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Post by Azonthus on Feb 28, 2005 11:40:09 GMT -5
Stormy Good Ol' Fasioned Question: Tue Oct 14 11:10:15 2003 24.103.87.124
What would a skybax rider's daily routine include?
Stouthorn It would probably... Tue Oct 14 11:12:44 2003 209.49.43.10
...depend on what he's doing that day. Skybax riders don't simply ride skybaxes around all day. They go on missions. When he's not on a mission, a Skybax rider would probably spend time keeping in shape and grooming his mount.
Storm But how would he keep in shape? (nm) Tue Oct 14 11:13:29 2003 24.103.87.124
Stouthorn Exercise! Tue Oct 14 11:16:29 2003 209.49.43.10
Running, lifting, gymnastics...much like how anybody keeps in shape, I would guess
Stormtracer what would he lift?Heavy rocks? (nm) Tue Oct 14 11:28:07 2003 24.103.87.124
Enit ... Tue Oct 14 15:55:22 2003 65.96.74.230
It's not like Dinotopians Are stone age morons!! they could make there own barbells.. you saw the pictures of the metal smiths... they could make exercise equipment!!
BD SP
~Enit
Vira Thoughts... Tue Oct 14 16:15:10 2003 66.96.70.40
As trainees, they'd probably be put through what some of our local Army Trainees go through. Meaning; sit-ups, push-ups, long runs. Days without food to build up their strength.
Their Skybax Trainer might have them jog (with full packs with food and water rations and sleeping gear) from Canyon City down around the Forbidden Mountains a little into the Blackwood Flats, up around the other side of the Forbidden Mountains, through the Rainy Basin and up to Rocky Pass and back down to Canyon City, giving them little sleep to see how they function under stress and everything.
Does that sound reasonable/logical/like something they would do?
BD, SP, ~Vira
Vira Oops, I meant days without much food to get them used to Tue Oct 14 16:16:37 2003 66.96.70.40
maybe having to go days without food in a bad situation.
They might also get trained to forge for food?
BD, SP, ~Vira
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Kaak
Dolphinback
Posts: 39
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Post by Kaak on Feb 12, 2006 15:40:28 GMT -5
Here I am, dragging a thread out of the archives. *brushes off all the dust, sneezes a bit, unrolls scroll* I agree that there'd be physical training but I re-read the first chapter of Alan Dean Foster's Hand fo Dinotopia (on the web, excerpted here) and Will watches skybax flying in and out of Sauropolis. So I'm thinking lessons on languages, diplomacy, and recognizing flags/colors, as well as dialects and accents. I can definitely see long runs and distance hikes undertaken with a sense of 'fun'. I bet Will has buddies he tries to outrace, outfly, outjump, outclimb, etc. They all have to in top physical condition. Skybax care, talking with skybax, but also volunteering to help in the canyon. There are always eggs hatching and young skybax to care for, and if not, somebody's probably got a hurt wing. What else? Socializing over meals. What about art? Drawing, painting, carving pieces of broken wood found in the Amu River. Giving these away. I bet preparing for celebration flights is a big deal. All those festivals on the calendars - plus all the ones that aren't on there, that people throw because they're having a good time! Formation flying, preparing uniforms, doing laundry (do you think it's like Treetown, where the boys do their own? I bet the girls do their own, too, if they're getting anywhere as messy as the boys! I'd never let the boys run faster than me in a race :D) I see the daily routine of a skybax rider being so exhausting that falling into bed at night means eyes closed, asleep before the head hits the pillow. And waking up happy in the morning, ready to get right back out there for some more. Just some thoughts :D
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Post by Croco and Speedwing on Mar 13, 2006 22:42:08 GMT -5
I know for a fact that a Skybax rider has to be in top physical shape, because spending eight hours in the saddle while battling unpredictable air currents and shifting with your skybax is nothing short of grueling. So whether it's running, adventuring, push-ups and sit-ups or climbing (rock climbing is a VERY popular activity among Skybax riders), you have to be in peak condition.
I also know for a fact that they have to be on top of the weather as well, not only for their own sake but for the sake of their mount as well. If you saw the episode of Walking with Dinosaurs featuring the Ornithochierus, you saw that he did not fly in the rain because his wing membranes are sensitive to water. I know for a fact that Speedy refuses to fly when dark clouds are near, but what if it's sunny in Canyon City and your plans involve flying to Waterfall City? A Skybax rider needs to know when to make a detour if the weather's about to turn at his/her intended destination, more often while in flight. I'm sure there are a lot of weather briefings that fliers have to sit through before they head out into the open skies.
