Punky_Monkey

After 23 jumps I got my butt into a tunnel. They are great. You can learn so much in them and concentrate totally on what you are learning. I do recommend getting a good coach. My coach in the Orlando tunnel was Ron and Martin. They were both great. Ron knew I had a fear of being on my back and made sure I got put on my back with the help of the tunnel rats. He made me do it so many times that my next jump when I went on my back I was totally calm and flipped right back over. Get to the tunnel....I learned so much that I plan on going back when the weather here starts to suck again. Hopefully Ron will be willing to work with me again. ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

You keep strong girl...and remember like you said what doesn't kill you does make you stronger. ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

That's exactly my point....In order to fly with anyone at my home DZ I will be wearing weights all the time... ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

Here's my favorite....Don't know who wrote it...But I am trying to live by it...Puts the door monster in perspective... "I have not ceased being fearful, but I have ceased to let fear control me. I have accepted fear as a part of life - specifically the fear of change, the fear of the unkown, and I have gone ahead despite the soundings in my heart that says: Turn back, you'll die if you venture too far." I have another that goes something like this... "You may never get rid of the butterflies but you can teach them to fly in formation." ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

I learned to pack after my 2nd jump. Got signed off on packing and now pack for money to jump. Make sure to find a balance with your family and a good budget will go a long way. Welcome and remember it's all about "FUN" ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

I have a question for all of you instructors out there? How do you feel of a student with 24 jumps wearing weights? I realize that I need to be able to fly my body without them. The problem lies in that since I have started jumping my coaches and instructors have always been about 5 feet below me. I am starting to get really fustrated with this and have started to realize, after being in the tunnel, that I have just kind of been winging it. It would have been nice early on to have been able to get hand singles in the air. I am suppose to start my docking this weekend. Ok, I can adjust my fall rate and maybe get down to them. But what about the adjusted fall rate with docking? Any ideas? I need to finish this so I can get my A liscense. Thanks!! ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

Have you tried Para Gear? I got mine from them a couple of weeks ago. ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

I know you were only kidding but have nothing to loose so thought why not try and see what happens. ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

Maybe some pictures might help. Who knows I am having no luck.. So here is one. Sorry I have no skydiving ones yet.. ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

Thanks for the video....Wow!!! And to think a couple of flips makes me nervous.. That actually looks like fun. Oops did I say that? I will continue to work on flips until they don't bother me...Through repetition the nerves of flipping should diminiish. ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

Not sure if I should be posting this here but the ad in personal is doing no good. If I sholdn't be posting this here I am sure it will be removed. I am flying to Orlando next weekend for the tunnel and would also like to get some jumps in at z-hills. I am looking for a ride from Orlando to z-hills. Please someone help me this student jumper experience what it is like to jump at a bigger drop zone. Thanks ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

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Yup, I am yours now!!! From what I can tell, I will have my work cut out for me and will learn a lot. Can't wait. I am already learning a lot from you just with the PM. I am going to start looking for a way to get to the DZ so we can jump before hand. ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

Promised an update... Well, here in WI we had a snow storm on Saturday and then Sunday clouds were to low to jump... We have a pilot this Friday so hopefully the weather will be good and I can jump. They are talking snow again but it's early yet. It still leaves me Saturday... My next two jumps I am planning on doing flips and just getting unstable and recovering... I know I can do it, have done it before...Suppose to be working on tracking so I guess that means I'll just have to jump some more... Hee Hee... It's just jumping in winter isn't that great here and hence the nerves from lack of jumping...But I do give myself credit for at least being able to stay current. Did pull out my own videos and watched...That seemed to help some I saw how I progressed and how I went from that look of " no way am I getting out of this plane" to "Are we there yet I wanna jump" Think I might also hit up our video guy for some clips.. If I was there once before I can achieve it again!!! I need to learn not to be afraid of the fear...It's natural and will help at least I think to help keep me safe. And a couple have mentioned tunnel time and that is booked (1/2 hour of tunnel time) for early April right before our actual season begins.. Will update again after the weekend... And thanks again everyone for the support it really does help tons... ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

Thanks for the pictures... They really help...

thanks for the picture...it made me smile...

