bdazel 0 #1 April 4, 2003 Hi everyone. I've been reading these forums for a while and I'm impressed with the advice that you guys give. I've learned a lot just by reading these. I have a question about my freefly progression. I'm able to fly stable in both a sit and a headdown. The problem is I fall too fast, and everyone I jump with has a hard time keeping up with me. I've watched video of my body position, and as far as I can tell I'm doing everything I can to slow down, especially in a sit. My arms are straight out without being behind me, my legs are wide, everything is at ninety degrees. I'm very stable doing a stradle hd, and I know that when I learn to do a daffly, it will help my fall rate, so I'm not as concerned about that right now. I don't have a ff suit, just ff pants and usually a sweatshirt (the pants aren't real baggy, and are kind of slick). it seems to me that a good thick freefly suit would help me slow down. I've been talking to some of the flyers at the dz, and a couple guys are insistent that I learn to fly my body, not a suit. that makes sense to me, I want to be versatile, but where is the line? When should I say ok, I'm doing everything I can but it's not enough. I'm 5'11", 190 lbs, bigger than most people I jump with. Would it be foolish of me to buy a ff suit to slow down without spending more time trying to slow down with just my body? My main goal is to improve my ff skills. Thanks for any help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MissMissy 0 #2 April 4, 2003 the first thing that comes to mind (after reading your profile)... there's so many variables that could contribute to these factors such as: 1. are the others you jump with skilled to fly many fall rates? 2. are you sure you're not overlooking any obvious points of critiquing your body position? it's hard to give written advice especially without having jumped with you, but i would advise to get a coach jump (since you're soo close to SDC) and receive a "professional" critique as to what to work on. then go from there. i know it's not specifics to work in the air, but hope this helps! cheers- missy--- Missy Nelson **Learning Never Stops** Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cheneyneel 0 #3 April 5, 2003 Man get a jump suit.. If you can fly with a mile of drag on your arms then you can fly with or without anything.. If you look at the all the freefly teams out there no matter their size/skill they all wear suits.. Get yourself a Freefly suit.. Get one used off of the classifieds or something... FLying your body is one thing but I have flown with people that cant fly with a jump suit but can fly without.. If you learn with a jump suit you are still learning to fly with your body.. That is the truth.. Fly with a suit... I am 235lbs out of the door at 6'2. so I know how you feel on the fall rate issue.. But all I can tell you is jump.. The skill will come to slowdown.. Funny it seems how the more skill and practice you aqquire the slower you will be able to fly.. YOu will eventually have more of a range of flight speeds in both vertical and inverted positions than smaller people, in the future they will start to have problems with.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #4 April 5, 2003 I feel your pain. I'm nearly 290lbs out the door, but I'm able to slow down fairly well. I have one seriously baggy FF suit, but what's helped a LOT is learning how to properly fly. Take Missy's advice and get some coaching, that'll help a lot.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bdazel 0 #5 April 7, 2003 it's hard to give written advice especially without having jumped with you, but i would advise to get a coach jump (since you're soo close to SDC) and receive a "professional" critique as to what to work on. then go from there. Quotethanks for the advice Missy. I looked at the SDC website, and I will drive up for a couple couch jumps this summer, sounds exciting. I'm pleased with how my skills are coming along, but I know nothing can compare to experienced advice. It looks like a good deal. Who does the coaching there, and is it only done on certain days? thanks-Braden Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bdazel 0 #6 April 7, 2003 Thanks guys- I think I'm going to order a phat ff suit, and keep working at it. Braden Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
huffermoose 0 #7 April 8, 2003 just a thought i found that i fly fast in head down but can outfloat most people in head up flying. but the fact remains that the other people should all fly head level so if you are maxed out in head down then the other fliers should fly a little faster. i personnally prefer a fast head down as you can just hang of your legs and let your arms do what they want to do instead of maxing out leaving you with not much room for manoueverability. plus if you are going faster you become more efficient and faster getting where you want to be just make sure you can control it. just my 10 cents cya Allan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blazingcannon 0 #8 April 8, 2003 Quote plus if you are going faster you become more efficient and faster getting where you want to be just make sure you can control it. I'd warn against using speed in headdown to "increase efficiency at getting where you want to be faster".- that could be very dangerous. I know if I was rippin along at 185, I sure wouldn't trust anyone zooming in at me for a dock as fast as they could for efficiency's sake, even if they assured me "they could control it". No way. At higher speed, things become more touchy, giving you less control, as you said...control of important safety issues like fallrate. If you crank out a steep body position to get somewhere fast while going 185, you'll pretty much cork on your partner, making highspeed collision a possibility ...Although you'd be going really fast horizontally, you might end up right above them. (which would kill if they had a preemie) As far as that being efficient, you'd be spending the whole dive trying to match fallrates with your partner, and if you define efficiency as "doing something as smooth as possible with the least effort", then going faster in this case doesn't necessarily equal efficiency. Just my 100cents : ) -edited to add my frickin name..haha - Cheers, Glen : )"Spread your legs and fly" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rapper4mpi 0 #9 April 8, 2003 Although true you want to be able to fly your body, there IS a limit as to how slow you can go. At 5'11" 195 pounds, you should be able to get yourelf considerably slow, but again, there is a limit. I recommend a suit, I'm 5'11" 210, but with my slightly baggy, heavy fabric Michigan Suit, I can fly easily in a neuteral position with flyers that weight 150 pounds. The key is this. If you want light fabric, the baggier you will need to go. If you can handle on thoese hot days the heavier fabric, I'd go with that, then it doesn't need to be as baggy. Good luck! -Rap Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MissMissy 0 #10 April 8, 2003 most of the freeflying/coaching staff will be here in may - which is myself and my team (Sugar Gliderz - jen key & amy chmelecki), my freestyle videographer, bill hughes and my brother's team (alchemy - rook, mike swanson and alaska jon). if you just let us know when you're coming then we can expect you and plan for the day. so just let us know! missy--- Missy Nelson **Learning Never Stops** Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bdazel 0 #11 April 8, 2003 Quotemost of the freeflying/coaching staff will be here in may - which is myself and my team (Sugar Gliderz - jen key & amy chmelecki), my freestyle videographer, bill hughes and my brother's team (alchemy - rook, mike swanson and alaska jon). if you just let us know when you're coming then we can expect you and plan for the day. so just let us know! missythanks Missy- I plan on making it up there the end of may. Can't wait. Braden Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bdazel 0 #12 April 8, 2003 thanks for the advice everyone- you make some really good points. Braden Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
