mr2mk1g 10 #1 July 4, 2005 My buddy and I were trying these out at the weekend. We were getting the docks but we weren’t really able to fly the position... the low guy (who was taking the dock) always ended up going unstable and falling away. We both had the same problem in that we would fly in for the dock and just kinda sit there for a second unsure of how in the hell we were going to bet both hands in front of us without falling out of the sit. It just didn't "feel" right... it was odd that we both described the same sensation. Any tips? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ccowden 0 #2 July 4, 2005 Like the dock I have in the attached pic? Flying head up and using your arms for docks is a skill that is hard to develop and takes quite a bit of practice. The problem is that most people rely on their arms for stability and fallrate control more than they think. You need to develop a strong lower body position for flying, stability and fallrate control. A couple things you can do to practice this on two ways: Go out and face off. Then play money see, monkey do. By this I mean, one of you do something with your arms, the other mirrors it. For instance, you can place one hand on your head, or a hand on your hip, or even both hands on your hips or head. All the while you are holding these positions, you need to stay facing each other and on level. Go out and practice taking hand to hand docks. By this I mean to face off and extend your hand out directly in front and take the docks as if you are shaking hands. Do one hand, then the other, and eventually taking both hands and flying that dock. These drills will teach you to fly with your lower body and free up your arms and hands. Get nice and wide with your stance and be solid. Think more in terms of head up flying and less in "sit." Be strong with your feet and legs and fly that lower body. Good luck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GeordieSkydiver 0 #3 July 4, 2005 Excellent advice mate. Nice picture too!Lee _______________________________ In a world full of people, only some want to fly, is that not crazy? http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dharma1976 0 #4 July 5, 2005 yeah learn to fly your legs without your arms ;) try doing jumps with no hand flying I like to do a lot of hand signals at my friends when jumping so that helps, but try giving your friend the double middle finger in front of you and holding it... that is a good way to learn it and its a funny picture too ;) Cheers Davehttp://www.skyjunky.com CSpenceFLY - I can't believe the number of people willing to bet their life on someone else doing the right thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #5 July 5, 2005 cheers guys - that's good advice, and cheers breadhead for the pm, great stuff. This is the only head up dock we're not getting... the rest have come easily, I guess we just hit some kind of mental block when it came to using both hands in front of us... sounds like we were doing it wrong. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canuck 0 #6 July 6, 2005 Yup, that's a tough one, and it's also one of the randoms in the current freefly draw. My team has been practicing it lots too, and we have just discovered that it is a lot easier if you first set up in an opposite facing totem and then pick up the grips - that way it's less of a reach. Canuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #7 July 6, 2005 that's an idea... although we've been drilling a kinda transient reverse totem where I fly through his burble and just pause momentarily to get the point before continuing on for the next... I suppose you'd have to be wary of getting docked for grip switching if you simply took the foot dock straight out of the totem and make the separation a bit obvious too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyedivr 0 #8 July 6, 2005 Good advice Chris. You can also take one grip, then take the other grip when you feel settled, but remember to lean back a little for compensation. We try to speed up a little, for added stability.my power is beyond your understanding. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livenletfly 0 #9 July 13, 2005 what helped me learn to fly my lower body was to take a pullup cord out with you. practice passing it from one hand to the other. meet your hands directly infront of you. try to do it slower and slower each time. it also help's to have your upper arms horizontal with your shoulders. its not much but its alittle bit of wing to fly with and keep ya stable. then progress to elbows pointed down like your blowing a kiss to someone. this will give you total control to free your arms up. keep practicing, head up flying is so rad and not many people explore all the possibilities. let me know how its going.> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
