Turns
We move around our centre points - if we turn our torso to the left
or right, we move this point so the rest of our bodies naturally follow. |
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Methods of turning
involve turning with the hand (possibly more use to skysurfers than
anyone else). Turning by dropping an arm or foot and looking toward
the way you turn moves the centre point - the same action.
Look towards an object, you will normally turn towards it.
Using the 'follow your feet' principle works but is more useful for
winged suits and in more advanced flying, I believe, has its limitations.
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It's
important to recognise a 360 degree turn as a combination of moves:
1. Am I stable? Check symmetry of body (feet, knees, hands, elbows).
Straight back (are my legs wide enough for stability to start?).
2. Initiate small torso (one point) turn, look where you want to go.
3. Stop on heading, check stability. |
I
find it helpful to think of the body in two zones - the upper wing
and the lower wing. When head up, learn first to fly the upper wing
which is the top half; head-down flyers would use the upper wing too,
the legs in that case. |
| Remember your centrepoint - move
it forward and you will follow - move it back and back you will go. |
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| Allow for fall rate changes too.
In the first position you will slow down so raise your hands or get
a little less wide to compensate. |
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Fall
Rate
To increase gently, stand up a little, push your feet down into the
wind (hips forward a little to counter a slight natural backslide).
Keep your arms by your sides - putting them over your head will make
you go really fast.
To decrease, gently widen your legs - arms, recline a bit for really
slow fall. |
Try to
remember whenever possible - arms below shoulders.
For really fast - put arms flat to the body, feet together, look at
the horizon.
Basically, the slower the fall rate, the greater the stability, the
faster the position, the more balance it requires. |
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SLOW
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MEDIUM
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FAST
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BALLISTIC
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Corking and Zooming
Soon after beginning to freefly, you'll notice that beginners go upwards
or 'cork' in relation to others when they lose a sit, stand or head-down
position. They suddenly pop up, drag increases (as the position they
are in is no longer vertical) and their profile goes from small to
large. This change turns anyone into a very fast moving, out of control
problem to anyone near, but specially above them. Even a momentary
flail will shoot you upwards about 40-70ft in a heart beat - anyone
above you and you are both in trouble. |
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People have been killed because of this - people I know, not just a
far away story. A really light person can vary their speed from 120
to 220mph when freeflying. Even being conservative in estimating,
there is a danger of 50-70mph collisions between inexperienced people.
This is why it is important to get good stable positions before jumping
with your friends. Go out whilst learning only with people who have
the knowledge and experience to get out of the way if required. |
Eye
contact is an essential skill. Maintain it. If someone is looking
at you, do not assume that they can see you (the sun may be behind
you) |
| Corking, as this movement is called
(imagine the speed a cork travels out of a bottle of champagne) is
often accompanied by an amazing lack of control on the horizontal,
called zooming. Lots of people going out alone when beginning to freefly,
are blissfully unaware that this is happening, even though they may
be tracking up the line of flight into others. As said before, practice
bursts of skills and then turn around and try the other way, try jumping
with those who you know have a safe level of awareness to begin with. |
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