Headdown - Everybody wants to learn!
The winter is coming and you’re thinking about where you're going to jump to clear your winter doldrums. When you get to where you want to jump, everybody needs to freshen up their skills, maybe learn some new ones. One of the most popular skills to learn is Headdown. As a coach I have seen a lot of ways to learn the position. Some people, if you manually stick them in the position and hold them there, will learn it in a few jumps. Other fliers don't have it so easy. Well this article is for you!
We will learn what to concentrate on in the Headdown position, but more importantly how to work around the problem with other skills, which I think contribute and can sculpt the Headdown position. These skills being back flying, flat back tracking and flat belly tracking.
Headdown
Headdown is probably the most technical of the freefly positions. It requires balance, skill, strength, and a refined technique. I teach the straddle position first, because it is easier to balance and conceptualize early on. You should have your head, shoulders, hips, and ankles completely in line. Your head should be pointing straight towards the Earth with your field of view consisting of the horizon with a half sky/half ground ratio.
People who fly on their bellies a lot usually have a huge arch in their torso, which causes them to go to a back track, or belly track (we will get to how that is important later). Others usually have a kink in their hip so their shoulders and head are in one plane and their hips and ankles in another plane. This causes a steep track on their belly.
Most of the concentration, once you have acquired the skill of keeping your body all in one plane, should be concentrated on the hips, legs and feet. First, You should have tension in your butt so you are straight, this can fix the hinged at the hip problem addressed above. Second, you should squeeze your quads taught so they push outwards, but remain in the same plane as everything else and keep the full extent of your leg straight. Third, you should have your toes flexed up towards your head. Picture yourself hanging from a bar upside down by your feet. You should feel air on your toes when you get it right. Pressure should be felt on your toes much like someone standing on your feet.
Once you have the straddle position, the progression calls for 360 turns both ways, forward and backward motion, and then docks.
We won't get into the technique of daffy Headdown, but it is extremely useful to slow down, fly in the tunnel with the lower speeds, and for heavier people to fly with others.
Back Fly
People often ask why they need to learn to fly on their back. The answer is simple. Headdown is a balance between flying on your back and on your belly. When the Headdown position is correct, no wind should be felt on your back or belly. This position requires the awareness of air being on your back or belly, so you can achieve no air on the torso. Since most people can fly on there belly relatively well, then it is imperative for you to learn how to fly on your back to acquire the Headdown position.
The back fly position can be attained in the tunnel first, because it is much safer. Start on the grate. Relax your torso so it is convex. Put your hands above your head, and relax them. Do not push down towards the grate unless you want to slow down, or go up! Let your head relax and sit in line with your torso, while looking straight above. Keep your hips 90 degrees just like sitting in a chair. Keep your legs wide for stability.
Back fly also has many everyday uses. Flying with tandems on your back is not only fun, but honestly the best video angle. When you are flying with an inexperienced sit flier and they cork you can match their speed on your back, until they can get vertical again. Lastly, you can use back fly to fly with relative workers, or once again get an interesting camera angle from below.
Two words of caution! First, tighten up your rig when you fly on your back because the rig tends to shift from the wind below and can turn you. Second, I do not recommend flying on your back with other people unless you can competently fly in the wind tunnel on your back with a coach, as not to cause a huge difference in speed and thus a high speed collision.
Tracking
When first learning the Headdown position people either track towards the coach or away. I think it is very useful to learn to flat track on your belly and back. If you learn to fly both positions well with a coach, then control of the Headdown position is easier.
Belly flat tracking is a little different than the steep track taught in the majority of AFF programs. A flat track has the ankles, hips and shoulders all in one plane.
The progression suggests to learn to turn left and right, adjust your fall rate with your torso, and finally increase your speed with your legs. Turn left and right with your arms first as to make the adjustment slow. Then start to adjust the trim of your body for more powerful turns. Adjust your fall rate in tracking by arching to go down, and cupping with your torso to go up. Lastly, squeeze your quads tight for speed.
Back tracking is fun and challenging. It can be used in Headdown, to track up to formations and to close huge distances. Make sure to slow down well before you reach your target.
The first problem most people have when they back track is they have a kink at the hip. This creates more of a back fly rather than a track. Squeeze your butt, or push your hips forward to get flat. To gain more speed, put your legs together and press your ankles down slightly.
With all these positions and abilities under your belt, Headdown will be easier to learn. The awareness and skills you learn from these alternate positions can in the end help you conquer Headdown.
Remember, try to freshen up with a coach and in the tunnel before you start flying with other people. Headdown, along with these other positions is never easy, but persistence mixed with awareness and the right guidance always pays off.
Swoop high, don't lag on jump run, and pack your instructor's parachute. Later!
The New School Fligh University Web Site
Steven Blincoe is the founder of The New School Flight University in Lake Wales, Florida. He has 4,000 jumps total and 300 hours of Skyventure Orlando wind tunnel time. If you would like to contact him you can at blincoe.org, or 530-412-2078.
By admin, in Disciplines,
Why should I register on Dropzone.com
Registration allows you to use Dropzone.com features to the fullest, and it's FREE. You only register once and use your username and password to access whatever area of the site you want. Listed below are some of the things you can do when registered that non-registered users are missing out on:
Post in the Dropzone Forums - Post and participate in the conversations in the Dropzone Forums. The forums receive more than 2,000 posts per day and it a great resource for skydiving information and a cool community to make friends in.
FREE Dropzone.com Email address - Yes, your_username@dropzone.com automatically becomes yours and you can use the online Dropzone Mail application to send and receive email at this address. 2MB of free storage space, spam filters, retrieve mail from your other POP accounts, create your own folders and message rules, keep an address book and lots more....
