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Jumperpaula

Advice on Big Ways

By Jumperpaula, in The Bonfire

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PLFXpert    0

PLFXpert
I"m a big-way virgin so I can't give advice but since we're on the subject, would someone explain to me the allure of big ways? My biggest is a 7-way. I stick more to freeflying but I still enjoy turning some fast RW points but I much prefer a 4-way over 5 or 6. My question isn't meant to insult any avid big-way fliers. It's just that, I guess I'm selfish and I like the sky to myself and a couple others. To me, the world record 300-ways seem way more dangerous than any head down flying. Again, I am not speaking from experience so I'd love to hear other opinions. I fly head down and really enjoy it although I find some RW people calling me crazy. I think they must be just as crazy for jumping into a 300-way. Anyone agree/disagree?
I guess after I've tried a 20-way that a 40-way might not seem so bad and after that so on and so on. So maybe lack of experience w/ big-ways is why I"m not understanding.
Much love and blue skies,
Carrie http://www.geocities.com/skydivegrl20/

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PLFXpert    0

PLFXpert
I"m a big-way virgin so I can't give advice but since we're on the subject, would someone explain to me the allure of big ways? My biggest is a 7-way. I stick more to freeflying but I still enjoy turning some fast RW points but I much prefer a 4-way over 5 or 6. My question isn't meant to insult any avid big-way fliers. It's just that, I guess I'm selfish and I like the sky to myself and a couple others. To me, the world record 300-ways seem way more dangerous than any head down flying. Again, I am not speaking from experience so I'd love to hear other opinions. I fly head down and really enjoy it although I find some RW people calling me crazy. I think they must be just as crazy for jumping into a 300-way. Anyone agree/disagree?
I guess after I've tried a 20-way that a 40-way might not seem so bad and after that so on and so on. So maybe lack of experience w/ big-ways is why I"m not understanding. I'd like to be well-rounded and try everything but I don't see too many bigger than 20-ways in my future as of now.
Much love and blue skies,
Carrie http://www.geocities.com/skydivegrl20/

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Jumperpaula    0

Jumperpaula
This is a demo (my first) over the Johnson Space Center for their open house and annual Ballunar Liftoff (hot air ballons, hang giliders, para-planes, etc.). Im sure they picked 30 way so you might see it from the ground.
It would be hard to follow a 4-way competition as a spectator, but a 30 way competition.....maybe you could see it and get into it.

Fly Your Slot !

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Zennie    0

Zennie
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would someone explain to me the allure of big ways?...It's just that, I guess I'm selfish and I like the sky to myself and a couple others.


4-way is fun because it's all about speed and precision.
I'm no big-big-way expert either. My biggest is like 15. But I've done a fair number of 10-12 ways. I also freefly (poorly), so maybe I can offer some perspective here.
Big-way is kind of a big 'ol party in the sky. And when things click, and you have 10+ people turning points, it's almost like you're part of something bigger than yourself. A cell in an organism, if you will.
Freefly is more about cutting loose. Just do whatever moves you at the moment. So maybe it's a little more expressive, like dance.
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To me, the world record 300-ways seem way more dangerous than any head down flying.


I wouldn't say any, but yeah those are really dangerous. Mainly because the sky is so crowded canopy collisions are pretty much inevitable (ask Dead Mike). Still, if someone asked me to participate, I'd prolly say yes (but not at my current experience level, obviously). Sure it's dangerous, but how often are do you have the chance to participate in something like that?
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Blue Skies!
Zennie

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skybytch    273

skybytch
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Fly Your Slot !

Good advice! :)Probably the key to the whole thing is discipline. Don't dock until the person you are docking on is settled in and flying - you may also have to wait for the base to build before you dock.
Fly to your grips, fly your slot, take grips, keep flying your slot until break off or the key to the next point. Use the person opposite you in the formation as a fall rate reference.
At breakoff, turn and track 180 from the center of the formation - not 180 from the direction you are facing. Track hard and flat - keep your hands below your body and really push down with your arms and legs. A hard, flat track is the most important skill you can have if you're doing larger skydives - practice it on every jump. Since a lot of jumpers don't track hard and flat, at pull time you'll almost always find yourself able to look down and back at the others on your load - which means clean air for you to dump in.
Oh, and don't forget to :)pull and flare,
lisa
---
I chose the road less traveled. Now where the hell am I?

