{"id":23153,"date":"2020-02-25T09:13:18","date_gmt":"2020-02-25T09:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=23153"},"modified":"2025-03-26T11:36:14","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T11:36:14","slug":"big-way-bites-2-getting-to-your-slot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/big-way-bites-2-getting-to-your-slot\/","title":{"rendered":"Big-way Bites 2 – GETTING TO YOUR SLOT"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Using Visualisation to plot your 3D course to your radial<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Perfect radial approach, 130-way Total Break World Record, Skydive Perris
Photo by Gary Wainwright<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Quadrants and radials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you dirtdive identify the quadrant your slot belongs to and design your dive and approach so that you enter in a straight line to your slot. Break the base into four \u2018pieces of the pie\u2019 when viewed as the full formation. Find your quarter, then eighth and follow a vector from the centre of your pie directly into your slot. If your slot does not face straight in, then treat it as if it is straight in, in terms of quadrant approaches. Make the final heading change once you are stopped and in your slot.
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Radials
Image courtesy of P3 Skydiving <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Diving<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When diving down or floating up towards the base, do not dive blindly. The fastest way to the formation is always a straight line. Too many people confuse a perceived fast \u2018down and over\u2019 line with a straight line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image courtesy of P3 Skydiving <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Identify your diving line upon exit and follow it to your quadrant to set up in your approach. It is always quicker to your slot this way even if it seems slower on a personal basis. You are only as fast as your teammates. There is no benefit in your being the fastest diver or floater. We are a team and as such we are as good as the sum of our abilities and talents.
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Stadium approach
Image courtesy of P3 Skydiving <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stadium<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Large formation approaches are often compared to a stadium or \u2018tea cup\u2019 set-up. Each ring of non-docked people sets up approximately at a 30\u00b0 angle. As the row in front of you moves down and forward toward their place in the formation, your row takes its place. This continues until your row is in the formation.
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The size of the stadium varies. In a 400-way, the stadium can easily occupy 100 metres or more \u2013 up and out \u2013 from the base. The important thing is that the rows are clearly defined and follow each other down in an orderly fashion.
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Stadium approach, Skydive Perris
Photo by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Visualisation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Memory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are various aids to help you remember your approach line and slot in the formation.
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It is easier to remember two-word descriptions than longer ones. As you dirtdive notice and remember things that may stand out in freefall. Matching jumpsuits makes this procedure far more important than in \u2018normal\u2019 skydives. Use short descriptive terms that use differences in the containers or helmets of the jumpers on the load, eg \u2018red Javelin\u2019, \u2018yellow stripes\u2019 or \u2018green G4\u2019. Sometimes brightly coloured tape is used to identify helmets for critical slots. If you choose something common like \u2018blue helmet\u2019 or \u2018red suit\u2019 then you may find that there are more red suits in your approach pattern than you anticipated!! Body positions can also be used as descriptive terms. You can recognise people by their mantis or boxman positions on approach.
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It is easier to remember two-word descriptions than longer ones”<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. Locations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Choose markers in the base and throughout the formation. Have at least one from a line docking behind you \u2013 then if you have a horrible exit and are late you can identify the strange people ahead of you! If you are in a trail plane some of your identifiers should be from a different aircraft so you can identify the line between the two aeroplanes. Six markers is probably about right.
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A checklist of markers guides you through the sea of bodies
Sequential Games, Skydive Perris 2019, photo by Gary Wainwright<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3. Checklist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Take these identifiers and place them on a mental checklist in the order that you anticipate seeing them in freefall. The base marker may not be, and often is not, the first thing you will see on exit. Quite often it will be the marker from a different aircraft. Recite the mental checklist and make it part of your visualised dirtdives. If in freefall your first marker is not there, simply move to the next one on the list. Don\u2019t fall into the trap of knowing you dock on a \u2018red suit\u2019 and making that your only visual reference \u2013 you will regret it when that red suit goes low or is lost.
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Recite the mental checklist and make it part of your visualised dirtdives. Visualise Perfection” <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Use the dirtdive wisely to choose markers
Sequential Games, Skydive Perris 2019, photo Gary Wainwright<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Identify People<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is easy to know that you are docking on a specific person if you have many jumps with them but they may look different in freefall. If your teammate has made even minor changes in equipment then you may find them difficult to identify. Finding out the names of those around you helps, remember them.
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5. Visualise Perfection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Visualise your perfect skydive, from exit to canopy, then make it happen. Have the composure and ability to close your eyes and know who and what you expect to see in freefall throughout the jump. Visualising perfection is possibly the most important tool available to any skydiver, regardless of chosen discipline. Do it.
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Big-way Bites Series<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Previous article – Big-way Bites 1 – Exit<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next article – Big-way Bites 3 – Fall Rate <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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