Tracking (freeflying)
Encyclopedia
Tracking, one of the first freefall skills learnt by a novice skydiver
, is the technique of assuming a body position that allows the skydiver to move horizontally while freefalling.
Although there are many variations of the basic body position it essentially involves the skydiver moving out of the traditional face to earth arched position, straightening the legs, bringing the arms to the sides and de-arching, using the body to cup the air as a means to provided greater lift
. There is, however, debate over what exactly constitutes the most efficient tracking position (providing the best glide ratio) especially concerning how far (if at all) the skydiver's legs should be spread. Some variations of the tracking position work well for some individuals and not so well for others. Also, when a skydiver gains experience, his or her preferred body position often changes.
It is claimed that good trackers can cover nearly as much ground as the distance they fall (approaching a glide ratio of 1:1). It is known that the fallrate of a skydiver in an efficient track is significantly lower than that of skydiver falling in a traditional face-to-earth position; the former reaching speeds as low as 90 mph, the latter averaging around the 120 mph mark.
Tracking is regarded as an essential life saving skill for all freefall skydivers engaging in relative work with others, allowing the jumpers to gain horizontal separation after building a formation and before opening their parachute
s.
Accordingly, the greater the number of skydivers on a jump, the better their tracking skills must be. In addition of having to track a longer distance after break-off (tracking away for separation before opening), they also have to be more aware of other jumpers around them and have to be able to track in a straight line away from the center of the formation.
Tracking is not however purely a life saving skill; many skydivers participate in ‘tracking dives’ where the whole skydive until break-off will be spent tracking.
On all tracking dives there should be a designated leader, usually the most proficient tracker, who will plan the horizontal trajectory of the dive and will usually act as a "rabbit" (often tracking on his back).
This serves several purposes; first of all, the other trackers will have a target to chase, gauge their relative horizontal speed on and potentially take grips upon. Second, the "rabbit" will be responsible for the heading of the tracking dive, keeping the group away from other groups of skydivers. Finally, he will signal break-off in an area from where everyone will be able to safely fly back to the drop zone
landing area under canopy.
While considered an area of freeflying
, tracking dives are popular amongst many skydivers across the disciplines. Tracking dives are some of the most accessible and sociable dives that everyone regardless of experience level can take part on. Tracking dives are often planned at the end of the day on the sunset load, and with less emphasis on quantitative results (formation skydiving
) or on holding difficult and new body positions (freeflying); they are commonly viewed as the most relaxing, low pressure jumps.
Even though inexperienced jumpers often take part on tracking dives, the risks of such dives should not be underestimated. An efficient track can reach horizontal speeds of nearly 100 mph; collisions with other groups or with members of one's own group would result in serious injury or death. For this reason the number of inexperienced jumpers on a tracking dive should be limited by the organizer.
Tracking dives along with Atmonauti (a.k.a "Angled flight", a recently conceived variant with a significantly different body position, giving a far steeper flight angle between traditional track and head down) are considered by most skydivers, apart from wingsuit fliers, to go the furthest towards the feeling of ‘true flight’ due to the large horizontal distances covered, the low terminal velocity, and the fact that at such heights the ground does not appear to be approaching at all.
Skydiver
A skydiver is a person who engages in the sport of parachuting. It may also refer to:* SkyDiver a futuristic submarine featured in the TV series UFO* "Skydiver" a carnival ride produced by Chance Morgan...
, is the technique of assuming a body position that allows the skydiver to move horizontally while freefalling.
Although there are many variations of the basic body position it essentially involves the skydiver moving out of the traditional face to earth arched position, straightening the legs, bringing the arms to the sides and de-arching, using the body to cup the air as a means to provided greater lift
Lift (force)
A fluid flowing past the surface of a body exerts a surface force on it. Lift is the component of this force that is perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction. It contrasts with the drag force, which is the component of the surface force parallel to the flow direction...
. There is, however, debate over what exactly constitutes the most efficient tracking position (providing the best glide ratio) especially concerning how far (if at all) the skydiver's legs should be spread. Some variations of the tracking position work well for some individuals and not so well for others. Also, when a skydiver gains experience, his or her preferred body position often changes.
It is claimed that good trackers can cover nearly as much ground as the distance they fall (approaching a glide ratio of 1:1). It is known that the fallrate of a skydiver in an efficient track is significantly lower than that of skydiver falling in a traditional face-to-earth position; the former reaching speeds as low as 90 mph, the latter averaging around the 120 mph mark.
Tracking is regarded as an essential life saving skill for all freefall skydivers engaging in relative work with others, allowing the jumpers to gain horizontal separation after building a formation and before opening their parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
s.
Accordingly, the greater the number of skydivers on a jump, the better their tracking skills must be. In addition of having to track a longer distance after break-off (tracking away for separation before opening), they also have to be more aware of other jumpers around them and have to be able to track in a straight line away from the center of the formation.
Tracking is not however purely a life saving skill; many skydivers participate in ‘tracking dives’ where the whole skydive until break-off will be spent tracking.
On all tracking dives there should be a designated leader, usually the most proficient tracker, who will plan the horizontal trajectory of the dive and will usually act as a "rabbit" (often tracking on his back).
This serves several purposes; first of all, the other trackers will have a target to chase, gauge their relative horizontal speed on and potentially take grips upon. Second, the "rabbit" will be responsible for the heading of the tracking dive, keeping the group away from other groups of skydivers. Finally, he will signal break-off in an area from where everyone will be able to safely fly back to the drop zone
Drop zone
A drop zone is a place where parachutists or parachuted supplies land. It can be an area targeted for landing by paratroopers, or a base from which recreational parachutists and skydivers take off in aircraft and land under parachutes...
landing area under canopy.
While considered an area of freeflying
Freeflying
Freeflying is a skydiving discipline which began in 1990 when Olav Zipser began experimenting with non-traditional forms of body flight. Zipser formed the Freefly Clowns as a two person competitive team with Mike Vail in 1992, and was joined by Omar Alhegelan, Charles Bryan, and Stefania...
, tracking dives are popular amongst many skydivers across the disciplines. Tracking dives are some of the most accessible and sociable dives that everyone regardless of experience level can take part on. Tracking dives are often planned at the end of the day on the sunset load, and with less emphasis on quantitative results (formation skydiving
Formation skydiving
Formation skydiving is the art of building formations in free-fall with multiple people gripping each others' limbs or specially built "grippers" on their jumpsuits....
) or on holding difficult and new body positions (freeflying); they are commonly viewed as the most relaxing, low pressure jumps.
Even though inexperienced jumpers often take part on tracking dives, the risks of such dives should not be underestimated. An efficient track can reach horizontal speeds of nearly 100 mph; collisions with other groups or with members of one's own group would result in serious injury or death. For this reason the number of inexperienced jumpers on a tracking dive should be limited by the organizer.
Tracking dives along with Atmonauti (a.k.a "Angled flight", a recently conceived variant with a significantly different body position, giving a far steeper flight angle between traditional track and head down) are considered by most skydivers, apart from wingsuit fliers, to go the furthest towards the feeling of ‘true flight’ due to the large horizontal distances covered, the low terminal velocity, and the fact that at such heights the ground does not appear to be approaching at all.