On the cubject of tracking...

[bertusgeert 1]

Made me think...

This is hard to figure out on a forum, but maybe someone can give me useful advice.

When I try to track super hard, i find my legs being too light and lifting above my head, throwing me over. I was told (explained to) that rolling shoulders forward and cupping your body will improve your track dramatically, and have found that to work for me. But when I try too hard, I end up almost going head down for a second there. Not good!!

So what can I do? Does anyone else experience this and know what I am talking about?

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As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

[Kimblair13 0]

well that's pretty cool you can do a head down with 38 jumps screw tracking and work on that ( i know i know everyone will say not to freefly until more jumps)

[quade 4]

Almost going head down isn't the same thing as going head down.

You probably -should- feel a slight pitching head down. If you stayed perfectly flat, you wouldn't go anywhere!

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Kimblair13 0]

i was trying to be funny/sarcastic, sorry i'm not very good and making funnies

[JeffD 0]

How far back are your arms? I'd say instead of having your arms at your side, maybe push them away from your body so your arms are more like an upside down V than parallel , make sense? I know I've seen a ton of tracking on the base videos at www.skydivingmovies.com

Of course, I only have 17 jumps so what do I know.

[bertusgeert 1]

My arms are at my sides, about 3 or 4 inches off. My legs are spread slightly.

Picture this. Lie flat on the floor in a tracking position, then lift your arms slightly off of the floor. Your sholders are not rolled, your not really de-arched. This is a stable and easy track for me, but I want to push it.

So, my arms are slightly below me, my sholders are rolled forward, and I'm pretty cupped. I really fell myself moving a lot more, but i'm much more unstable, kind of wanting to slip off of the top.

Get what I'm saying?

I have actually flipped over because I tried too hard!

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As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

[MuffDiver 0]

are your arms really about 3-4" off your body? You may not actually know how spread out you are unless you get a coach to watch your track, this can help alot (it did for me). The other thinh that I thought about is that maybe you are transitioning to your full track position too quickly. Other than that you could also try practicing a less efficient track (arms out a little further), get comfortable and stable and keep bringing your arms in and cupping more as you get more comfortable and stable with it.

BTW take my advice with a grain of salt as I am also a low time jumper, but thought I would throw in my .02. Get a coach if you can that is probably the best way to cure any problems like this.

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Don't take life too seriously. You'll never get out alive.

[bch7773 0]

it might be that you are going into your track too fast... maybe try starting a delta track, then right away start to flatten it out.

or like someone else said, get a coach or another experienced skydiver to watch you track.

MB 3528, RB 1182

[ematteo 0]

Do you wear freefly pants or a full suit?

When I started doing tracking dives, I wore baggy freefly pants and a long sleeve shirt. Pics from that era show me tracking (quite fast) with my arms out at my sides, making a cross.

When I went to a full jump suit, I noticed two changes:

1) I needed to "kick" my body into a tracking position more aggressively at the start (i.e. head a little low)

2) I no longer needed my arms out to the side to keep from going over onto my head.

[packerboy 3]

I'm going to feel the wrath here any moment now....

Don't pay to jump with a coach for this, just go do a fun jump with an experienced jumper and ask them to keep an eye on you during your track. What is it? 5-10 sec.

If you are going to pay a coach... do a full on tracking dive.

I suggest to just keep trying on your own.. if you try tracking on every jump, and adjust a little here and there eventually you will start to feel it work.. I think... but I'm not the greatest tracker either.

Try it on your back....

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In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

[mjosparky 4]

  Quote

I'm going to feel the wrath here any moment now....

Don't pay to jump with a coach for this, just go do a fun jump with an experienced jumper and ask them to keep an eye on you during your track. What is it? 5-10 sec.

If you are going to pay a coach... do a full on tracking dive.

I suggest to just keep trying on your own.. if you try tracking on every jump, and adjust a little here and there eventually you will start to feel it work.. I think... but I'm not the greatest tracker either.

Try it on your back....

And how do you suggest his learn what to adjust? Learning how to skydive by the hit and miss method can take you the rest of your life.

bertusgeert:
Ask one of the instructors or approach one of the more experienced big way jumpers at your DZ and ask them for advise. Skydivers have huge egos and will be glad to help.
Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[ChrisL 2]

Whats a "cubject"?

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My mighty steed