EricaH 0 #1 June 21, 2005 Now I'm going to slow head down. My max was well into the 220mph , now I'm down to avg 150 w/ max speeds in the mid 150s... and everyones telling me to speed up. Just wanted to vent a bit. I told my b/f he was just jealous of my range - at least he keeps up (er, down) with people though. Thank you everyone for your hints - a bit of everything helped me get here. The one that stuck the most was to try "hanging from my feet" - of course it looks pretty funny in video. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kimblair13 0 #2 June 21, 2005 Hey, how do you go slower? I can't figure how to get slow and be comfortable. I can go slow but feel like I'm gonna pull as muscle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WrongWay 0 #3 June 22, 2005 Hey, going too slow at this point is better than going too fast. Maybe you finally got it, but since you're a girl maybe need a tighter suit. What's your body type like? Or maybe you got it, and you're just trying too hard to have what you were taught was a picture perfect body position, pushing out hard on your legs causing you to get big and stay slow. Just remember that it's easier to go fast than it is to go slow, but you can do more things easier when you're flying slow, so going too slow is better than going too fast. Just fly a little "smaller" from now on, and know that you CAN go slow when you want to. What you've been taught is good body position is only to give you the basics. Now you need to learn that it's more important to do whatever is needed to accomplish what you need to do. The ability to think outside the box, imho, is 95% of what makes a good freeflyer. Good luck! Wrong Way D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451 The wiser wolf prevails. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricaH 0 #4 June 22, 2005 QuoteNow you need to learn that it's more important to do whatever is needed to accomplish what you need to do. The ability to think outside the box, imho, is 95% of what makes a good freeflyer. Thank you for putting this out there, I know it - it's just so hard to put into practice! I don't have a slim female body (I met you last spring at the Xenia, OH boogie - random I know) and so had to learn to fight gravity. I know all i need to do is bring my legs in to go faster - in one video this weekend it looks like I'm almost in splits (max that jump was 140!). Kinda want a slimmer suit, but am afraid of ending up too fast again. From almost 100 jumps trying to go slower, I now have muscle memory to push my legs out as far as they'll go. Funny thing is Monday morning I can hardly walk my hips hurt so much. Quoteyou can do more things easier when you're flying slow so, this is true? i'd heard that everythings easier when going faster. well, obviously not docking as the wind speed pushing on arms is then awfully strong. Thank you very much for your input & encouragement! Now I just gotta go do it! What did I do to go slower? Legs are in a wide V & I bend/flex my ankles so feet are almost 90degrees (think of hanging from your ankles) oh & practiced a bunch (lots of solos logged here!) There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dharma1976 0 #5 June 22, 2005 QuoteQuote***you can do more things easier when you're flying slow so, this is true? i'd heard that everythings easier when going faster. well, obviously not docking as the wind speed pushing on arms is then awfully strong. Thank you very much for your input & encouragement! Now I just gotta go do it! What did I do to go slower? Legs are in a wide V & I bend/flex my ankles so feet are almost 90degrees (think of hanging from your ankles) oh & practiced a bunch (lots of solos logged here!) thats just the fast guys trying to compensate... hey with my slim cut merlin and not flying in a full split, I can chill out relaxed at 148 or fly in the 190s its all about the range and flying with who your flying with... I jump with 90 lb people and I fly with 220 lb people I guess you have to get comfortable with them all eh? I once heard somewhere that flying head down is t like the zen concept of the fish in the river ;) relax and flow with it or something... but I worked throught the burn already and I know union carpenteres that complain about their hips hurting the next day so thats normal... Cheers and blues Davehttp://www.skyjunky.com CSpenceFLY - I can't believe the number of people willing to bet their life on someone else doing the right thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WrongWay 0 #6 June 22, 2005 QuoteQuoteThe ability to think outside the box, imho, is 95% of what makes a good freeflyer. Thank you for putting this out there, I know it - it's just so hard to put into practice! Sometimes, yes. A good freeflyer once told me "Okay, you know body position really well....now it's time to totally forget about body position.". QuoteI know all i need to do is bring my legs in to go faster - in one video this weekend it looks like I'm almost in splits (max that jump was 140!). There ya go. Trying to have picture perfect body position instead of just flying what you need to. Remember, body position is not about how you look, it's about how much air hits you and where. Use the air, FEEL where it's hitting you, and think to yourself "How much and where should I let it hit me to accomplish what I want to?". The trick to feeling the air is to RELAAAAAAAAAAAAX. Don't fight the air AT ALL. If you're pushing against the air to get slow, then you're going faster than you want to. Just relax and let the air fow by you, and use it. Sorry for the "Zen" answer, but one day it'll just click. QuoteFrom almost 100 jumps trying to go slower, I now have muscle memory to push my legs out as far as they'll go. Funny thing is Monday morning I can hardly walk my hips hurt so much. Exactly, don't do what you've been taught! Other people know body position, but they don't know how YOUR body flies. Only you can know that. Use the information they taught you about where you should feel air, and feel it! It's your body, use it the way YOU know how! Quote Quoteyou can do more things easier when you're flying slow so, this is true? i'd heard that everythings easier when going faster. well, obviously not docking as the wind speed pushing on arms is then awfully strong. That "easier when faster" idea is a fat man's excuse. Slower is easier. Less air to fight. A tight suit will help you in the docking area as well. Less material to fight. Wrong Way D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451 The wiser wolf prevails. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricaH 0 #7 June 22, 2005 Ahh, jeesh. Now I have to go study taoism & yoga again . That dang relaxing - everyone keeps telling me to do it. one day I too will be a zen master (well, i hope anyway). I understand the just clicking - got that for sitflying a while ago, any position & it works. Guess patience is another key to relaxing. I was going on the theory of "if you build it (position) they [it] (relaxation) will come." I do understand. Perhaps I need a slimmer suit just so I CAN feel the air. Right now it's just rushing past me. I pretty much found this body position on my own (most at my dz fly daffy anyway) - now I have to tweak it so it feels right. makes perfect sense that docks would be easier w/ a slimmer suit. I rotate between the jumpsuit & pants w/ a longsleeve T - I don't really notice a difference. now it's warmer, perhaps on another solo I'll see how slow i can go in shorts & a T. Oh, I am one of those fatish people trying to compensate. My 200# b/f use to complain that I went too fast - now he can't slow down as much as I can - ha, the benefit of being flexible I guess. thank you for clarifying. i will "feel the air" more focused this weekend. (I hope) There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites