Sit Flying

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The ability to leave and return to a neutral position is the vital element of control and precision in sit-flying.

Neutral sit position, side view

NEUTRAL POSITION

The key elements are:

  • Straight torso with a slight chest arch. This allows your upper back to support your body on the wind so you can move your arms freely. It prevents falling on your back as well as keeping any leg deflection minimal
  • Arms 90° to torso, hands aligned with shoulders, elbows slightly bent
  • Thighs 90° angle to torso and a little wider than shoulder width apart
  • Lower legs 90° to thighs, heels right below the knees
  • Flex your feet pressing your heels down
  • In the beginning look straight forward to help with the correct posture
  • Relaxed arms, don’t over-exert or press down too far. Feel the air and fly it
  • Check your heels are in line with your knees and your upper legs keep equal height, this prevents unintentional turns

Forward movement

FORWARD

Small moves for short distances

  • Push your back against the wind
  • Bend elbows (bring back as far as possible) and push your hands down, leaving the forearm at around a 45º angle with the wind
  • Hips are kept still
  • Press your heels down and forward, bringing your knees a little lower than the hips

Aggressive moves for long distances

  • Push your back against the wind
  • Hips forward
  • Arms can be either beside your torso or above your head but always at approximately 45º angles with the wind

Backward movement

BACKWARD

Small moves for short distances

  • Bend legs bringing your heels backwards
  • Push your chest against the wind
  • Rotate your shoulders so your hands are above the elbows and forearms approximately 45º angles with the wind

Aggressive moves for long distances

  • Hips backward
  • Push your heels back
  • Chest forward slightly de-arched
  • Arms in front of your head
  • Hands in front of the shoulders and above the elbows

TURNS

The most efficient, quickest turns are done with the whole body. With the arms, use the same technique to turn as flying the mantis position on your belly, but your arms will be open. With the legs, the same technique is used as when backflying. Push your heels down and to the side you would like to turn.

Right turn, from above

For a right turn

  • Keep your legs apart
  • Twist your knees to the left pushing your heels towards the right
  • Right elbow down, right hand up
  • Left elbow up, left hand down
  • Keep torso straight for balance

You can also use this technique with your legs for heading control as you move forward, backward or while flying a grip.

Fast fall

FALL RATE

Our ability to adjust fall rate is a key skill to performing manoeuvres relative to each other, whether moving up or down toward each other or just constantly micro-managing control leve l during tight sequences.

DOWNWARD – Fast fall

Small moves for minor adjustments

  • Keep legs apart for better balance
  • Push heels down until legs are slightly bent
  • Bend your elbows bringing your arms closer to the torso for less wind resistance

Very fast fall

Aggressive moves for big adjustments

  • Push heels down until your legs are straight
  • Bring your legs together for less wind resistance
  • Arms are straight above the head or along the body (in the beginning you can keep your arms open, aligned with the shoulders for a better balance)

Slow fall (upward movement)

UPWARD – Slow fall

Small moves for minor adjustments

  • Arch your chest
  • Press arms down, enough to offer wind resistance
  • Spread your legs out

Aggressive moves for big adjustments

  • If you need, transition into a backflying neutral or slow fall position

*Originally published in Skydive The Mag

Meet: Lesley Gale

Lesley has been in love with skydiving for 35 years. She is a multiple world and national record holder and a coach on 20 successful record events worldwide. She has over 100 competition medals spanning more than 25 years and has been on the British 8-way National team at World events. She started Skydive Mag to spread knowledge, information and passion about our amazing sport.
Lesley is delighted to be sponsored by Performance Designs, Sun Path, Cypres, Cookie, Symbiosis suits and Larsen & Brusgaard

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