5 sec delay

[tree_squirrel 0]

Hello People of the Sky,

Just a question, how would one consciously think about keeping the arch position and not slide into a semi - box position. In other words, how can i remain fully aware of what my legs are doing behind me. It is a cause for distress since i am semi unstable and my heading is a bit off. When i dirt dive it's perfect ( my arch) but in the sky my legs go bent, give us some advice please!

I didn't do it, i swear!
Backloops @ sunset!

[mr2mk1g 10]

Get both ends right and the middle will follow suit.

Imagine porn stuck to the ceiling of the plane. Try to look at it for as long as possible, all the way through the exit and until you pull. That ought to sort your head out.

Push your toes into the soles of your shoes. That ought to sort your legs out.

Practice your exits from a mock up dozens of times and visualise. Practice makes perfect - practicing on the ground is free and develops muscle memory which promotes a good position in the air.

Talk to your instructors. Ignore me if they contradict me. Run anything you come up with past them before you do it and rely on their advice.

Relax.

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

Are you jumping a Cessna and doing a hanging exit? If so, I find my old SL students had much better luck if I told them to extend their legs and point their toes at exit all the while maintaining a good arch. The tendancy on hanging exits is for students to have lazy legs and, upon release from the strut, allow their arms to stay out there like "Superman." This head-high attitude leads many people to flip over backwards and, in many cases, flip over sideways to the right as they "look" for their BOC (which, of course, they cannot possibly see). The "Big X with arch" exit works much better. All this assuming you were talking about a 5-second delay as part of an IAD or SL progression. If you are talking about exiting the side door of an Otter or something for you clear and pulls following AFF, then I will still recommend that you exit poised, with very-positive legs and don't go looking for your handle at pull time. Simply "arch thousand, reach thousand, pull thousand (or "throw").

[bigway 4]

i dont know about learning via a 5 second delay but you might want to ask your instructor this one.
In new zealand when we learn via AFF we have a level where we click our heels togethor. You see if you do it once and you miss, automaticaly you will hit the next time. It is one of those things.
Keep your toes pointed.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
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[gerrcoin 0]

Quote

Just a question, how would one consciously think about keeping the arch position and not slide into a semi - box position. In other words, how can i remain fully aware of what my legs are doing behind me.

First I would remind you to pay more attetion to what your instructors are telling you than anyone else. Having said that I will say that from my experience, trying to be conscious of your body position is rather hard to do with any accuracy. At this stage your mental image of what your body position is and the reality of the situation can be quite different. On longer delays you might find yourself with an involuntary turn for a few jumps because of this. If you don't believe me, ask the jumpmaster to video your exit - you might be surprised. If you are doing a dangling exit from the strut, try (as others have mentioned) clicking your heels and pointing your toes before the release. Also keep watching the aircraft, either look at rivets on the wing or maintain eye contact with your jumpmaster for as long as possible.
Muscle memory is the key to a good body position so that you wont have to think about it, it will just come naturally. Practicing the arch from a freefall psoition is good.

Most students practice the arch while standing staight and throwing the arms and head back. When I was starting 5 second delays I practiced the arch by standing about 2 feet from a wall and falling forward into it while arching. If done correctly your hips and pelvis will hit the wall first and stop you almost immeadiatly. Expect to smack into it the first time though and it will take a few goes before you overcome the impulse to reach out to protect yourself.

I found that this exercise has two main benifits, firstly that you overcome the reaching out impulse which is instinctive and may cause instability, and secondly that in this position your legs are working to keep you upright in a way that will build muscle memory. The legs will naturally try to resist the air pressure and your toes will be pointed. Try it out and you will see what I am attempting to describe. Again mention this exercise with your instructors and get their opinion. However this worked wonders for me and a good few of my friends.

[dubbayab 0]

Yeah, 5 seconds delay has to be a S/L training method. Remember what the SIM state.
1 Know altitude (altimiter)
2 arch
3 check legs ( click heels together)
4 relax ( breath)

#3 if the side of one foot touches your ankel on the other, your feet aren't even. It is hard to see your legs, so you will have to "feel" them.

good luck with your training, and try to get your I to video your next exit,it could help you see what your doing.

[fjd 0]

it isn't clear from your post which training program you're going through. but as some mentioned, it sounds like a S/L.

i'll tell you what worked for me when i did the low solo (3 second delay and pull) as part of my AFF requirement way back when, and it should be applicable in your situation. and this may be a neat trick to use for all you instructors out there.

my jump master told me that he would hold up certain number of fingers as he would watch me exit the otter. i was supposed to remember how many fingers he held up.

this forced me to maintain a head-high stable body position, because my line of sight was zeroed in the door jam of the otter, watching my jump master's fingers. it was a poised exit so it should be applicable for exit off the strut of a cessna. just make sure your hip is into the relative wind and your legs positive.

talk to your jump master and give it a try. good luck.

===============

[mr2mk1g 10]

hehe - and avoid flipping him the bird back - it might make you go unstable...

[tree_squirrel 0]

Hey there,

i saw you are from NZ. Tell me from which dz you are from, i am dying to go skydiving in NZ. it is the most awesome country. was there in dec.

For all of you who are asking, i am doing a S/L progression. I have had video footage but i thought i would see what other people recommend. My heading was out simply because i am doing a door exit from a 210. The pilot tends to be a little bad with throttling back and i have been doing yoga to get into good body position. I have a great symmetry when i dirt dive but somehow i need to figure a way to remain conscious of my legs.

The video shows that i look like i am flipping over, i guess i should watch it again & again. I have been practicing exits in the pool with my cat 2 fiance watching.

thanks all!

I didn't do it, i swear!
Backloops @ sunset!