Working on consistency

[AggieDave 6]

Besides the obvious, of jump jump jump and jump some more, do any of you folks have any tips or tricks to help with getting more consitent?

Right now I have a meh swoop (aka an "ok" swoop) 3 out of 5 times, a "perfect" badass swoop 1 out of 5 times and am too high or something along those lines 1 out of 5 times.


I have really started to get some of the other skills down, rear risers, carving and such, but it seems like I just can't get consistent enough in my approaches.

Any ideas or just the obvious answer of jump more and jump alot?

Thanks.

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

[jdhill 0]

I think consistency starts well before the turn... fly a consistent pattern, to a consistent set up, use the same type of turn... use a consistent target too, not something particularly specific to your DZ, but something transferable, like a wind blade (just about every DZ, or swoop course will have one)... and like you mentioned... practice, practice, practice...

J

PS> while your practicing, avoid target fixation!!!!!!!

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke

[AggieDave 6]

  Quote

I think consistency starts well before the turn... fly a consistent pattern, to a consistent set up, use the same type of turn...

I agree with you there! I've been trying to do the same kind of turn at the same point after flying the same pattern...I guess I'm not doing it the same way every time although I *think* I am.

I think need to have someone take my camera out and video me so I can really start breaking it down, fix the things I'm doing wrong. Since I'm obviously doing something different or I'd be doing it great every time.

Damnit that something I love about this sport. I've been working on swooping, buiding it up for about 800 jumps (obviously not counting tandem jumps in that number) and its been a long road of learning. If it was easy, it would have gotten boring.

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

[speedy 0]

My probelms when working on consistency ....

1. At the moment I am doing a load of Tandem Videos. For these I use my second rig with a bigger canopy for the long spots. When I come back to my velo I have to re-learn the heights.

2. Traffic! It's difficult to fly the set up I want, time after time, due to all the others that are trying out their canopies by spiralling them all over the DZ. Have you not noticed this? I have never understood why holding one toggle down for a minute is trying out your canopy.

Still, all the money I get from the videos can be used for training jumps in the winter from the C182

Just ordered a direct bag for my Velo. This will save time messing about with the RDS

Dave

Fallschirmsport Marl

[tspillers 0]

Spirals....sure they are TRYING the canopy to see how long it takes them to get dizzy

Maybe it is that overlooked skill of sprials close to the ground

Todd

I am not totally useless, I can be used as a bad example.

[Brains 2]

  Quote

Maybe it is that overlooked skill of sprials close to the ground

I KNEW there was something i was wanting to practice this weekend.

Dave, i will be happy to video your landings if you think it would help.

Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you.

[tspillers 0]

Oh, great....and you are going to be here this weekend...

Todd

I am not totally useless, I can be used as a bad example.

[IMGR2 0]

Dave, you also have to be very aware of the winds.

If you are landing into the wind you need to understand that when your canopy is diving at the ground the ground winds hitting the top of your canopy will hold your canopy in a dive longer.

Just something to think about.

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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Dave, you also have to be very aware of the winds.

If you are landing into the wind you need to understand that when your canopy is diving at the ground the ground winds hitting the top of your canopy will hold your canopy in a dive longer.

Steady winds have zero effect on how long your canopy dives and it's glide ratio relative to the moving air mass. You cover less ground with a head-wind so the dive looks steeper. The resulting excitement skews your perception of time.

Wind gusts and other turbulence are a different story.

[ianmdrennan 2]

  Quote

If you are landing into the wind you need to understand that when your canopy is diving at the ground the ground winds hitting the top of your canopy will hold your canopy in a dive longer.

A common misconception but not true. I throw my turn at roughly the same altitude every time (according to the neptune). As long as the winds are steady the canopy's dive will be the same. Gusty conditions can cause disruptions in the airflow over the wing and can dramtically change things though.

It's been discussed ad nausem but a quick search should turn up all the heated discussions on the topic
Edit: Drew beat me to it

Blues,
Ian

Performance Designs Factory Team

[IMGR2 0]

I guess its just my experience.
I use my altimeter to decide when I start my turns and I have noticed in high winds that I tend to still be in my dive on the latter part of it.

[exwhuffo 0]

hop n pops are best, less or no traffic.
swoop the same spot as much as possible.
be methodical chosing and recording your set up points.
from your initiation point A to 1000ft B to 1500ft C. before u jump map out these points on the ground in your mind and be there under canopy.
be in brakes from C to B. full flight from B to A, .
once you know where u have to be at all these points at varying winds they can be transfered to any spot, direction or DZ. plan the swoop and swoop the plan!
My $0.02, hope it helps.