Freefly Tip Of The Day (28 Nov 2003): Sitflying - recovering from your back

[OzoneJunkie 0]

(Continuing from yesterday, the topic being sitflying)

Sitflying - recovering from your back

Often, when learning to sitfly, flyers will start out on their back, in a reclined position, and then move to a more "proper" sit position. Besides starting from that position, it's very common to end up on your back while learning to sitfly, be it from a flail, or whatever.

Now, the normal reaction is to try to recover to the sit position by "curling" your upper body forward, like doing a crunch, or trying to sit up while lying on the floor. This actually works against you. By doing so, you create a curve in your back that is like an arch when you are on your belly. This has the effect of pushing you onto your back MORE - making it even harder to bring yourself upright.

Instead of trying to do a sit-up to recover to the sit position from your back - do the opposite. Arch your back. The relative wind will catch the upper part of your torso, and push you upright. This is counter-intuitive to what you'd do while lying on the ground - so it's a little easy thing to learn that often escapes beginning freeflyers.

[Yoshi 0]

yet another tip on sit flying... although it is a "slow sit position" it is fairly easy to learn sit flying while in a cross legged position. then you can slowly work on getting your legs/feet down to where they need to be in a "normal" sit. it is also a great way to get back up to a formation keeping your body position reletively the same..since there is so much surface area placed into the wind crosslegged it tends to be fairly slow...

try it its fun!

-yoshi

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[Airborne03 0]

The best thing that I learned when I was jumping was to keep my feet always pressing towards the ground. When i was on my back, my feet were usually pointing towards the horizon. If i put them under me...and pushed the bottom of them towards the ground it would sit myself up right. Becareful not do curl up cause you will be like me on most of my jumps. I am still leaning foward too much and trying to correct the habit. Work on ur legs first, with an awsome base or anchor, it is easier to learn!

and never give up!

"Airborne all the way"
EL Cantador Rodriguez

[freeflybella 0]

Quote

Instead of trying to do a sit-up to recover to the sit position from your back - do the opposite. Arch your back.

Really great tip!

Strong legs is usually taught - and obviously still applies, but I'm not sure I've heard the 'arch your back' aspect put into words.



edited just because I'm so picky about this stuff: be sure to arch only as a quick corrective action - try to teach yourself perfect vertical torso muscle memory so you can snap right back into it. arching in a vertical sit (relative wind to your thighs) will cause you to backslide.

Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

[andy2 0]

how would it cause you to backslide? Wouldn't that be foward motion? You'd be presenting your back to the airstream, I thought that would cause FOWARD motion!

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[rehmwa 2]

Good comment. But beginners and arching is usually pushing your belly (or chest) forward, not the hips. So I'm thinking her comment was an arch that acts a lot like bending forward. So you backslide.

Arching back from the hips (or pushing the hips forward) is what you are talking about.

So you're both right, depends on how you 'arch'.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[freeflybella 0]

Rehmwa was right, good call!

Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi