Closing the gap (Sitfly)

[FFlyer 0]

The 3way "team" that ive been doing a lot of team jumps with is slowly getting better which is awesome. But we seem to be having a problem in closing the last metre or 2 while sitflying together. Its easy to close a big gap where we all fly fast towards each other and then stop about a metre or 2 from each other so we dont fly into each other. We then try to close that last little gap to start doing docks, but it takes soooo long.

It seems that i've gotten reasonably good at forward movement if I need to cover a big distance, but as soon as its a small forward movement where I need to stay on level, I struggle! If I try straighten my legs and push my hips forward like I normally do, I tend to iether sink on the other guy, or fly too fast at him.

So how do you close that last little gap? We're really trying to get clean docks, instead of having to reach for them. So we want a good close set up first. Any tips?

Thanks, chow!!

[jacco 0]

The problem that you are facing, is that you don't want to hurt each in a collision, which is good. This happens in RW as well as FF. It’s tends to be easy to cover a large distance but as soon as you get close your mind starts to think about the “what ifs”, collisions, funnels, etc. This generally starts interfering with clean flight.

The other problem you describe is the stretching of your legs and going either too fast or low. By the time you get close you don’t need that much input. There’s a whole range of input between sitting using just a little bit of the lower legs forward / arms a bit backward and an almost stand fully arched.

Instead of doing a standup with forward movement, try doing it in a more “sit position” with less forward movement. The problem that arises is that if you don’t give enough input, it will go too slow. If that’s the case you’ll need too increase the input, but in order not to start floating start to go a standing position with your upper legs, but only for 20 percent (for example, whatever works for you), this will compensate the vertical speed. If you overdo it you’ll go low, too little and you’ll float.

All this should be done carefully, slow in the beginning, and you’ll start to get a feeling for the whole range at your disposal. At a certain point it will become second nature and your docks will be set up quicker.

When you are not proficient at docking and you are doing 3ways, you are creating another problem. It would be much easier to do 2ways, let one be base and let the other close the gap and make the dock. With closing the gap I mean the last 6 ft, if you’re 100 ft apart after the exit close it together off course. Make sure that first you get level and then start closing the gap, making sure that you don’t collide vertically.

The easiest and safest way too dock in the beginning, is to do a double foot dock. That way you’ll maintain eye contact, don’t start looking at your feet using your head, keep eye contact, use peripheral vision and if you can’t resist looking when you made your dock, do it with your eyes. This is all intended to keep your flight as clean as possible. Start looking, you’ll alter your body position and you’ll break the dock.

Next step will be docks on the knees, be careful with noses, hand-hand docks and hand-foot docks.

Hope this helps.

J.

[FFlyer 0]

Great, thanks for the tips. Ill keep them in mind this coming weekend. Its becoming really annoying to be flying so close to each other but not to get good clean docks

Ill work on it.

[velocity-96 0]

hey bro, this is an easy fix. what i like to do to close that last foot or 2 is a modified side slide. ill angle my body 45 degrees off set to my partner then side slide to the grip. i can slide using mostly arms and raising one leg more than the other. this doesnt change fall rate and is safe to do in close proximity.
side sliding is invaluable to flying head up.
give it a try. i hope it helps you. see ya at nationals next year!!!
peace
velo

[FFlyer 0]

Thanks for the tip. Sounds like a good idea. My side sliding is pretty decent, so I guess using it to close the last foot or two could work well.

Geez, is the weekend here yet?

[jacco 0]

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Geez, is the weekend here yet?

Almost, but where I live the weather sucks ass!!!

[goose491 0]

When in sit, I cover a lot of the tiny distances with my feet. Pointing my toes down (when all else remains the same) will give me a slight forward drive and vice versa.

... at least, I'm pretty sure that's how I do it . lol

My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

[velocity-96 0]

you must be doing other things with your body but arent aware of it. i cant imagine that pointing your toes would drive a person forward. are you sure? it sounds good on paper though, lol

[goose491 0]

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you must be doing other things with your body but arent aware of it. i cant imagine that pointing your toes would drive a person forward. are you sure? it sounds good on paper though, lol

I've thought about it. That's certainly the only input I put in consciously for tiny movements. Perhaps it is enough to drive my feet forward a bit, creating a desireable angle from the knees down for forward drive (given that I feel I'm applying the same 'pressure' everywhere else?)... buh??? I don't know. I'll have to get video I suppose.

My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!