This weekend I was out playing with my friends at my local dropzone. We decided to go on a couple of tracking jumps, with me as the rabbit flying on my back. First a 5-way, then some 3-ways. Tracking on my back is not my strongest feature but these 4 jumps definitively improved my skills on this part. All of us also picked up on our ability to fly together in a group, all tracking and dynamically adjusting to my forward speed and angle of flight.

I fitted my new GoPro Hero Wide to Alice’s helmet so soon I should be able to add some video footage from the GoPro 170 degree view. Along with my cx-105 and my Canon I think there’s a good basis for debriefing our track jumps.

First 5-way – ‘sofa tracking’

Here’s what my Canon EOS 450D picked up on the first 5-way – with Alice, Thomas, Claus & Peter.

You may notice that most people are not really tracking in any of the pictures. That’s because I was in a nice and comfortable sofa position with no real forward movement. Didn’t spoil the fun though! See the full picture gallery

Second jump – moving fast but not staying together

We went back up on a 3-way, now aware of how to apply much more forward speed on the rabbit. Successfully tracking on my back – nice feeling – but we had a hard time staying together on this jump. Full gallery

Getting there – good stuff

On Sunday we gave it another go, this time Uffe, Alice and myself as the rabbit. A little out of timing on exit but good speed and moving more as a group. Full gallery

Yeah!

And then…on jump 4 we made it stick. What a great feeling – good exit, flying close, flying fast, turning, moving, smiling, laughing – don’t want this skydive to end!

Just brilliant. Want more please! Just the thought of getting on my next tracking jump makes me high – good thing that Saturday and Sunday I will be with my friends at the dropzone again. Full gallery