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I'm not asking for instruction (I'm a skydiver not a base jumper - please excuse posting if you think I shouldn't be here) but was just curious as I noticed the exits on the World Base Race dvd trailer and thought they seemed a little different.

I had read that "good form" for non-ws, non-aerial base exits was typically to be head up, chest out, to avoid rotating head down. But looking at the WS exits off the WBR ramps, the competitors seem to really roll forward and are slightly head-low by the time their push off the ramp is complete.

Any comments on the different techniques? Is the idea to be pointing the suit in the right flying position from the start, since there is less forward push than a non-ws exit, or something else?

cheers,
Hamish

The idea is to be in the flying position as fast a possible. If you keep your arm wings open and your leg wing closed for the first few seconds you won't rotate head low.
I am having a hard time making the tradition from traditional to fast flying exit.

A head high, chest out exit at about 45 degrees angle is very good if your goal is to be as stable as possible in your exit. All the jumpers in WBR on the other hand are experienced enough that they can exit stable in pretty much every angle. Therefore they go head low as steep as possible in order to build as much vertical speed as possible right away. Vertical speed is what gives you horizontal speed and saving a second or two is important in a race like the WBR.
It's not a way to exit for a beginner, but a much more efficient way to start flying if you know what you are doing.

Hi there!

Usually that "head up,chest out" exit with or without ws is common when you starting your basejumping or wing suiting in base... coz it´s a bit "safer" I think... there is also risk that you will dipping your head really low same time when your leg wing or track pants inflate and it feels worst than it is coz its long way (for your head) from 45 degree head up to 45 degree head low

But when you get a bit more experience with zero speed exits basicly you can jump how ever you like...

When you do a head up, chest out exit you will lose some time and altitude and that will really matter if you jump against o´clock...

And its same with tracking gear, you will start moving forward much sooner vs head up exit -it really make big different, I usually jump off straight to tracking position... and if it goes too head low you will get really nice slingshot effect -> lot of forward speed after couples seconds...

Shortly: WS and tracking gear start flying/moving much sooner with a bit head low exits

-Tony- FTF

Johenrik totally agree that: "It's not a way to exit for a beginner"

-Tony-

how do you exit an airplane? in a hard arch? or do you place yourself wherever the formation demands?

same sort of thing.

Airplane? Are you crazy man?
Airplanes are dangerous!

Also notice that immediatly searching for speed makes your body want to fly fast. Not surprisingly...

And how does your body gain speed after exit? By converting height into speed.

This is why looking for the fastest flight at exit makes you fall more and takes more time before flying than a regular exit.

Conclusion: short, positive cliff : don't try to max out your suit immediatly. Wait for it to fly.