Beginners guide to RW/FS?

[ScoopUK 0]

Has anyone ever published a beginners guide to RW/FS? It would be nice to read up a bit more and understand what it's all about. When I currently read reports I struggle to understand as some of it is quite technical. It would be great if there was an explanation of what randoms, dive pools or blocks are for starters as well as rules of competition.

I'm sure such a thing must exist somewhere, can anyone point me and maybe others in the right direction?

I've just downloaded the BPA FS student manual for starters: www.bpa.org.uk/assets/Forms/The-FS-Student-Manual.doc

[NWFlyer 2]

Off the top of my head, here are a few references.

These are a bit outdated, but most of the formations are still the same. Good tool for visualizing and learning 4-way specifically.
http://www.teamfastrax.org/4way.html

You could also go to the USPA site and download the Skydivers Competition Manual; yes, it's specific to the U.S., but since the USPA generally accepts FAI competition rule changes, it's a good reference. There are some general introductory chapters in there that describe the disciplines & rules, as well as the dive pools.
http://www.uspa.org/USPAMembers/Downloads/tabid/84/Default.aspx

Last but not least, there are several great articles on this very site:
http://www.dropzone.com/safety/Disciplines/Relative_Work/index.shtml

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[ScoopUK 0]

Great, thanks.

I must be getting old as I'm noticing my IT skills are diminishing

[AndyBoyd 0]

This is somewhat dated, but a worthwhile read for a beginning RW jumper.

http://www.amazon.com/Body-pilot-manual-Carl-Nelson/dp/0915862026

ETA: even older, but the principals are still the same after all these years.

http://www.amazon.com/Parachuting-The-Freefall-Relative-Work/dp/0960781455/ref=pd_sim_b_1

[lasharp 4]

Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld wrote a six-part series on 4-way for Parachutist that is available online. Here's the first installment:
http://parachutistonline.com/feature/on-the-line-part1. Parts 2 through 6 are also available on the same site.