corpkid

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think he's going to come down for 2 weeks and we'll try to do it over the course of those weeks, taking breaks in between. The catch is that his closest DZ is pretty far from him, whereas Deland (and the Orlando Tunnel) is close for me, and he can't really stay here very long (he can work remotely, but 2 weeks remote is pushing it). Thanks for the advice on Sabastian... I've always had a dream of flying there, but sounds like I'm going to have to wait a while (if at all). Thanks again!

Um, no I won't - I'm not stupid, understand wingloading, and read these boards constantly. :) I also spend a ton of time at the tunnel with those guys, who also skydive and we talk. The reason we are "rushing" is because I want to do this with my best friend who lives a few thousand miles away. We don't have the luxury of many weeks of training together (jobs), so we thought we'd do it pretty rapidly so we could be get our student status together and then work on our A license separately back home. Also, I'm 36, not really a kid anymore... :) But thanks.

My best bud from Mass wants to come down when I do my AFF and do it together (which is awesome, IMHO). I've got a lot of tunnel time (will have over 1 1/2 hours by then) and I'm going to put him in there for 30 mins before we start, so stability shouldn't be an issue. That said, what's the schedule like for AFF in terms of days? We will be doing AFF at Deland, FL, and both of us has several tandems under our belt. We were hoping for a schedule like: FRI: Tunnel SAT: Ground School and jump 1 SUN: Jump 2, 3 and 4 MON or TUE: Jump 5 and 6 WED or THU: Jump Seven/repeats padding FRIDAY: Head to the Florida Keys SAT: First Student solo license jump in skydive key west / sugarloaf Are we being too agressive here?

HAH! Ari won't even let me get on my back yet. It's all about AFF at this point so belly down, stable, relax and have fun! And try to figure out what I'm doing wrong. :) My turns are decent but need work as I do pull my arms in a little. MAN that tunnel is very unforgiving, right? I'm just now starting to understand the wind better (beyond the obvious). I can feel it, and I like it. They were joking in the debrief about falling asleep on their backs in the tunnel and how comfortable that would be... "click moment" :)

Had done 3 tandems over the years at Deland, and then got really busy with finishing my degree and my (rather insane) job. I had always loved those tandems and really wanted to go for AFF, but I realized I just wouldn't have time (or $$$). Fast forward about 8 or 9 years and I throw my 14 year old visiting niece and myself into the Orlando iFly tunnel. It felt like I never left the sky, and after my 2nd round, I was going stable and solo, and even turning on command. She also was super stable and flying solo. We loved it so much we booked a 10 min block to split for the next day and it just got better as I relaxed more. I decided I would sign up for AFF, and will be doing this next month. In the mean time, I've brought 2 other people for split 10 min blocks, hired Ari Perelman as a coach (and just completed my 2nd 15min session) and have gone a few more on my own, so I'd say I'm pushing about 50 mins in the tunnel and LOVING IT and can really see my progress (and my weaknesses). I like to say I'm collecting those flight DVD's as I have something like 8 now! :) I think what I love the most, is when you are in the chamber waiting to jump in, you aren't thinking about much but your upcoming flight, and what your instructor told you, and what you felt/saw on the last session, etc. And once you are in there, CERTAINLY not! It's very zen for me, even though I'm always adjusting or trying x or y or looking at the coach with a puzzled face (what the HELL is he trying to tell me!?) LOL. It's nice to be so focused on the exact moment you are in, which I think is rare these days. Plus, I love doing zoom ups and then fast belly falls from as I high as I can get in there trying to just barely miss the net on the bottom. A real rush! That all said - Name's Dominic and I'm sure I'll be seeing more of you around this awesome site and hopefully in the sky soon.

I'll add it's every other weds for the foreseeable future I found out last night. I'd be there tonight for that except I have 15 mins with my coach at 9:15.

Check it out. They have a resident deal for THIS Weds evening - $70 for five minutes. 6:30 - 7PM or 7PM to 7:30. Give them a call as it expires today. I'd be there except for the fact I have 15 with my coach at 9:15 that night and don't want to kill myself! :)

OH and I can tell you I won't be freaked out and quit. I have done 3 tandems and much time in the tunnel and I love body flight (and am told I do an OK job at it). That all said, may I buy an altimeter and if so, link please? :) I know, I'm being a noob but I do want to get serious about this.

Pops - you crack me up and yet I feel like I should listen to you. My goal is not to be the hottest of hotshots, but to just have fun and go home at the end of the day to my family. My mom will kill me if I die. LOL Thanks for the real advice. Means alot. :)

How about the helmet? Looking at the G3 by cookie composites. I wear glasses so full face would be ideal....

So I'm a noob with about 30 mins in the tunnel. Going for AFF in July. Training with Ari Perelman, etc. That all said, I want to buy my own flight suit. Are suits the same in the tunnel as they are for the skies? Anyone have a good recommendation on a beginner suit? The ones at the tunnel the last two times have been pretty battered up and the last time I had some webbing on the arm smacking me in the face every time I turned left. Pretty annoying. Also, I'm looking to get a full face helmet. I honestly have no idea where to start and appreciate any advice. Thanks! d

I'm going in Monday for 10 mins to just play around... I have a feeling "no pressure" (AKA Ari training) will do me much good. :) Thanks all - AFF is scheduled for July 10th.

LOL - I guess you are right. Maybe I'm putting the cart in front of the horse... (Patience grasshopper)...

Bad session is all I can say - I've just spent 55 mins watching my 15 mins in the tunnel - Jazz hands I get - RELAX and let the wind work you. Last session was still bad. I did better before. LOL. I'm holding further comments till next week since I basically had food poisoning last sesh. haha DAMN YOU TIUANA FLATS. :( I can see that I was cheeting before - way too much arm stuff - Ari had nothing to do with that so that's perhaps why I "lost traction" LOL

I'm so not scared or worried - I just tensed up unlike before. I think Ari is my hero and I'm afraid of letting him down. LOL That said, I have been thinking about my mindset. I got this - I'm not far from back flying said to me by two coaches in the tunnel who were running all types of interference on my belly fly. I got this next week and had an off session this time... Deep breath... (I was also ready to puke due to cramps from a crap lunch at....) Thanks all. Report more on Weds after my next 15

I am doing tunnel training in prep for AFF (have 30 mins in tunnel so far, 0 solo jumps) with Ari and prior to my first 15 with him I was so loose and doing side to sides and was all over the tunnel on command - I'm very stable. Last coach before Ari was pushing me around and running under me, etc and I maintained position. Last time, I was a wreck - and this was with Ari. What gives? About a month went between sessions - is that it? If so I'm going back in Monday night for 15 before I see him again Weds. LOL Seriously - I was so tense it doesn't make sense. I could feel it while I was crawling the bottom net - which I had not done in my last sessions (was all over the tunnel, doing well). I didn't jump far enough into the tunnel this time (not a problem before) and when I did I sank. etc. It was not where I was at - by the end I was fine but was hoping for a "from this point" with Ari, who is awesome but I think I had something going on. To that point - I had gotten sick at work but felt OK at fly time - does this happen to you? These are expensive lessons so I want to make the most. How do you relax when you are not feeling 100%? Thanks! d

Any chance this will be making a return? I want more time in the tunnel, and this sounds like a great deal.

Ari was telling me about the Austin tunnel tonight and wow - that makes our Orlando one look like a relic! I think I might be taking a few weekend trips to Texas this summer, especially since Ari is leaving for there soon. Ari is great - really patient and very easy to work with. Looking forward to next week's 15 mins with him. :)

I am excited. Just hung up the phone and Ari's a great guy - 30 min of tunnel training starts with him next month. I'm still tunneling till then (have 10 mins tomorrow besides him which puts me at 18 mins of tunnel).... Not cheap but that awesome body-flight I want so much! I'll be on my back soon. LOL

From talking to the guys at the tunnel, apparently it's just a matter of perfect timing to land a job there as turnover is pretty low. And what a job that would be.... :) Good luck!

Awesome - I'm getting in touch with Ari right away. How does the timing work? For example, let's say I broke a 30 minute block into 18x 100 second sessions, over three days (so 6x 100s x 3 days).... would I be integrated into other groups like I was last week? How much rest between sessions? I'm trying to figure out about how long I would be at the tunnel for sessions like this...

I did three mins today and have 5 tomorrow - I love it! I've done 3 tandem jumps, and my tunnel instructor today said I'm a natural and I was able to (from what I can tell) complete AFF 1-3 in three sessions. It's a little different in a 12x12 but I fell like I got this . That all said, my renewed excitement for the sport (the tunnel is 10 mins from my house, and 10 mins from my work, directly in between)... I need a coach. This is my sport and I want to become proficient in body flight as I find it so cathartic. Any suggestions for the Orlando area? I'm stable and able to turn and adjust decent. I am looking after maybe 30 more mins in the tunnel to actually do AFF and learn tracking, etc. I want to MASTER the basics beforehand - fair? Anyone recommend a coach? Many thanks!

Well I have not slept with either of them (yet) and decided to go down the "I love you both but leave me the fuck out" route last night. Thanks for (most) of the advice! haha It's been awfully quiet since then. I hope they didn't kill each other. A mutual friend had THE BEST suggestion: Arrange a death match fight. That way whoever survives can be my friend and there won't be any messy divorce paperwork to deal with.

If my memory serves me correctly I fixed it for you. Either way would probably work though. Well done, sir! LOL Oh shit I didn't know what I was getting into posting this here!

LOL - actually I think they'd enjoy that knowing them!