I think the main thing is just to make sure your marker hand is palm up. We did dive training in a gym on hard wood floors (without markers), and I found it encourages you to go all out because if you don't your elbows and knees get it worse. After that it doesn't seem too bad diving on grass Pushing forward on the way down helps too. Saying that, someone once asked me if I tripped on the way into the snake I'm still learning!