Falling Safely...

[mag48]

I was wondering when you know your falling down on your powerisers what is the best way to make your self land... first if you falling forwards, second backwards, third to your sides. I just want to be prepared for when the time comes I know the way to land with the least pain.

[XarnuSonci]

falling forwards go to you're kneepads and gloves/wrist guards, if you don't have both of those, you're gonna be bleeding period.  if you're going really fast you'll go from there to your elbows or sholders. I tripped while running and ended up on my sholder, i wouldn't reccomend that.  I've only ever fallen forwards, so i dunno about backwards or sideways.  I'd imagine if you fall sideways, try to turn it to forwards and get to you're kneepads.  as for falling backwards, I just refuse to do it. I reccomend you do the same. Cause it seems like the best way to hurt yourself.

[mag48]

OK thanks... But how will the knee pads protect me isn't that bar that holds your leg in at the top of the powerisers right where your knee is?

[XarnuSonci]

no, the bar should be just below your knee.  If it is on your knee it is very dangerous because a bad landing could try to bend your knee the wrong way.  You want the bar to be at the top of your shin bone so that if you are kneeling with your risers on the kneepads take most of your weight and the kneebar doesn't take much of your weight.

To find the right place for the bar, bend your knee to 90 degrees, put your finder on your kneecap, move it down your leg it will bumb in a little where your knee cap ends, then it will bumb out again at the top of your shin and just where it goes back in is where the bar should be.

[zackiz]

falling forwards go to you're kneepads and gloves/wrist guards

I can add that I thought soo to, until a fell forwards. The lesson I learn from that, use elbow pads to.

[xerox]

I've fallen in every possible directions  hah..

Backwards = landed on my ass, tried to catch the fall with my hands which
hurts to this day lol. If it happens again I will try to twist into falling forwards.

Forwards = Go for the knee pads without a doubt!  My first fall forward ended up with me laying flat out on the pavement haha..

Sides = watch out for your hips! lol

[Hansi]

Falling forwards = Your knees and hands will take the fall perfectly, at least for me..

Falling backwards = I slipped on the grass and my risers kinda kept me up a little and my hands took the rest of the fall

Falling sideways = how do you even fall sideways?

[dominion]

In general, without padding you are asking for a world of hurt on cement or pavement, and i haven't ever fallen on grass to comment about that.

Falling backwards will hurt a lot.... elbow/arm guards AND BMX or leather equivalant gloves WILL help out with this.  The technique i used was to make contact with my palms, roll to my fore arm guards and quickly to my elbow guard which is a part of my forearm guard.  Unless you have rediculously fast reflexes, do not try it as you will break your wrist.   I'd reccomend that you get something like padded shorts to absorb the impact to your tail bone. (coccyx)

Falling forwards is best prevented with good kneepads and gloves. 

If you are side launching, a helmet is reccomended.

More to be added.

[zackiz]

Sorry if im repeating myself, but I cant point this out more. I have a big wound on my elbow to remind me of that. Use elbowpads!

[skrankesvin]

Falling forwards(while running) and trying to roll the speed off the fall = Split bone in the elbow
Like everyone says, use protective gear - You will regret it if you don't(i sure did...)

[rrcraig]

My strategy for falling safely involves starting with 17 years of aikido training.  One thing I know how to do is to fall down.  Of course this might not be practical for everyone.  I do wear lots of padded gear and I strongly recommend it.  Please, please, wear a helmet when trying out flips.

[mag48]

Thanks for all the info guys... were going to the sporting goods store in a few days and theres a kit that comes with elbow, kneepads, and a helmet... The only other thing I need is a wrist guard and gloves right??? I'm also getting stuff to make tire socks 

[Reala]

I fell once while running and didn't have my wrist gaurds or any pads on (of course the one time I didn't have them on, stupid Murphy's law).

A friend had warned me before I got my 'risers that if I fall, to do anything but trying to stop my fall by putting my hands out in front of me or I could bust my wrists. 

So, when I felt myself starting to fall, I made sure to start turning my body like I learned in Judo as a kid so that when I hit the ground I did a roll which took the inertia. My left hand and my stilts got a little scraped up and my thumb got a little tweaked but I otherwise came out ok.

I'd recommend to find some online videos of people rolling from falls or asking a friend who is in martial arts and practicing them (w/o stilts) so you can get the idea of how to make it work.
 

[ElectricElf]

Ive done martial art for years on and off since i was about nine.im now 17 but have never learned to roll. all the classes i did were taekwondo which is mainly kicking so i have very good ballance. i can also ride a unicycle and have had stilts in the past. i havent fallen off yet and i dont have ANY pads. i had my flyjumpers for three days and havent fallen....yet. i hurt my knee through not having the bar low enough on my leg but apart from that iv been fine but you guys seem to know your stuff so next time i have some mony im gonna buy some wrist guards and maybe a helmet. i thought it would be ok without stuff but im probably been stupid...

[mag48]

Well I got mine today had them on for bout an hour felt comfortable walking so I figured I could do a jog... Well sure enough I started going to but I couldn't figure out how to stop so I fell partway in the grass/ part on cement no damage don't to me nor to the powerizers...

P.S. These have got to be the coolest things on the market~!!!