The ability to leave and return to a neutral position is the vital element of control and precision in sit-flying.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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)
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
- Protected: CYPRES – Mythbusting! - 27th March 2024
- Wind Games 2024 - 1st March 2024
- Wind Games 2024 News - 30th January 2024
- European Skydiving Symposium News - 26th January 2024
- Catching up with… Ryo Shimizuguchi - 6th December 2023
- Catching up with… Olivier Longchamp - 31st October 2023
- Tobu or not Tobu - 11th September 2023
- Outrageous stunts: The Pentagram - 24th August 2023
- Protected: CYPRES – Mythbusting! - 27th March 2024
- Wind Games 2024 - 1st March 2024
- Wind Games 2024 News - 30th January 2024
- European Skydiving Symposium News - 26th January 2024
- Catching up with… Ryo Shimizuguchi - 6th December 2023
- Catching up with… Olivier Longchamp - 31st October 2023
- Tobu or not Tobu - 11th September 2023
- Outrageous stunts: The Pentagram - 24th August 2023