Mantis or Boxman

[ladyskydiver 0]

Which position do you fly? Why? Are there pros and cons with them? If you flew boxman and transitioned to mantis, when did you do it? Why did you do it?


**edited to correct it to mantis. Can't figure out how to change the poll. Too much cold medicine this morning, sorry! **

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[CrazyIvan 0]

I'm still learning, but I tried mantis at the tunnel, is kinda tricky but I got it.
I like to learn EVERYTHING.
Get well soon

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

Och you poor belly people, you just can't work out what to do with your elbows......

For the record I used to employ the flailman, and was starting to experiment with a wobbly mantis when I discovered the delights of 3 dimensional flying.

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[Cajun 0]

I fly box man, but I have tried Mantis. Mantis seems harder to get the hang of, but I'm sure once I do it will rock. If only I made more belly jump

[blewaway5 0]

For the skill level I am, I'm all about the boxman. It's more stable, therefore easier to control. A lot like fighter planes, I think. Every now and then you'll see a concept for forward swept wings and they tell you how it's that much more maneuverable because it's inherently unstable. Same deal with the mantis. You can maneuver a lot more quickly, but you're more prone to becoming unstable. Of course, that's just my little ol' opinion

Truman Sparks for President

[happythoughts 0]

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I fly box man, but I have tried Mantis. Mantis seems harder to get the hang of, but I'm sure once I do it will rock. If only I made more belly jump

The full box is great for doing large formations. It can take a hit and gives you flexibility to absorb some motion.

Mantis gives you speed. Start/stop movements are crisper. The speed makes you unstable. That is ok. Mantis hand movements also show your breaks clearer. Great for high speed 4-way.

[Vallerina 2]

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If only I made more belly jump

Have you ordered that thing with grippers yet? You know you want some booties!

I tried flying in the mantis for the first real time in the tunnel last week. I felt like a student again! My turns were fast...which wasn't good for me, since I had no control. Also, whenever I'd turn I'd float way the hell up (on the video, it looks like halfway during the turn I'd somewhat slip back into boxman a few times.) However, the coolest thing about learning the mantis position was getting more leg awareness. Man those things can spin me fast! Just the slightest movement from them got me spinnin!

Hopefully this spring, people will be willing to jump with me while I'm flailing in the mantis position. Cajun????

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[RevJim 0]

. . .and those of us with a tall, thin, extremely lightweight frame, that want to stay with a formation (not watch it from above) need to steer clear from the "standard" boxman. Grabs too much air.

Blues!

It's your life, live it!
Karma
RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1

[happythoughts 0]

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. . .and those of us with a tall, thin, extremely lightweight frame, that want to stay with a formation (not watch it from above) need to steer clear from the "standard" boxman. Grabs too much air.

Blues!

You need to wear more weight. Here is a standard problem. You can see it from watching video. Seen it happen a lot.

Person comes down to the formation, reaches to take grips (which spreads them out), and they pop up. They drop down, reach, pop up. More weight solves this.

Or use it to your advantage. As a formation builds, it slows down. Dock on the outside if you are a slow faller. However, if you dock on the outside, you have to swoop faster than a close diver.

If you find that you are tucking your elbows into your ribs and arching an uncomfortable amount, add 4 lbs of weight, see if it helps.

[hookitt 1]

Both.

"Mantis" Has so much range and control. It Has Grand advantages while teaching AFF. I use boxman to relax. Or I just use what feels good at the time. Mostly I fly Mantis Nowadays..(well actually I freefly mostly nowadays)
Tim

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[skymama 37]

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Can't figure out how to change the poll.

I tried to change it for you, but it kept popping back to your original "manta" when I previewed it. Guess greenies don't have that much power!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[ladyskydiver 0]

lol Thanks, anyway. It's appreciated.

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[RevJim 0]

I did the weight thing. With experience comes control. I used the weight as a crutch, and as soon as I realized how easy it was to speed up, I pulled the weight, and had no problem staying with some pretty fast fallers.

Weight is good for some, but not everybody. I was using between 6 and 10 pounds, depending on what I was doing. Since then, I have not used the weights, and (ugh) have even managed to go low a few times. Knowing what I used to fly like helped there too though, as I can pop back up pretty quickly!

It's your life, live it!
Karma
RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1

[Cajun 0]

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I fly box man, but I have tried Mantis. Mantis seems harder to get the hang of, but I'm sure once I do it will rock. If only I made more belly jump

well according to Val I was "made for 4-way" just don't tell my freefly buddies ok?

Val I will have a belly suit as soon I can find one that doesn't cost too much.

The full box is great for doing large formations. It can take a hit and gives you flexibility to absorb some motion.

Mantis gives you speed. Start/stop movements are crisper. The speed makes you unstable. That is ok. Mantis hand movements also show your breaks clearer. Great for high speed 4-way.

[happythoughts 0]

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I did the weight thing. With experience comes control. I used the weight as a crutch, and as soon as I realized how easy it was to speed up, I pulled the weight, and had no problem staying with some pretty fast fallers.

I jump with quite a few guys who wear weight. I was wearing 4 lbs normally for a while. I wore more than that in the base on big-ways. Flying base, you already have too much to do.

I always use 2 basic tests.
1- Fly down to your slot and be stable and level. Then, with only elbow movement, take your grips. If you don't pop up, that is great.
2- Look at yourself on video. If you're feet are washing around or your elbows are pulled back too far to be comfortable, then you are working too hard.
Whatever is comfortable for you is the right thing.

[Sebazz1 2]

When jumping on my belly I often fly in positions that are not yet classified I think So mantis, boxman, and unclassified...

[happythoughts 0]

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When jumping on my belly I often fly in positions that are not yet classified I think So mantis, boxman, and unclassified...

I used to do head-down all the time, but eventually I got through AFF.

[happythoughts 0]

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well according to Val I was "made for 4-way" just don't tell my freefly buddies ok?

Different things in skydiving take different levels of difficulty to do them. Sometimes, it's not just flying ability. I was on a 4-way team for a while and it was mentally exhausting, but very rewarding.