How to absorb impact

[SkaFreak]

Recently I have decided to start trying to get bigger airs and start dropping off some 5-10 foot cliffs that we have around here, but I only have one concern. Even on some of my current jumps (very small, only 3-5 feet high) I sometimes have an issue with taking a hard impact on landing. I have tried a coulple of different things to try to lighten this a little bit before I started trying anything bigger, but haven't figured anything out. Anyone have any suggestions on the best way to lighten the shock of impact?

[kirk]

The only things you can really do are use your legs as shocks if your landing flat. If you're trying bigger stuff, you have to make sure the landing is steeper.

[Greco]

make sure you're landing in the transition (down sloping part of the jump) also try to keep your legs tucked (on all jumps you should incorporate a grab btw) until the last second. if you're legs are straight when you hit it's not as easy to absorb.

-g

[SkaFreak]

Thanks for the help. I tried what I could out today, and it seemed to help out alot. It used to be I was afraid to get much air on tabletops because the landings hurt, but I was landing on the flat tops, and today I had the chance to hit a very small tabletop and landed on the transition, and it was much smoother. Hopefully soon I'll be able to pull a bit more air and be able to clear the larger tabletops.

[Bryce]

1 Thing I find helps if you have flexible ankles, is learn forweard hard once you land quickly, it will put alot of the impact into your boots. When I jump over 10 feet, I usally let my arm go and then wave them down when I land. It will help your feet out.

[matthew]

dude there is no way to take off the impact if your landing on te flats of the jump just get some ball and jump the hole thing itll be so much easyer on your legs man

[Bryce]

Their are ways to decrease it though.

[Gargantula]

My tip is to make sure to land with your knees slightly bent to prevent injuries to your knees with your legs locked. Also, once you land, bounce down and up to increase the distance to spread out the forces of the impact on your knees and have your hands out for balance.