don't wanna wear them if I need to work on my arch. if once my arch is good I still need weights, fine... but not now. Any pointers? PS: my average speed was about 111 mph Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Superman32 0 #2 November 28, 2005 Congratulations on your license - Beeerrrr Try using one of those exercise balls to help with your flexibility -- not form but flexibility Inveniam Viam aut Faciam I'm back biatches! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fmmobley 0 #3 November 28, 2005 If you are wearing a baggy student jump suit, that would be slowing you down, consider changing that. The best thing you can do is RELAX into a better arch.... Marion Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrEaK_aCcIdEnT 0 #4 November 28, 2005 im 5'7" and 120lbs. soaking wet. I know the feeling once i got my arch down started wearing weights. now with 12lbs of weight my instructor says its fine. good luck on that form and the flexability training would be very helpful. makes relaxed hard arching easier. ExPeCt ThE uNeXpEcTeD! DoNt MiNd ThE tYpOs, Im LaZy On CoRrEcTiOnS! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tso-d_chris 0 #5 November 28, 2005 5'9" 140lbs.? Go track! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
incode 0 #6 November 28, 2005 im 5'10 and and only 130 pounds and i had about the same fall rate but i now started jumping with a 6-8 pound weight belt and it has made all the differance in the world, but relaxing is the best thing and i still find it hard Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #7 November 28, 2005 QuotePS: my average speed was about 111 mph You wanna jump some time??? Not that we are in the same city or anything... I am 210 pounds and 6'3" and I can fall at that rate easy, even with a slick suit on... My range is 98 to 145 right now. 111 is not that bad, 114-120 is where our 4 way team was at all this year. Give me 120 and I am really happy... I had a hard time going fast too when I had 20-30 jumps... First, where is your arch comming from? I have seen a lot of guys arch with their chest.... That was my problem. I think it is more about wearing one of those huge Texas belt buckles and then in freefall pushing that belt buckle to the ground and pulling up your head and chest... Make the arch come from "down there", if you know what I mean... Since the air is holding your body, it is not so much about forcing the arch, but thinking about lifting your chin, dropping your belt buckle, and lifting your knees... Second, look at your arms and hands... Believe it or not, just making a fist with your hands can make a huge difference, a tunnel coach taught me that. You can tuck in your arms a bit too, but then we start talking about flying mantis, which I don't think you can learn on a forum very easy. ;-) Third... When you are falling slow and you look down to your friend below you, you are actually ruining your arch by tilting your head down... Do the opposite... Look up way high, chin to the sky, then tilt just your eyeballs down (leaving your head up) to see what is below you... If all else fails, you might need to dive down to your friend. A little freefly action head down, if you know what I mean... It is actually not that hard if you just poke your nose where you want to go and move your arms and legs as if you are tracking, and go for a dive... But slow down way early because you might overshoot.... Also, you can try grabbing your ankles with your hands... That is pretty fast too. Hope that helps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sd-slider 0 #8 November 28, 2005 QuotePS: my average speed was about 111 mph Trade Ya! I'm 6'1" 250# with a ~145mph average, max'n out @ 155 in shorts and a tee... I musta tried on more suits than Sig-n-Roy to get down to ~125.......Anvil Brother #69 Sidelined with a 5mm C5-C6 herniated disk... Back2Back slammers and 40yr old fat guys don't mix! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #9 November 28, 2005 Some more work on your belly skills will help this. You might want to find a very experienced RW jumper for some coaching. Personally I've seen the Skydive University program turn out some miracles, that also depends on the quality of the coach. Its not just in your "arch" its in your total neutral body position. Its also about your arms, your hands, your knees, legs and feet as well as your head and a good handful of other things. All in all there's really no reason why you shouldn't (in the right RW suit) be able to fall at 120 without weights and much problem, but you may find yourself using a bit of weights to help you not be at the edge of your fall rate to jump with groups.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kimblair13 0 #10 November 28, 2005 ***Any pointers?*** Just something I heard my DZO tell some male students that didn't have a great arch... -Pretend some nasty dude is trying to put it in yer butt and you want to keep it out.- Yeah, it's kinda sick, but hey...it worked! Really got them to get their hips out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OSOK 0 #11 November 28, 2005 Thanks for the replies guys. I'm going to spend a few solo jumps just working on this until my neptune says a nice average speed... then jump again with someone and see how it goes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Orange1 0 #12 November 28, 2005 QuoteIf you are wearing a baggy student jump suit, that would be slowing you down, consider changing that. Second that, but doesn't even have to be baggy to start. Moving from a reasonably well-fitting student suit (5'3" and 120lb) to a custom suit added 10mph to my fall rate... however, i still need weights to jump with most people! I can so far get around 135mph in a hard arch w/o weights but that makes it difficult to do much else.Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryno1972 0 #13 November 28, 2005 Hey, I ran into the same problem when I started jumping. I could not keep up with my buddies. The key for me was 2 things. One, was really concentrating on my body position, and relaxing. The other thing was buying my own jump suit. That really made the difference, it fits tight and is very slick. Good luck!!! Ryanglad to be here!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy_Copland 0 #14 November 28, 2005 This is making me think the beer is actually paying off. Im 5'6 and 10 stone (140 lbs(ish)to you americans) and not fat in the slightest, in very good shape and i fall at 119 average. Dont think im gona have many probs jumping with others.1338 People aint made of nothin' but water and shit. Until morale improves, the beatings will continue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
