Legs OUT!!

[Shadowplay 0]

I just finished AFF this weekend and I'm STILL having trouble keeping my legs out. The biggest problem that I see with this right now is it's taking me an extra five to ten seconds in free fall to stablize. I have pretty good altitude awareness and such but my legs continually curl up. Any idea on how to fix this? I know I'm opening myself up to a flood of answers but it's starting to rattle my confidence.

[AriWeil 0]

You probably will get a flood of replies to this question. I broke myself of that habit by clicking my heels together. That sensation should help you figure out where your feet are and adjust accordingly.

[billvon 2,989]

>Any idea on how to fix this?

Think about always feeling pressure on the tops of your feet. If you don't feel pressure, extend your legs more. Practice by lying on a creeper and laying your feet on a couch; use your feet to gently turn you left and right. (Good way to learn leg turns too.)

[surf4life11 0]

It is all a matter of feel! Toe taps, pushing out completely to the point you are almost in a track are two ways of figuring out the feeling of resistence against your legs and feet. The more you work at it the less you have to think where your legs are at and it becomes automatic. Blue skies!!!

[freakydiver 0]

Nike - Just Do It

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

[SunWukong 0]

The technique that worked best for me was to lie down as if I was on a creeper and have a friend exert a steady pressure on my feet. Then I praticed doing arm turns, practice pulls, and altimeter checks. At first, my legs would go slack whenever I concentrated on something else. Eventually, though, I got to the point where I could push back without needing to think about it.

[poohbeer 0]

Quote

The technique that worked best for me was to lie down as if I was on a creeper and have a friend exert a steady pressure on my feet. Then I praticed doing arm turns, practice pulls, and altimeter checks. At first, my legs would go slack whenever I concentrated on something else. Eventually, though, I got to the point where I could push back without needing to think about it.

Amen to this. I also was having problems with keeping the feet out because when taught on the ground without feet-support keeping your feet where they are supposed to be is totaly different then when pressure (wind in the sky; anything else on the ground) is applied to them.

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Complete newbie at skydiving, so be critical about what I say!!
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

[KenKnight 0]

I did my AFF in Nov and Dec so the temps were not always the most comfortable. Being 6'2" tall, the student jump suits were usually quite a bit too short, leaving the lower calves and ankles exposed to the cold air. I didn't look very cool but I had no problem telling exactly where my legs were. I think it was someone here that suggested something along the same lines. Do a jump with no socks so you can really feel the air on your ankles to help develop leg awareness.

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D28695 PoPs #9237
"Mix ignorance with arrogance at low altitude and the results are almost guaranteed to be spectacular"
— Bruce Landsberg

[phonics1981 0]

I had the same problem during AFF. Legs out was the only signal I was given and it was on every jump!

When you practice on the ground you are using force to keep your legs bent because of gravity , but when your in the air, you have to use force to keep your legs straight. Its strange at first but you will get used to forcing your legs into position. Just keep jumpin and it will come.

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