Newcomers Embark on Their Initial Leap

Freeflying is a thrilling progression in skydiving that allows participants to perform multi-orientation body flights, including freestyle aerobatics, backflying, head-up or head-down flight, with increased fall rate relative to belly-to-earth orientation.

For those new to freeflying, it's essential to start with a solid foundation. Begin by mastering belly-flying and canopy control before diving into freeflying. Resources for learning freefly skills can be found at axisflightschool.com/knowledge_articles.php.

When jumping with other freeflyers, it's crucial to specify exit, content of the jump, base, break-off, and mock up and dirt-dive the freefly jump. For those with fewer than 100 jumps, it is recommended to jump solo or in twos. As experience grows, up to 3 people can join in for jumps with 100-300 jumps, and up to 5 people for those with 300-500 jumps.

Safety is paramount in freeflying. Ensure your gear is freefly-friendly by following the guidelines available at www.uspa.org/Portals/0/files/misc_ismyrigfreefly.pdf. Use a hard helmet and secure all clothing for freeflying.

While learning freeflying, it's essential to follow a structured approach and only jump with an experienced freeflyer or solo. Beginner head-up flyers should break off by going first to a relaxed backfly position. Intermediate flyers can add in a couple seconds of controlled back-tracking before transitioning to belly.

It's also important to be aware of the additional dangers in freeflying skydiving. These include inadvertent transition to belly-to-earth position ("corking"), loss of altitude awareness, horizontal drift due to backsliding, rapid changes in vertical separation, canopy opening at freefly speeds, canopy-canopy or canopy-freefall collision with groups.

Good judgment and common sense should be used after 500 freefly jumps. Zach Lewis demonstrates the importance of a butt-bungee in avoiding potential accidents, as shown in his video at https://vimeo.com/96037725.

In freefly break-off, participants must achieve sufficient separation, transition to belly-to-earth orientation, and slow down before deployment. Understand jump-run and orientation perpendicular to it, and use visual and audible altimeters, as well as consider using AADs (Automatic Activation Devices) for added safety.

Remember, freeflying is an exhilarating progression that requires dedication, skill, and a deep understanding of the sport. Always prioritise safety and follow the guidelines to ensure a successful and enjoyable freeflying experience.