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Michele    1

Michele
I was fortunate enough to be at Perris when the POPs ladies got their record formation (it's on the Perris website) on the 3rd jump of the day.
But what was even cooler was the attempt at the 45-way: a weedwhacker (I think that's what it was called). Standing on the ground, I could look up and see them - what an amazing sight! And when they broke - man, it looked like a flock of birds all deciding to go their own way. And then they pulled, which scared me because some pulled way low, and some pulled really near each other (at least that was the way it looked on the ground). All were safe, so I guess it was just my newbie eyes looking at this. So many canopies, all trying to get to the same patch of ground in the same relative time. I will say I have a newfound appreciation for the art of tracking. Some of them made it really far out! but most were near each other.....
But man, it was intense. It's sure something to see from the ground. :)ciels-
Michele
"What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky".
~e e cummings~

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skybytch    273

skybytch
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would someone explain to me the allure of big ways?...

My biggest was a 36 way that built to 35; I've also been on numerous multi point 20 - 34 ways, including a 3 point 33 way that was absolutely incredible. I plan to be on the next women's world record, which will be a 140 way. My boss and two of my coworkers are current womens world record holders, both my bosses and another coworker are current world record holders.
So why big ways? The challenge! For the organizers, it's the challenge of designing the formation and putting the right people in the right slots; all while keeping the dives safe and the dzo and all the jumpers happy. For the jumpers, it's the challenge of flying their slot - making a sweet approach, docking softly at the right time, not screwing up. There's also the joy of sharing an achievement with friends. When the dive works, big ways can be magical.
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And when things click, and you have 10+ people turning points, it's almost like you're part of something bigger than yourself. A cell in an organism, if you will.

Kinda... definitely a part of something bigger and better than any one or two people could create. And that's why I like big ways!
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yeah those are really dangerous.

I have to disagree... they CAN be dangerous, but with the right break off technique, a high experience level, a lot of discipline from the participants and a sharp axe in the name of safety I think they can be done relatively safely.
pull and flare,
lisa
---
I chose the road less traveled. Now where the hell am I?

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SkymonkeyONE    4

SkymonkeyONE
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Any good advice on Big Way Formations??


While my favorite disciplines are 4 and 8-way sequential, I really do love the hell out of large formation skydiving. Granted, my biggest dive was a 3-point 40-way, it was one of the most satisfying moments in my 20 years in the sport. As a light guy (I hover around 150-155lbs naked), I get plenty of opportunity to float and be last out of the plane. Both are terribly rewarding, as you get to see the whole thing building right in front of you. As a floater, it's great to be able to leave early and pop up to the formation in a sort of birdman track. Diving out late and last, it's great to be able to invert, grab your boc with both hands, set your dive and haul ass. Then you get to flare out, set your brakes, then glide into position. Lovely.
As far as advice goes, I would definitely rate your "range" realistically. If you can't get back up, then don't volunteer to float. If you can't swoop, then don't be last out. Where most people get hosed is when they think they are outside people, when in actuallity they really needed to be more inside. If you don't have good control in a no-lift dive, then stay closer in that way you don't pile into someone if you don't raise your head soon enough. Some will recall the thread when I told about getting knocked out at 12,000 feet by a guy that "over-boogied" and hit me in a no-lift dive while I was shooting video. Very ugly. I recommend the "chicken dive." Look it up in an old Parachutist or ask around. It is a near-vertical dive, but your head is up so you can see where you are going. Accomplished freeflyers will also say that an inverted back-track works well to get down and keep visibility on the formation. Whatever you are comfortable with. The bottom line is that you can be a super skydiver, but go from hero to zero in about one second if you blow a swoop and go flying below the formation, never to be seen again. As far as additional equipment for swooping, I reccomend slip-ons for your forearms if you are jumping a comp suit with spandex there, plus webbed half-gloves to REALLY put the brakes on.
Chuck

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flyhi    24

flyhi
All the good advice is already here. Fly your slot. Don't look for or at the grip. If it's your first big way, sit midway between the pilot and the door. Don't give up on the dive. If you go low, try to get back in. Don't give up and track away. They lost a guy at Chicago last year doing that. Visualize. Relax and breath.

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PhreeZone    20

PhreeZone
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And what is a CASA?

Only like the best tailgate aircraft that is used for regular jump operations! I jump one every weekend and the thing is a blast! Its official make is a STI CASA 212-200. It Seats about 34 jumpers and will climb up to 25000ft. They were used to launch the Base of the last 300 way attempt. You can launch up to a 12 way off the gate with grips at one time. The are perfect for doing Raft and other Toy jumps. All the CASA's in the US are rigged for oxygen hookups too. Very comfortable and quiet inside.
Do I HAVE to do another raft dive??? :)

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Zennie    0

Zennie
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Is this a "Scotty Way"?


I'm not sure if Scotty is gonna be in on this or not. I know his girlfriend Tammi is.
But even if he is, it prolly wouldn't qualify as a true "Scotty Way" since he isn't organizing. ;)
------------
Blue Skies!
Zennie

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