RoryJ

I think that JP put it best with this. Horseshoe malfunctions do not just happen, they are the result of a chain of events. Try to break that chain on the ground, in the plane, etc. before you step out. If you do find yourself in the midst of them, have a definitive plan of action and put it into action, but be ready for anything. You DID just have a horseshoe happen to you. And I love how emergency procedures that have been developed from years of experience are so summarily challenged by newer jumpers. More time gives more chance of fixing a situation, so I am not going to let a (fallible) computer decide my fate at 750 ft. I will be the master of my own destiny, thank you. Not again!

In CA, of all places, I have found the lowest octane for cars for about $1.85 and tickets for upjumpers just went down to 22.50 from 24. It blew me away to see that happen. Not again!

I concur, JP. Not again!

Since no one has yet to answer this question, I will field it. If by soft handle we are talking about a pillow/pud handle, the advantage is that no one can hook their fingers in your reserve handle accidentally. I suppose that they are not allowed in some countries because they think that people's hands are more likely to slip off in an emergency situation and will not be able to attain that nice, two-thumbs-through kind of pull you can on a D-ring. I have two rigs, one with a D-ring, one with two pillows. I honestly want to change over to both being pillows, especially because my D-ring reserve handle is VERY prominent and I always have that lingering fear of someone accidentally bumping into me and dumping me out on my reserve from a sitfly. Not fun. Not again!

How about not trying to cram a parachute that is way too big into a container? That should be the first step. Infinities are notorious for being tight at the top end of their size range, so it is not going to happen. Not again!

I did some AFFI training in Paraclete XP which gives you a decidedly large amount of room to chase a student in. My friend wore a dummy rig and I did a shit-ton of roll-overs and stop spins. When it came to the course they were quite easy. All you have to do is stay close enough to just go in there and perform the needed maneuver. It is good for peace of mind on a few things, if you think that your belly skills are less than 100%. Not again!

The motors that were intended for this tunnel are currently powering Skyventure Dubai. So, yeah. It would be awesome if it ever happened, but it pretty much is not happening at this point. Not again!

The other biggest advice that I can give to you is to REALLY LISTEN to the instructor that you get. Open your mind up totally to what they are going to teach you. And yes, make sure that it is an experienced RW flyer or preferably an AFF-I that you are going in with, not just a tunnel rat, so that they can teach you according to what you learned so far and will be expected to do in the sky. RELAX! Smile, enjoy yourself. Not again!

I throw an arch on exit, to be sure, but my freeflyer tendencies allow me the mental freedom to get ready to wrap a student up at any moment or to simply fly the exit in whatever position is really suited best at that moment. While in drogue fall I will usually have a soft arch. If they are potato chipping and have their legs straight out, then I give them the old pull-up-the-legs, push-their-hips-forward-with-yours. Not again!

If I had the money, I would gladly try to hit that 100 hour goal with you, Brad. Alas, there is no way that I will have that much money within the rest of my life. Not again!

The tunnel is amazing, but all you really need to do is: 1) Relax 2) Get those knees together 3) Actively point your toes out to the horizon What about your arch have you been practicing at home? Have you been practicing correctly? Some hints that I give my students: You already mentioned the clench the silver dollar method. Also, think about Thanksgiving dinner and how you sit on the couch after you eat. THAT is the arch that we are looking for, pelvis forward. Has anyone emphasized that it is not arch, but HIPS DOWN that we are looking for? The problem with guys is that you ask them to arch and they push their chest out, which is not what we are looking for at all. Squeeze those butt cheeks, keep that chin up and arch for glory! Another thing that you can try to dial in the knees a bit: stand up nice and straight with your knees shoulder width apart, where they belong. Now, go down onto your knees, then onto your belly. Lift those knees off the ground while pointing your toes as hard as you can and you will have a better idea. Add the resistance of a couch under your feet, pushing down to get the feeling of the wind pushing up and how that will pitch your body and you may get a clearer picture. If any of this helps, please let me know. AND RELAX! Not again!

If I am correct, the Storm was to replace the Lightening, which was notorious for its lack of flare power, AND the Spectre. But skydivers are very brand/name conscious, so the Spectre may be around for longer than expected. We just got a Storm 190 for the rental gear at the DZ that I work at and the people that have jumped it seemed to rather enjoy it. Not again!

