Fallrates YouTube Channel Offers POV Videos
In March, Johannes Bergfors, a videographer and wind tunnel instructor from Sweden, launched a series of videos titled “First Perspective” on the skydiving YouTube channel Fallrates. The point-of-view videos show repetitions of various moves such as layouts, head-down and head-up infacing moves, outfacing snakes and half breakers. Bergfors used a GoPro 5 mounted to his full-face helmet with a safety tether and filmed local instructor Nick Poland flying the different variations to provide a reference for the viewer. The Flystation Munich wind tunnel supported the project.
Bergfors said, “The series is designed for aspiring students who want to invest time outside of the wind tunnel for their own progression. In theory, if you look at the video of, for example, inface carving to outface carving a hundred times, you’ll burn that image into your head and lessen the surprise factor of how you need to navigate while upside down. I was recently contacted by a newer flyer who said he just had trained back layouts after watching the videos and felt much more comfortable and conscious in where he was in the trajectory. I use the videos with my own students, and anyone else is welcome to use them as examples of what to do or not to do. Even if it only creates material for a discussion, then that’s great.”
Jumpers can find the “First Perspective” series, as well as fun flights with Bergfors, Poland and world champion freestylist Leonid Volkov, on the Fallrates YouTube channel and at tinyurl.com/fallrates2018.