Amy-way (you  want it)

June 1997
   

This issue's Dive of the Month was sent in by Tim Bennicoff from California, USA who was among many people who said they liked this new feature. Thanks Tim for your suggestions (he sent four! ) 

Amy-way (you want it)
The Amy-way dive was shown to me by my friend Amy, hence the name. I found this skydive to be challenging in terms of transitioning from one point to the other whilst staying relative. Finally I think this is a great skydive to practice manoeuvering with exact movements and no wasted motion.

Intermediates
 It's a great dive to practice your turns whilst having a blast. Just as good as a drill dive but somehow it doesn't seem so serious! Do with a mate of the same ability or with a hot skydiver, you'll learn either way. Get video if you can.

Cool 'n' Groovies
I hope you'll find this dive a challenge too when you start to break it down and take a look at the transitions and head switches. Great warmup in the morning to get you hot for some 4-way.

Puzzle
Walk the skydive through until you have the puzzle in your head before laying down on the creepers. Creep the whole dive until you have the sight picture, then work on each transition to minimise the movement required. Take a break if you get tired and then creep again until it is second nature. Saying the names of the points as you transition helps some people remember the puzzle. Here's the plan:


 Point 1
The first point is a right compressed accordian, the 'right' means you grip with the right hand. It's best to launch this point but you can free fly if you like.

Point 2
The second point; turn inwards 180o for a second compressed accordian, this time a left:


Point 3
Now turn inwards 90o for a right open accordian, (taking the grip with the right hand):

 

Point 4
Now turn inwards 360o with a slight translation to a left open accordian:

 

 

 

Point 5
Now repeat this manoeuvre, turning inwards again to a right open accordian:

 

 

Point 6
Back to the top!

Angles
Build on the relative headings shown on the diagram for the shortest transitions. Pay lots of attention to the amount of turn and the sight picture on the creepers.

Keys
There are only two of you, you will both know when each point is complete. Don't worry so much about keying the next point, just build each point smoothly and move on to the next. The keys will just happen. Try to get a rhythm going.

Secret Stuff

  • You can never go wrong with the basics; eye contact, relative fall rate, slow is smooth and smooth is fast!
     
  • The dive is a continuum; don't think 'Back to the top', this has potential for brainlock on any skydive ('What's the top?? Oh NO!!'). Think instead 'Right compress' and you're there.
     
  • The open accordians can be built in closer than stamped out, with a slightly bent arm to help cut down on the separation going into the 360os.
     
  • Take a split second to box out before starting your turns.
     
  • It is good practice to build the compressed accordians very correctly, with a low leg grip (near the knee), taking your head forward into the move. Don't fly to your partner's leg grip; instead concentrate on flying your leg to their hand. Box out when you take the grips This may not be necessary for a 2-way compress but these tips will really help when you go on to larger compressy's such as 8-way.

Variations
Cool 'n' Groovy option 1:
Add a right stairstep and a left stairstep to the dive as 6th and 7th
points. You can 'cheat' the back person at 45o (to make these transitions quicker).

Cool 'n' Groovy option 2:
When you go back to the top, do all the turns OUTWARDS instead of inwards - or even do the whole dive this way.

And finally...
Whatever option you choose, prepare well and visualise success on the ride to altitude. Have a great skydive.

Article by Tim Bennicoff

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