What do you think about while tracking?

[Shark 0]

On Saturday's sunset jump, an 8 way:

1. Will the new chick from the FJC be waiting.
2. Will there be any beer left.
3. How cool the jump was.

All that in 5 seconds or less.

[Jimbo 0]

I'm usually wondering what I can do to absolutely max out my track. I want to go fast and far.

-
Jim

"Like" - The modern day comma
Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

[kallend 2,027]

Tracking is a life-saving skill and well worth practising. If you think you track well enough, get on a load with someone like Olav Zipser, Mike Swanson or Rook Nelson and be humbled.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Zenister 0]

hmm lets add...

Mike Ortiz, Craig Girard, Dustin Smith, Steve Curtis, Jason Peters, Omar Alhegelan....

all whom i've been lucky enough to chase across the AZ sky on occasion..
even though i'm taller than (an advatage in tracking since you have a larger wing) most of them (except Craig and Jason who are my height) they still leave me behind when they punch it out...proof that its all about technique technique technique...


did i mention technique??

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[LouDiamond 1]

Wait until you see the formation footage from Eloy. When we broke off and tracked Craig can be seen ripping a hole in the sky while everyone else putts off. really an eye opener to technique

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[Shark 0]

Those are all terrific skydivers. But what is the trait they all have in common? A lot of jumps. Yes, you get better at tracking with improved form and practice. And lots of jumps.

[Zenister 0]

indeed all the time in the world in a wind tunnel wont help you track.. lots of 2 and 3 way tracking dives really helped me get to the point where i could just keep up with those guys..i'd say something like 30%-40% of my (admittedly low number) of jumps have been dedicated tracking dives..



track? absolutely!!!

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[skycat 0]

Quote

Those are all terrific skydivers. But what is the trait they all have in common? A lot of jumps. Yes, you get better at tracking with improved form and practice. And lots of jumps.

Here is a good tool for learning proper body position on the ground.

Lay on the floor on your stomach, with you chin on the floor looking forward. Now shrug your shoulders to your ears. From here press your shoulders to the floor and de-arch (like a cat)/lift your butt off the ground. The tops of your feet (where the laces on your shoes are) shoulders and hands/arms should be the only thing on the floor. Your back and butt should be curved away from the ground about 2-3 inches, you will really need to tighten your lower abs for this. It should hurt, it should not be a comfortable position. Hold the position for 10 seconds, relax for 30, then go back for 10 then relax for 30 then hold for 20, relax. Keep thinking about your body and every muscle, until it is natural.

The other thing people do is make their leg straps to tight, put your rig on and tighten everything normally. Now try to shrug your shoulders to your ears. If you can go as far with your rig on as without then you are fine, if you can't you need to loosen your legstraps till you can, otherwise you are not getting the flattest possible. Of course within reason, please I don't want anyone falling out of their rig.

I have seen people with 20 jumps go from ok trackers to great trackers just by doing this. You know you are doing it right when everything gets quiet and feels smooth. That is cause you are no longer diving down but rather floating and moving horizontal.

Fly it like you stole it!