I started jumping in July...Had a terrible time with door fear. Even had to have the plane do a once around on one jump. With support of my instructor I got out the door. Started doing at least 2 jumps a weekend. Jump 13 Door fear went away and the nerves calmed way down. I was actually starting to relax in freefall. Winter came and I have only been able to do enough jumps to stay current. About 1 or 2 every 4 weeks. The last time I jumped the 1st jump went good and the second I did a 2 way launch and we flipped but got stable. I freaked. My coach said he had never seen my eyes so big and that they were full of tears. I don't know what the hell happened to me on that jump to cause that reaction. Weather should be good this weekend. I am jumping and doing my 1st diving exit. I know I might flip and would rather flip by myself than with someone. I feel more in control that way. I can get out of the flip the way I want to without worring about what my coach is doing while we are flipping. Also have some tunnel time booked in April and I am hoping this helps to build some confidence in me. It seems I am lacking it at times. I didn't have this problem before winter? I just don't get it? But let me tell you my nerves are at an all time high. They have been all winter. It will go away again right? And quicker than when I began jumping? I will not let this beat me!!

Yes, I have...Everytime I call she is not available...which I do understand...The person answering the phone keeps taking my name and number and says they will have her call me back. Messages also get lost.... I still am looking forward to working with her and I do have sometime yet to try to get ahold of her. ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

I have e-mailed several times and the only time I got a responce was when I wanted to make sure my booking went through since I bought my plane ticket. So basically it looks like I am going into this kind of blind right now. Which I don't like. But my tunnel time isn't until the beginning of April so I do have a some time yet. ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

I have tunnel time booked with tunnelcoach. Sally will be my instructor and I am very excited. Just was wondering what to expect and had a few questions. How far ahead of my booked time should I arrive at the tunnel? Is there a place she meets with everyone? Is it possible to have it video taped? Should I bring my log book with me since I am still a student, so she can see where I am at and where my problem areas are? I was told I would be in the tunnel 2 minutes and out 6. Does she debrief you after the two minutes? I am just looking for some information on how this whole set up works. Thanks ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

My last jump was 4 weeks ago and the one before that was also a 4 week span. Due to weather and senious problems... I noticed on my jump 4 weeks ago that I had gotten rusty...To be expected especially as a student, but disappointing all the same. Nothing major happened, got my back flip marked off and then developed a slow turn...When I got to the ground I realized how my body was positiioned to cause the turn so am aware of it now. Now I am afraid that my jump tomorrow will be worse yet? (When the weather gets good, and I can jump more often how long will it take before I am at the level I was at before winter came?) But it will be 40 degrees out...How can I pass that up? I can't and I need to get current.... I just feel all the jitters again like it was my 1st couple of jumps...I hope that goes away quicker and isn't as bad tomorrow... I think I might just need to develpe some confidence in myself and need to stop second guessing myself... Just really could use some support right now... ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

Yes, I am getting coaching by Sally Hathaway. My instructor says that I will need weights in the air to fly with other people. But I need to learn how to fly my body first. Which I agree with. I think I do have a fall rate issue? They call me a feather butt at the DZ. Being new to the tunnel scene could you please explain.. "It will make you fly as if you would be in the air and give you much better muscle memory of what your proper body position will be." ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

Should I bring weight to the tunnel? I am still a student and currently don't fly with weights but was wondering if I should bring some to the tunnel. I do have a habit of floating a little bit. My average freefall speed was 107mph but on the last jump I got it increased to 114mph. Was thinking that not having the weight would cause me to work harder on my adjusted fall rate, and I also want to learn how to fly my body before adding weights. But someone told me that I should bring weights with me. I also will be jumping my own jumpsuit that will be in right before I leave. It has modified booties and I also have been told this might give me some lift. So the question is weights or no weights? ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

I do stay on the ground very often...the coaches and instructors will say it's fine for me to jump, lower winds...Yes, they know I back up in winds...and I say NO, I am not comfrotable with the winds (I know how the canopy flys with me) and will stay on the ground. I have no problem with staying on the ground. There is always another day to jump. ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation

that is why I plan to slowly downsize and take a canopy course...Where I jump we have tons of fields, many outs...I accidently jumped a 235 (they changed canopys and never marked the rig...DZO was pissed) I landed between a hanger and plane on that one, new where I was going to land and no that plane was not running that day, but that was a tight spot for a student...I have had several off DZ landing with the canopy I am currently jumping....Crossing highways to land in a field...Over trees to make a field (learned how to move myself over to cross the shorter trees on that one) I DON'T INTEND ON RUSHING THINGS...I am first thinking maybe the middle of summer on jumping it if the downsizing goes well. That means a minumin of 20 jumps on each smaller canopy.. thanks for everyones concen. ******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation