Walk a Dive Like the Cool Kids
Monday, December 7, 2020
These six tips will help you absorb more while you prepare a formation dive. It will also keep you from feeling goofy while you walk a jump.
Don’t reach down for grips
You don’t need to pick up the leg grippers. Instead, place your hands on your teammate’s hips to simulate a leg grip. It saves your back and keeps you upright for better communication.
Practice keys, stopping, and looking right away
Don’t wait for the final walkthrough to demonstrate discipline. As soon as you start walking a jump, even if you are still learning the order, force yourself to look up. You might be overloaded, and it might be a slower initial walkthrough but practice good habits as soon as you can!
Train your eyes
While walking, pay particular attention to where you are looking. Whether your strategy is to communicate with your clone, check a specific grip, or cross-reference you should force yourself to look in the right spot.
Walk slower
Most teams walk at 50 point average given a chance. It is easier to walk than fly, so teams will go into hyperdrive on the ground. Slow down and use the walk to see and reinforce details. You’ll build more anticipation by going slower.
Pay attention
After you train 4-way or 8-way a while, you can walk a dive in your sleep. But don’t! Heighten your focus and be very present as you walk through. Notice details and pay attention for a better jump.
Change of pace
Advanced flyers working on a change of pace – the idea that randoms go faster than blocks in a dive – it is easy to start walking at light speed as you attempt to simulate this on the ground. To solve that problem, walk the block in super-slow motion. When you resume the randoms in between you can walk them at a comfortable pace. You’ll still feel a shift without making the dive ridicu-speed.
Bonus tip: It helps to understand what phase of prep you are walking too.
Like these tips? Join my newsletter for occasional updates and more useful formation skydiving tips.
Related
Walk this way! How to Walk a Dive
Work through your dirt dive woes
Final Dirt Dive from Meh to Marvelous
Tags: prep