So, does anyone know any contact info for potential employment? I love Montreal and if I could work there, even better. Plus, it sounds like it will be a pretty sweet tunnel. Not again!

Kris is definitely good and can ultimately take you off of the net on your head, if you get that far. Emmet is the bomb dig, too. I flew with him a bit a few weeks back. If you want to outsource, TJ Landgren is flying out in NorCal now, too. He has a few tunnel hours and does coaching. Not again!

Tell them the truth. Why would you lie? Like the other responses have mentioned, explain some of the reasons why. I also like to reinforce the fact that they ARE jumping out of a plane. We have made great technological advances in the sport over the past few years, but what we are doing still is dangerous. Not again!

Re: the potential Philly tunnel... I was told that the person that has the licensing rights sold the fans that he had purchased to some wealthy individual that wanted to build a tunnel, but did not want to wait for fans, sooooooooooo the Philly tunnel seems on hold for an even more indefinite time, no clue what is happening with Xanada's tunnel(s). Not again!

I was jumping without a helmet when I first started throwing drogues, but then after more than a few students liked to stand up a bit too much in the door way, sending my now-bloody head into the sliding door, I started to wear one. Having the dytter in there was a nice bonus, too. Better safe than windy. Not again!

The more up-jumpers in the low numbers that I speak with I try to really instill in them that they should develop a strong basis of belly flying skills before moving onto freeflying because it really does help you get better with the latter discipline faster if you know how to fly your body in general. However, remember: we have a generation of tunnel rats that are coming up. So, they may already be able to turn 10+ points on a two way with their instructor coming out of AFF in the coming years. So, perhaps it is a progressive idea, if we look at what we may be looking at in the near future. Not again!

During the summer they are not as busy, but for an amazing view, I cannot say enough good stuff about Sebastian, FL. And just based on being biased, Cross Keys is a blast on the weekends and they will have a nice array of aircrafts this year. Not again!

I have heard that some folks have had issues with the SSS with the HC7, but was this a problem that anyone has had with other cameras that also list is as a feature, like the HC28, 38, 48, 52, or 62? I am in the market for a camera and obviously would prefer one that does not have issues with image shudder. Little help from anyone in the know? Not again!

Mick is good for sure, but I personally really like Selwyn. He has such a huge, goofy smile and can teach (and fly) like a mofo. Chris Grey is a great coach, too. Pretty much anyone that works at that tunnel is amazing, seeing as they snatched the creme de la creme from every other tunnel that was in operation at the time. Not again!

So, April 3rd I will be leaving beautiful PA for sunny CA. I look forward to spending plenty of time in iFly SF Bay, but on the way cross country I was looking to drop by CO and UT's tunnels. Any locals want to do 10-15 minutes of two way freefly madness? I would be in CO around the 12th-13th, UT the 13-14th. Drop me a message on here or PM me if so. Show me some good times in your home tunnel! Not again!

Looking good in there, sir. Now I just have to show you the video of my HD in there from later on in the night. Thanks for joining us last minute. Not again!

I was in the AFF course with Eric and I can say that it is not the RATING itself that is necessarily too easy to get, but it could be those that are administering the course that may make it too easy. There are standards in place. Could they be raised in order to make sure that there is an even higher potential standard coming into the course? Sure. However, the real onus lands in the lap of the course director who is signing off on the rating card. Bram ran a good course. It was well laid out, had a lot of good information and definitely made me feel more confident to go out there and teach the upcoming skydivers that I will be dealing with on a daily basis very soon. The evaluators (Nathan and Elly) that helped out were also very knowledgeable in their own respects and helped provide alternate views and pointers to help we fledgling AFF-Is. So, in short, the rating being easy should not be the biggest question, but rather the person who approves skydivers for their rating. If you want to make the requirements higher, fine, but have it with good reason, so that better candidates will really come out of the ratings courses. Not again!

So, I am looking to go for my AFF rating soon and I want to be properly challenged and really earn the rating. Anyone have any advice of the best person to go to and why? I have heard good stuff about Bram, have looked into Skydive U. Not again!