exits

[sparrella 0]

Would someone please discuss exits. I am particularly interested in the differences between the duties of the front and rear float. I am also a little confused about the leg positions suggested for divers vs. floaters.

Some of our 4-ways have someone on his/her back and taking out the base as they go over.

Occasionally, I wind up facing 180 degrees from where I should shortly after leaving the door.

Thanks in advance

The greatest enemy of the truth is not a lie, the greatest enemy of the truth is a myth.

[darkwing 5]

here is a short answer -- It is all about timing and placement. Everybody goes at the same time, and places themselves in the airstream in the proper position for the formation being launched.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[BikerBabe 0]

Well, each slot has something to do, but a lot of times it really depends on what you're trying to exit.

Are there any specific formations that you're trying to exit that aren't working?

That being said, it's hard to coach over the net, but darkwing's advice is good. Can you find a coach or someone with 4-way experience to help you at the DZ?

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

[quade 4]

It depends a bit on the level of experience you're talking about, but some basics apply to all.

At the most basic level the goal of every exit is to have your belly into the relative wind so that you can control it.

When I was learning the basics, my mentor would take up 4-way groups all weekend long and exit nothing but a STAR - not the most stable of exits, but simple to understand. He'd rotate people through the various positions until we got a feel for what that position was and then shift us around to another spot. I thought this was perfect for learning the basic concept of presenting your belly to the wind and flying stable right out the door -- especially for the weekend warrior just getting a taste of RW.

As a person progresses in the sport, they might eventually join up with other newbies and form a team. Since a funnled exit spreads people all over the place and can be very difficult to recover from, a first year team might do well to just have one rock solid exit and then transition to the first scoring point from there.

As people progress in the sport they'll eventually need to be able to exit all the different formations in the pool. The top teams may even have several ways of doing some exits depending on what the next point is.

As to your specific question about front and rear floater -- it would depend on specifically which formation they're trying to take out the door.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[steve1 5]

I was watching an Arizona Airspeed member coaching a group of jumpers on exiting as one chunk out of the otter. He was having them all hop together on one foot as they exited the mock-up. I wish I could elaborate further on this, because I'm not sure what exactly was going on here. Anyone else ever seen this done? ......Steve1

[fudd 0]

If you think of a star exit the floaters stretch their legs and the divers bend their knees.

If you are a floater and you feel that the divers is tipping over, stretching your legs helps putting the formation straight again. Vice versa, if you are a diver and feel you are tipping over, bend your knees to fall into level with the floaters. Remember that the level is to the relative wind.

I've also been thought that everyone should go straight to mantis, but I've found that most of the times adjustments are necessary. But it's not hard to think that if the exit is perfect in both angle and timing, everybody should be on level on the relative wind and starting to turn point already.

PS. Please correct me if I'm wrong. My team still has problems exiting a satellite.

There are only 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

[Albatross 0]

OK I am going to put in the disclaimer. I can't tell you everything here over the net and so on.

Exits consist of 3 parts, Presentation, Timing and placement. They have the priority of Presentation and timing and then everything else.

In a star, meeker, sat, and so on the tail(*) is lowest and often away from the plane, Inside center ($)is low and near the plane, Outside center (#)is up and away from the plane and the Point (@)is upand nearer the plane.

http://4way.org/cgi-bin/gallery/gallery.cgi?func=show&file=200141&Category=100002&Page=2

Chris

[BikerBabe 0]

To add to that, on those type of exits, it is really important that the point goes UP and doesn't just dive straight out of the plane...that will cause the formation to turn and make it really hard on the inside center.

Also, it's really important that the tail drop down as much as possible. On the meeker, stairstep diamond, etc, there should be almost no "out" motion whatsoever...I've always been told to try to hit my head on the bottom of the door. On the star, there will be a little bit of the "out" motion.

Like I said, it depends on the formation what exactly each person needs to do to make it work.

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

[Albatross 0]

While I agree that the resault of the exit is that the tail is down and the point is up. Having flown both I find that the Tail exit is a launch down (ie try to hit you head), but the point is a much more delicate exit where you watch the formation begin to leave and then place yourself above the centers as you see the OC leave. Ah point vs tail totally different mentalities agrssion vs feel.

Chris

[harryskydives 0]

Don't forget to click the Airspeed Articles, upper right, on this page, and read about exits. I suggest to new team to pick a few exits, B ,E, O, H and work on them. BOx your exit out then expect the key to transition to the next point. every one must transition at the same time. Do not let your exit spin, probally a timing thing. You can do a few no contact exits, but fly like you are linked and see what everone is really doing. Don,t forget the eye contact with your clone.

Don't run out of altitude and experience at the same time...