Forgive the bad pun, but other than that, it's all on the fly, and even moreso when the rider is in another city. Most free time is spent either resting, eating, socializing and/or enjoying other pasttimes. Though from my experience, Skybax riders, especially the younger ones, are the equivalent of a fighter pilot or elite race driver. (myself moreso because I'm a Dolphinback) And with such status, people tend to take notice...children flock me on the streets wanting to see my skybax, older folks want to exchange tales with me inside a tavern over a few drinks, and young women try to court me wherever I am, hoping to win me over for an impromptu dinner date. Older riders are more reserved for the most part, but some of the younger riders (not all, thankfully) soak up the attention like a sponge. I know it's in clear violation of the Code, so I try to stay away from such ego highs as I have seen what it can do in the Outside.
So basically, it's mostly flying, working out, taking care of your skybax, taking in the weather and other reports, eating, maintaining quarters and if there's any time left, socializing. Then it's time for bed...and at sunrise, you get up and do it all over again. Ahh, the exciting life of a Skybax rider...
((Ed's note: Also, I know for a fact that riders tend to screw up their posts as the line "Also, I know for a fact that riders..." should have been deleted. Hmm...altitude sickness?))
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Katrina Rix
Apprentice
Del pasado al presente, vivimos en un universo encantado.
Posts: 108
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Post by Katrina Rix on Mar 23, 2006 12:26:40 GMT -5
Hmm... Mushing isn't at all like skybax riding, but just from personal experience, a substantial amount of time has to be devoted to the dogs (or the pterosaur). Obsessive checking of feet and legs is probably replaced with the wings. Bonding is very important - the same chase games I play with my dogs would probably work with a pterosaur. The animal needs to be in top condition, and that also means food. There's probably some competion for the best fish, and I can see fishing would be an important part of a rider's day, too. Quetzacoatlus fur, judging from other pterosaurs, is probably fairly low matainance, but brushing is another effective bonding mechanism.
When I'm getting ready for a race (analogous to a long patrol), I'm very concerned with the gear. We need enough to survive, but every pound on the sled is bad. I'm guessing lightweight gear and food is important. It's also the moment where you try to get every ounce down to muscle. You need to be strong to help the dogs. It seems like a challenge in air for the rider would be staying hydrated. The sun, wind, and cold plucks water right out of your system like no other. Two liters would vanish in about four hours. An alternate strategy is just to tank up on water before hand, but then you just wind up in the middle of your trip having to pee like no other.
The most important part of conditioning is just doing it again and again until everything's instinctive. Nowadays, I don't need to think about tight corners, but a few years ago, balancing my weight right was the bane of my life. So, I'd say spare time should be spent in the saddle. It would be a good idea to practice acrobatics and worst case scenarios over a lake or ocean. Aerial catches, especially. On short runs, when I know the team in front of me, I let myself get drug or otherwise do some of the rougher stuff. It keeps me fit and the right reaction trigger ready. Practicing safe falls, rough landings, uneven weight in the saddle, extra weight in the saddle, dodges, and all manners of tricky aerial manuvers help get them down so that, should the actual emergency come up, the right response is wired in, so neither the rider nor the skybax hesitates or panics.
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Post by Azonthus on Mar 29, 2006 0:13:04 GMT -5
I wonder if there are any sort of sled races for mammals in the Forbidden Mountains... *grins* I know that the next book by James Gurney will feature both more information on Skybax riding (including a picture of Will feeding fish to Cirrus and another of the two of them fishing) and more of the story will take place in the Forbidden Mountains.
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Katrina Rix
Apprentice
Del pasado al presente, vivimos en un universo encantado.
Posts: 108
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Post by Katrina Rix on Mar 29, 2006 14:10:17 GMT -5
If so, I'm packing up for the mountains... You know, I bet some of the boreal dinosaurs could live in the Forbidden Mountains. How about mushing with dromaesaurids (feathery ones)?
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Post by Croco and Speedwing on Jun 29, 2006 18:43:17 GMT -5
I wonder if there are any sort of sled races for mammals in the Forbidden Mountains... *grins* I know that the next book by James Gurney will feature both more information on Skybax riding (including a picture of Will feeding fish to Cirrus and another of the two of them fishing) and more of the story will take place in the Forbidden Mountains. For the love of Bix, it's about time Gurney paid more attention to the craft of Skybax riding. I would love to read this...and better yet, use it to improve my knowledge of Skybax Riders and the practice as a whole. Cause, y'know...too much knowledge is only bad if someone ends up getting hurt.
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Post by Azonthus on Jul 4, 2006 10:53:03 GMT -5
How about mushing with dromaesaurids (feathery ones)? Good thing I'm not feathered! I'd never pull a sled like that;) *laughs* I'd far rather be running the race by myself, but that's just me and my Basin heritage. *shivers* I hate cold. Hate it, hate it. hate it.
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