Big-way Skysurf Our sport, skysurfing, is becoming more and more popular. Since it has become a competition discipline it has became a team sport. A cameraflyer and a surfer, who perform their routines and feel free in the sky. Over the years the skills have progressed and reached a level where it is possible to fly in any position.  You can even jump with other skysurfers and fly around each other like freeflyers - just that you have the board on your feet. But it takes practice and time to be able to do all the moves, stay close together, be aware of what your partner is doing and to have fun.

It doesn't matter if you have a large or a small board, a piece of wood, a snowboard or a super carbon high tech board. It's more important that you feel comfortable and can control your board before you start doing 2 or bigger ways. Safety comes first! Many people still underestimate the speed of a surfboard and the fact that you can get hurt.

A detailed ground briefing will make it easier. Talk about the exit, the programme, pulling etc. A good briefing will help you to have more fun and success. A bigger plane is better, too. You have more space in the door to hold on to each other and stand straight. Give a good exit count, so you will leave at the same time with no pressure on the grip. During freefall it is important that you always keep eye contact with your partner. Watch what he is doing and work together.

If you feel pressure on the 2-way grip and you start spinning around each other, stand straight on the board and work in the opposite direction. It will stop you. If the pressure gets to strong, just let go and start tracking towards a centre point between the other surfers. If you lose level and need to get higher, just bring your arms and your upper body forward, put your board in an 45 degree angle, catch air and you'll get lift. If you are too high, bring your arms in and try to get down. But it's easier to come up, so the surfer that is lower should work on floating.

There are many ways to fly together. You have to find the one you like the best. For example, some people bring the board in an angle and move sideways, others track around each other find a circle and take grips, some use their arms to move forward or backwards. At the end of the jump a good separation is very important. One surfer should pull at 4,500 feet, the rest of the group should track away and pull at 4,000 feet and 3,500 feet. Therefore you have enough separation in distance and altitude.

It will take some jumps until you'll be able to fly around each other and do everything you want to. But don't give up. It's so much fun! Learn to use your board and the teamwork in the sky and feel the spirit of surfing! I hope you will enjoy more of your skydives.

Expand your playground!

Photo by Patrick Passe
kiwifrogs@aol.com 

Article by Oliver Furrer
www.posx.com

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