sit fly way too fast!

[Chapsta 0]

Hey all...

I'm about 225 out the door and I'm having no problems with stability or slight movements. I just can't slow down. Protrack has me averaging over 170. I know that I've just got to get out of this lazy position my muscle memory has adapted to (ie. get those hands down). The question I have is... especially since I want to get serious about freeflying... is how to teach myself to slow with my legs. I've had several people give me info. on this and I'd like to know what you guys think.

So far, I've been trying to bring my feet out to teir respected sides so that the inside of my lower legs is catching more. This works, but my stability is immediately compromised as this position is much more difficult to fly! I want to free my hands up and take some docks with you guys!


HELP!!!!!!!!!

Chaps

Carpe diem

[AggieDave 6]

What sort of suit are you wearing? A BAGGY suit will help you a LOT. I'm the same way, I'm around 280lbs out the door, thus I can flat out burn through the sky. About a year and a half ago I got a VERY baggy FF suit from FMC, Karen created it to help me slow down, and it has helped a whole lot.

Learning the "slow down" tricks, like cocking your feet out to your side and getting your arms down help a lot, as well. There is a point in which you can not slow down anymore, no matter what you do. There is also a point in which you slow down to the point where you have severe problems with control (for turns, grips, etc), so you're going to have to find a happy medium with your jump partners.

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

[Jib 0]

I'm like 260 out the door and had the same problem. One video guy said I burned the shingles off his ass. Like Dave said, get a suit. It'll make a huge difference.

--------------------------------------------------
the depth of his depravity sickens me.
-- Jerry Falwell, People v. Larry Flynt

[CanuckInUSA 0]

Yah and now that Jib has this new suit, he falls slow. Dude I'm still in shock that you didn't fall faster on those jumps we did this last weekend.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[Zenister 0]

even sitflying your largest wing is still your torso..one way to slow down is to get more of it into the air...you can do this by arching from the top of your chest and pushing your shoulder blades into the wind...of course over emphasizing this will also translate into drive so you'll have to compensate with your legs....which gets more surface area into the air as well and will also help you slow down.. there is a fine line to maintaining this position vs 'buttflying' but you can get some really slow speeds once you get it down...

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[Chapsta 0]

Awesome... thanx for the input! I'm already leaning against my apartment wall trying your ideas out Zen! Thanx again everybody!

Chaps

Carpe diem

[hkf 0]

I've found for both flat and FF, that if someone is struggling on fall rate (fast or slow) if they compromise body position for fall rate they will loose a degree of control. The key is to try and dress for sucssess. Try and extend this to your regular jumping partners by getting them in something tighter.

I've just bid on some freefly gloves, which are webbed, and I'm hoping they will get me down to flat speeds, I'll let u know how I get on!

[Chapsta 0]

Right on man!

good luck with the gloves and be sure to let me know! Do they compromise much in term of pulling/feel?

Chaps

Carpe diem

[hookitt 1]

You're on the right track using the inside of the lower legs to help slow down. It will cause much more drag and allow you to expose more of your back to the wind with out driving forward.

That said... Much of your speed issue will fix itself with practice.

....but first...

You ==> Bigger suit!
Them ==> must cooperate and be willing to speed up their floaty asses. Tighter suit, fly faster, what ever.

I'm only 150 pounds without my skydiving equipment and I have to regularily speed up the big guys. They are so used to fighting to fly slow, that they don't learn to relax and just fly.

That will be a challenge for you for a while, so do you're best to learn to just fly rather than fight to go slow. As you progress to just flying, the fall rate issue will start to sort itself out.

Go out and flail about sometimes too. Do some flips and spins Layout back flips. Go nuts. It will help to relax you and teach you more about body awareness. The side affect is that it's also fun.

Good luck!

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

[Chapsta 0]

Awesome input hookit! I'll be sure to let you know as I progress what's happening! You guys rock!

Chaps

Carpe diem

[grega 0]

What can i say, it has been all said already.And don't think and try flying slow, know you can fly slow. be confident, fly with your mind. Just wish really hard when you'll be beneath them. and you'll be up with them in no time. You just have to truly believe you can do it. Oh and don't forget to breathe.

Quote

You guys rock!

I prefer Stone, but rock is good too

p.s. and no i didn't smoke anything suspicious

"George just lucky i guess!"

[ranchhand28 0]

There's a cool technique used by a lot of flyers that go to the Wind Tunnel, which is sort of spreading your lower legs wide and to the outside (it's sort of awkward at first... but you'll get used to it pretty quick).

The technique is incredibly efficient. It will help you out when you start taking docks, for instance. I'm more of the opinion that if you need to fly slower, than you should review your overall body position. Spreading your legs wide open will also help out, and make you fly rock solid (the more area you create, the slower you'll fly. And you'll be more stable).

The pictures attached of Juliana (she's a tunnel coach) flying the position I mentioned above are a good example.

Give it a shot, and definitely add up some more drag to your attire! :-))

Have fun,

T

ps the resolution on the pictures isn't the greatest. You can also check them directly at http://www.rawa.com.br/english/photos.htm (sorry, I have to study how to make clickies...)

[Chrisky 2]

Quote

http://www.rawa.com.br/english/photos.htm (sorry, I have to study how to make clickies...)

Check the "Get markup help" link...
CLICKY!

Oh, and good to see Rawa are working on an international site! Their helmets rock!

The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open.
From the edge you just see more.
... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

[Chapsta 0]

Those are cool pics! thanx for the info! Man... those legs are wide! It's great to have this visual reference!

Thanx Again
Chaps

Carpe diem

[michaelflying 0]

try baggier jump suit

www.skydivekzn.co.za

[Chapsta 0]

Hey all! It's been awhile since I've posted on this thread... but I just wanted to say I finally have learned to slow up! I've even gained more control in my modified position! The only problem I'm having now is flying in and grabbing docks... I sink out when I'm almost there... but after watching my video a thousand times I've realized it's because I get so excited about grabbing a foot or a hand that I revert back to the original 'lazy' body position I first learned. Oh well... I guess it's just jumps!

Yeehaw!

Chaps

Carpe diem

[Airborne03 0]

its just like after AFF learning how to do a dock with ur belly, if u reach u will defenitly change ur speed. Just be confident when you are docking. I had/have the same problem. I get excited when I see someones foot and try to grab it. When I know im going to get a dock, I say to myself, "fly to it, keep my hands in the same spot"...its kinda like parking a car, my hand is the car and hit foot is the space, i dont move it, i just turn my body so my hand is there, and fly it right into the space. works for me!
good luck!

"Airborne all the way"
EL Cantador Rodriguez