Re: [Zenister] BASE tracking
“some questions, how does it differ from a 'maximum lift' skydiving track?
For big wall BASEing”
There is no 'maximum lift' track. There is only a “better optimized” track.
The way it differs is the development. That you have solid positional references to differentiate your improvements or lack thereof, as in the exit point, wall, talus, and ledges as opposed to an aircraft jump, where the exit point is moving and ground zero is normally the ref when jumping solo. One can´t control what one can´t measure. With aircraft jumps the factors are largely hypothetical when jumping solo, as in: I felt I tracked with maximum lift. Actual distance away from the fixed exit point is much more perceivable from the object than from the aircraft. With Bigwall stuff one can see a definite correlation between style of track and distance achieved and thereby improve upon it and see in realtime the effects of a new style.
”Ive seen some posts about pointing toes out more than straight, and have asked questions and advice from the BASE locals I've met at Eloy, but would like more pointers and wisdom from as wide an audience as possible.”
Ask the Eloy jumpers to evaluate your track. Pay for it. This is the only way one can improve their tracking in skydiving. Side by side.By working with an optimal tracker and honing in on outtracking the evaluator. In short, Try a slight de-arch, shoulders cupped, toes rotated to the outside (penguintrack), and hands pushing down to keep the head on the same level as the feet. Any headdown sucks.
”also, is there any reason why BASE tracking techniques would not be useful in skydiving tracking dives (where the intent is maximum horizontal distance)?”
It would be a useful tool if you happened to need it. But normally tracking dives are to fly together, not leaving the others to eat your dust. Also, on RW jumps, if one did a more efficient track than the others, one would have a much higher risk of somebody dumping in their face. I have found that it is safer to track on the same slope as the others in skydiving at break off than to do a more efficient track than the others.
This all brings us to: Are you dressed for success?
Short pants and a floppy sweatshirt? Baggy trousers and a T-shirt. Short pants and a T-shirt, Floppy sweat and baggy pants? One needs to figure out what is the best. For me, a little arm flappage, and a little more for the leg.
I hope this helps.
As a plug for me, I tracked 220m in 9sec at #7 with a running exit and my rocket pants at Kjerag, Norway.
Take care,
space
) 