Can I land? Please???!!!!

[airtimebabe24 0]

I started skydiving mid-summer and did all my AFF training within a week. I have been jumping a 200 Navigator, which is good for me as i am learning to control the canopy and have smooth landings.
Problem- I have landed downwind 2 too many times. Walked away- but no excuse. and i can't seem to stand up ANY of my landings when i do land in the right direction. I even went back to a radio assisted landing today!
Help?!

"The most wasted day of all is that upon which we have not laughed..." Nicholas Chamfort.

[BRYANGOESBOOM 0]

< Disclaimer >
Im no instructor and the following could be complete crap.
< Disclaimer >

Grab a case of beer on your way out to the DZ and bribe someone into getting some video of your landings. Enjoy the brew while your local canopy pilots review the footage. I definitely recommend Taking Scott Millers canopy course ASAP if anything you will learn how to fly a pattern, how important it is to fly a pattern, and alot about your gear.

It took me a long time to understand canopy control. I would tear up my knees at least once a day at the dz it was ugly. I probably had 60 jumps before i kinda sorta got it.

Keep your head up

Not only will you look better, feel better, and fuck better; you'll have significantly increased your life expectancy. --Douva

[AggieDave 6]

Everything you read here, no matter how worthwhile the advice sounds, no matter how much experience the poster has, check the information with your instructors. Period.


First of all, whats your wingloading and how many jumps on that canopy? Secondly, it sounds like you're not planning your landing patterns prior to your jump. Get an photo of your landing area (even if you have to use Google Earth) and print out some copies for yourself. Draw, physicaly draw your landing pattern for the wind conditions prior to your jump. Now, the hard part, stick to what you drew. If you land 50ft long but land safely, good for you. Now you can take your drawing and slide it 50ft in the right direction and you'll land right where you want to. It also helps you land in the right direction if you plan like this ahead of time. It takes the confusion and fear out of your landing pattern.

Now, for the flaring part. Get some video (as already mentioned) of your landings. I bet two things: 1) you're not finishing your flare and 2) you're not flaring evenly. Think FINISH when you flare. Push your arms all the way down. Think EVEN when you flare. Get your hands sliding down the front of your body so they're in the edge of your vision. Have your hands touch if you have to at first to get it right. The swoopers land with their hands out to the side, but they've done it once or twice more times than you have. Go with what will work for you.

Get good coaching. That starts with something as simple as getting video of your landings and getting an experienced canopy pilot to review the videos with you. That continues with practical learning and book learning. Brian Germain has a good book on the technical aspects of canopy flight and people like Scott Miller have GREAT practical hands on learning courses available. Scott Miller travels all around the country teaching his canopy course. Its by far the best canopy course available, especially for people who have under-100 jumps and are fighting these demons. (His course is great for all experience levels, even better for instructors wanting to really learn how to teach canopy control for their students). If he doesn't come by your DZ, get a group together and call him, he'll go where he's needed and paid to go. If you have 10 people the cost of the course just dropped for you to get him in to your DZ.

Good luck and let us know how things go!

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[BRYANGOESBOOM 0]

Nice post Dave

Not only will you look better, feel better, and fuck better; you'll have significantly increased your life expectancy. --Douva

[Beverly 1]

Great post!!

Please can I add that girls are normally more careful coming into land and a few bad landings will get you to fear the landings. As this happens, you tense up on landing, hold your breath and expect the worst.
You need to get over the bad landings, be confident, breathe and flare like Dave said.

Just do it!! Don't be scared, don't let that landing fear control you!

chick thing

I think true friendship is under-rated

Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

[BIGUN 1,486]

Question for those observing you (or perhaps you can answer yourself):

What position are my arms when I'm flaring?

1. Arms extended out to the sides almost to the iron cross position?

2. While flaring; my hands come straight down my sides and into my groin (one solid motion like getting out on the side of the deep end of the pool).

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[countzero 7]

i've had issues with not finishing the flare and tensing up (bracing for impact). my instructor said to take a deep breath and relax on my turn from base to final and to think about flaring my hands down past my hips.

diamonds are a dawgs best friend

[airtimebabe24 0]

YES YES! i had a reaaallllly bad cross wind landing one time, and a few other downwinders. So, my confidence is shaken. I do tense up for sure.
Thanks for all this advice! im jumping today. and i will remember everything ya'll said!
Let's hope i dont get any more pretty bruises to show off!

"The most wasted day of all is that upon which we have not laughed..." Nicholas Chamfort.

[JohanW 0]

And look at the horizon. Don't look at the ground, look at the horizon. Finish the flare, and the ground will come up to meet your feet.

Johan.
I am. I think.

[airtimebabe24 0]

check out my other post- "You wont believe this." That may give you a hint on my progress. I jumped again today and stood up every time! i am almost to my A license.
Thanks for the support and advice!

"The most wasted day of all is that upon which we have not laughed..." Nicholas Chamfort.