Saddle height vs absorbing drop impacts Let's assume the following saddle heights:


ultra low (bmx, DJ)
low (slopestyle)
medium
high
ultra high (XC)


In videos on the internet we sometimes see pro DH riders riding with a medium to high saddle height. I understand that this needs experience and works for them because on some ocasions they may control the bike by pressing on the saddle or something like that.

But how can they absorb impacts from 5 (or more) feet drops? Either drops to flat or drops with a bit of a transition.

My problem is that even when my saddle is at low to medium position I'll sometimes crash my b@ll@cks when trying to absorb landings. So I either:


decide not to absorb anything and let the bike (suspensions) handle it, or
absorb a bit by leaning my back (humping) which is obviously super wrong and dangerous and has already caused me some lower back pains


Any ideas on how they do it and whether [1] is the key on those situations?
The pros you see on the videos set their saddle depending on the DH course. If the course has a lot of possibilities for pedalling and not many drops - set it high, so on flat sections they can rest their bum on the seat and give it a full pedalling power. 

If the course is rough and steep - no racer will have the seat high. So you should do. You know what you are riding, you know that you are going to do drops - set the seat low.

And leaning back is not always wrong. As long as you don't overdo it and don't send yourself flipping backwards. It all takes practice and time.

If on the drop you let your suspension handle it all and keep your legs straight - at some point suspension will bottom out and shock through your straight legs will go into your spine. And that is a direct ticket to spinal injury. 

So the best is to learn to to do a bit of both - work your legs and let the suspension do  work as well. If you feel that the landing is going to be rough - move yourself to the side a bit, protect your groin, take the hit with your thigh. You might crash in that case, but your kids will be happier -)

And one more thing, in DH drops to flat higher than 5 feet are very rare and are considered dangerous. It's not trails for you, where guys carefully absorb 10ft flat-drop with their whole body. On the other hand, drops to transition do require different technique (comparing to drop to flat) and give less stress on a bike and a rider.