Post Classified Ads - There are normally more than 1000 classified ads on Dropzone.com. It has become the most popular place on the Internet to shop for used and new skydiving gear. Register to post your gear for sale.
List you DZ in the Dropzone Database and write reviews - Add your DZ to the Dropzone Database if you're a DZO, staff member or webmaster or write some reviews for DZs that you've visited for others to read! Thousands of people use the Dropzone Database to find a place to jump in their area or in a area they plan to visit.
Write and read Gear reviews - The Gear Database is an extensive list of available skydiving gear. Read and write reviews and give your opinion about the usefulness of existing reviews.
Create your own Personal Photo Gallery - You can now create your own personal photo gallery on Dropzone.com. Upload photos, create directories to organize your images and send any of your photos as an electronic postcard! (Read the FAQ)
Add your web site Links - Dropzone.com has a large Links Directory with Yahoo-style sub categories. If you have a skydiving related web site you can list your link here and get some of Dropzone.com's traffic to your site.
Participate in Promotions - Dropzone.com often run promotions and giveaways that are open to registered users only. To be in line for the next free T-shirt or video... register!
There are plenty of other small features all over the site that you'll discover as you start browsing once you Sign Up. It's FREE and it will open up a whole new world for you on Dropzone.com.
By admin, in Account Help,
Can I delete my username
No. You can not delete a username at this time. If you registered another name then simply continue to use the new account. Old dormant accounts may be purged.
By admin, in Account Help,
Am I allowed to have more than one active account
No, you are allowed to have only ONE active account on Dropzone.com. Multiple accounts are not allowed unless for special purposes. If you want an additional account please email me before you open the account with an explanation of why it is needed. There are very few circumstances under which you will ever need two accounts on Dropzone.com. Anyone found to have more than one active account will have their account terminated.
By admin, in Account Help,
Do you use cookies on Dropzone.com
Yes. The cookie contains encrypted information that is neccessary to prevent you from having to re-enter your username and password at each feature available to registered users. Unless you check the "Remember Login" check box when you log in, the cookie will be removed from the client when you close your browser. To enable cookies, follow the instructions below for the browser version you are using.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.x
Select "Internet Options" from the Tools menu.
Click on the "Privacy" tab.
Set your privacy level to "Medium".
Alternatively if you set it higher than "Medium"
Click on "Edit" in the Web Sites section
Type "http://www.dropzone.com/" in Address of the Web Site field.
Click on "Allow".
Click "OK".
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x
Select "Internet Options" from the Tools menu.
Click on the "Security" tab.
Click "Custom Level" button.
Scroll down to the "Cookies" section.
To enable:
Set "Allow cookies that are stored on your computer" to "Enable".
Set "Allow per-session cookies" to "Enable".
Click "OK".
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x
Select "Internet Options" from the View menu.
Click on the "Advanced" tab.
Scroll down to find "Cookies" within the "Security" section.
To enable:
Select "Always accept cookies".
Click "OK".
Netscape Communicator 4.x
Select "Preferences" from the Edit menu.
Find the "Cookies" section in the "Advanced" category.
To enable:
Select "Accept all cookies" (or "Enable all cookies").
Click "OK".
By admin, in Account Help,
What is my Dropzone.com Account - How do I modify it
Your Dropzone.com Account holds only your basic information to enable you to log in and use the features on the site. You must provide a valid email address in this account (it will be validated every time you change it) and none of the information in your account is available to the public. To get to your Account Home Page click on the Login link in the top right corner of any page.
By admin, in Account Help,
Can I change my username
No. You can not change your username. If you absolutely have to use a different username you'll have to register a new account. NOTE: You will not be able to use the same email address as in your first account (so change that one to and address you don't use). You will not be able to carry over any history, like forum posts and status, to the new username.
It is Dropzone.com policy not to allow multiple accounts per person, so your initial account will be disabled. Any abuse of the site through the use of multiple accounts will lead to all usernames associated with a user being disabled.
By admin, in Account Help,
How do I change my password
Your password is saved in your Dropzone.com Account. All passwords are encrypted. To change your password login to Dropzone.com. If you are already logged in then click on the Account link in the top right corner of any page. This will take you to your Dropzone.com Account. From there click on "change your password". Type in your old password and your new password, confirm your new password by typing it a second time and click the "Update" button.
By admin, in Account Help,
I forgot my password. How do I retrieve it
Click on the Account link at the top of any page. From the login screen click the “Retrieve it here!” link. There are 2 ways that you to retrieve your password:
Enter your username into the area provided and click on the "Send Password" button. A temporary password will be sent to your email address on file. NOTE: The temporary password can be used ONCE only. After you log in, immediately go to your Account Home Page and change your password.
Alternatively, you can type your username, select your security question and type the answer you provided when you signed up. A temporary password will be displayed on the screen that you can use to log in ONCE only. Retrieve your password in this way if you do not have access to the email account on file anymore.
More about how Temporary Passwords work.
By admin, in Account Help,
How do I register or sign up
Click the Account link at the top of any page. Click on Sign up now! on the login screen. You will be prompted to enter a username, a password and an email address. You will also be asked to choose a security question and provide and answer for it. Please enter a valid email address that you have access to as an email will be sent to that address for you to activate your account. This is also where your temporary password will be sent should you forget your password. Your security question and answer provides you with an alternative way to retrieve your password should you loose it. Your password should be something that is easy for you to remember, but difficult for other people to guess.
By admin, in Account Help,