78RATS

Did a four point four way with Jon and Brandon at the Spaceland deal. I know the Goat is solid. Can't wait to meet Deva. If we can get some of Levin's friends to play..... As for Trent and Jed. #1 - you don't suck and #2 - we're gonna organize some less hairy stuff too. No worries

We got a five way. Do I hear six?

At the Gravity Rats Freefly Competition in May we want to put together some bigger headdown dives. We are looking for a head count of experienced freefliers who will be there, and feel qualified to fly with grips on 8 ways or 10 ways we plan to start with 4 ways and move up to larger groups Count on The Rats being there ( Bryan, Sean, and Robert ) and an excellent flyer from San Marcos named Paul Mann who's coming from Houston, Dallas, Elsewhere? we want to plan and design these dives in advance to make full use of our short time. Not trying to set any records - really just learn to fly controlled slots and docks and get ready for the Mac Daddy deal in Dallas

appreciate the courtesy

Nice Job. Needs a Warning Label. I hurt myself falling out of my chair laughing at that ending.

I was always told that the only record currently "recognized" is a round. The record in Texas is a 7 way set in July 99 (in Houston) with two flyers from Psycho Cirkus/ Three Orbit Punks/ and I forget who else. The shit is hard but we have come a long way since 99.

Which style do you predominently fly and why? Does it depend on what you are doing? If you are teaching someone else, what advice do you give regarding these styles?

the gravity rats are in

The competition is May 17-19 and is designed to promote team freeflying. It is for the intermediate skill level. There will be team freefly, team sitfly, solo expression, and a tracking competition. We are providing camera flyers. There are some real bad ass prizes. Check out www.skydivesanmarcos.com and click on Gravity Rats for details and rules.

anyone going to the Gravity Rats Intrmediate Team competition in May?

IF YOU ARE JUST BEGINNING HEADOWN, THE FIRST TEN SECONDS OFF THE PLANE ARE THE BEST BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT QUITE TERMINAL AND IT IS MUCH EASIER TO TOTALLY RELAX. STEP OFF WITH YOUR BACK TO THE PROP AND JUST COMPLETELY ALLOW THE RELATIVE WIND TO ROLL YOU BODY INTO ITS NATURAL HEADDOWN POSITION. ONCE YOU GET TERMINAL IT BECOMES HARDER TO RELAX, BUT RELAXING IS ALWAYS THE GOAL. ONCE YOUR HEADOWN AT TERMINAL SPEED MOVING AROUND IN THE SKY, I TELL PEOPLE TO LOOK STRAIGHT OUT OF THIER HEAD, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR HEAD POSITION IS. WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IS THE LINE ON THE HORIZON WHERE EARTH MEETS SKY. IF YOU LOOK STRAIGHT OUT AND THE HORIZON LINE IS HIGHER THAN STRAIGHT OUT, YOUR BODY IS NOT FALLING STRAIGHT DOWN. (ITS ATTITUDE IS ON ITS BACK). IF YOU LOOK OUT AND THE HORIZON LINE IS LOWER THAN STRAIGHT OUT, YOUR BODY IS NOT FALLING STARAIGHT DOWN. (ITS ATTITUDE IS ON THE BELLY SIDE) TO CORRECT THIS LOOK AT THE HORIZON LINE STRAIGHT OUT OF YOUR HEAD AND THEN LET YOU BODY FOLLOW YOUR HEAD. AS YOU PROGRESS TO FALLING STRAIGHTER DOWN, YOU CAN FLY WITH YOUR LEGS SIDE BY SIDE (froggy) OR FRONT TO BACK (daffy) THE DAFFY POSITION IS MUCH MORE CONTROLLED AND STABLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE FOUR OPPSING POINTS OF CONTACT. Imagine a person standing on the ground with his legs spread side to side and you push him. Now imagine the same guy with his feet in front and back and you try to push him. who is more stable? it is the same thing except here really strong winds are pushing, Also small head and torso movements in a froggy can really move a flier through the sky. Those same movements done in the daffy position wil yield a much more controlled flight