first tunnel flight question

[idodsick 0]

i am heading to arizona to visit my in-laws over the next couple of weeks. i figured while i was there i might as well do 20 min in the tunnel. my question is is there a precursory flight instruction or can i just go in and start working on some things? i was planning on getting a coach too so do i need my log book to verify experience? will i be able to freefly(head-up)? i called earlier today and the girl didnt really answer that many of my questions so i turn to you guys.
thanks
stefan

the diamond can not be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.

[punkd 0]

Skyventure tunnels follow a flying progression.

http://tunnelflight.com/pages/flyers/flyerRatings.php

You have to show them that you can belly fly, backfly and 'walk' before they will let you fly head up.

Never been to AZ but the tunnel I fly in they were mostly interested that you could show control in moving 6 directions.. up/down side to side, forward/backwards.

I was sit flying in about 15 mins and i'm nothing special, my sit was actually better than my backflying. so its possible but you probably wont get much time trying with only 20 mins.

my first hour in the tunnel learning to sit.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=tScSveKzJ90

[idodsick 0]

ok so it will basically belly skills and next time i can devote an hour and really nail head-up. thanks

the diamond can not be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.

[raymond_jones 0]

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ok so it will basically belly skills and next time i can devote an hour and really nail head-up. thanks

explain to your instructor what you would like to accomplish. if you can belly fly at least somewhat proficiently they will most likely move you to backflying fairly quickly. if i were you i'd try and get ray or jason to coach you. and as for "really nailing head up in an hour" it will most likely take a lot longer than an hour of time to nail it (be bad ass) but you never know, you may be a natural.

"your the shit till you eat it !!!!!!!! damn that wall hurts..."

[idodsick 0]

thats the thing my belly skills are mediocre at best. i have more tracking and head up jumps than devoted belly/rw. even if it cleans up my belly skills i will be happy but has was having problems taking high grips last season and wanted to work on that. if its not this time then next.
thanks
stefan

the diamond can not be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.

[LloydDobbler 2]

In the tunnel progression, it's usually more about showing stability and control than it is flying a kickass belly session and turning a lot of points. So you'll likely be checked off on belly fairly quickly, as long as you can keep a heading and move on all axes.

The real kicker for you will probably be backflying. It's just a *tad* different in the tunnel than it is in the air, given that there are plexiglass walls on all sides of you (and those things have TEETH, and they BITE!). Takes a bit longer to 'get it' and get comfortable flying stable.

Given your goals, they may feel ready to move you on from backflying pretty quickly, though - who knows? FWIW, I personally recommend that everyone get really comfortable on their backs before moving on to sitflying, but some don't, and are fine. I just prefer to actually be able to bail to my back in a controlled, stable fashion, instead of falling into it from a sit and popping up/crashing around the tunnel because I can't control it.

Anyway, YMMV...but you can't go wrong with tunnel time of any sort. Go check it out - you'll have a blast, and learn a lot no matter what you're working on.

Signatures are the new black.

[idodsick 0]

im a fairly competent back/sit flyer and have done some informal coaching for other people. there is a coach rating course coming up and i really want to clean up my weaknesses before giving other people advice. how hard are the teeth anyways?
thanks
stefan

the diamond can not be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.

[AllisonH 0]

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im a fairly competent back/sit flyer and have done some informal coaching for other people. there is a coach rating course coming up and i really want to clean up my weaknesses before giving other people advice. how hard are the teeth anyways?
thanks
stefan

In that case, do your future students a favor and spend the time on your belly. You don't have to be a kick-ass belly flier to be a good coach, but you need to be able to fall straight down, maintain fabulous altitude awareness, adjust fall rate, etc. without thinking about it at all. This will allow you to focus on what your student is doing instead of focusing on your own flying.

If you're rotating in the tunnel with any belly fliers (or if you see any before/after your session) take a few minutes to observe their body positions. What's making them slide/turn/float/sink? Those are the things you'll be observing in-air as a coach.

[idodsick 0]

thats some good advice allison. i should become a competent belly flyer since i will be judged on it in the rating course. either way it will be fun.
thanks
stefan

the diamond can not be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.

[labrys 0]

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i should become a competent belly flyer since i will be judged on it in the rating course. either way it will be fun.

I did 30 minutes in the tunnel to warm up before my coach course but I've always found that one of the more difficult skills to nail for coaching (IRL and in the course) is the exit... which you just can't practice in a tube.

Students (and evaluators) do really funky, funny things when they exit. Staying tight and anticipating whats going to happen next is hard, particularly with free-flown exits.

Owned by Remi #?