How long till you started flying off the net on your head?
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So, I'm sort of feeling like I've hit a wall here, hehe...I've got about 9 hours in the tunnel, all freeflying, with the last two being focused on hd. I'm still not flying off the net, and it's pretty much frustrating the hell out of me. Normally, I pick things up pretty quickly, and this has just been a long painful process. It took me an hour to get off the net sitflying, and once I got it, that was it, I got it, and then just worked on body position/flying with people, etc. from then on. (But I was sitflying before I got to the tunnel already, and I've never flown head down in the sky).
I'm still not 100% aware of what my body is doing in an upside down position, I think I'm flying it right, but, after I watch the video of my flailing, clearly I'm not. . Maybe that's the problem? I mean, I definitely see improvement and progression with every session, but it seems to be taking forever! Meanwhile, I've been neglecting other things, I tried backcarving last night, which I could consistently do like a month ago, and which apparently I can't do anymore.
Anyone had similar experiences? Was there a point where you just got it? How long did it take? Any suggestions?
P.s., I work with some of the most amazing tunnel coaches out there...which makes the whole thing even more frustrating, because I feel like I should be getting it that much faster!!!
Re: [Emmie] How long till you started flying off the net on your head?
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I got off the net after about 3 to 4 hours of hd training. For me, it just finally clicked and I was off the net, but I still have a long ways to go to be a proficient hd tunnel flyer.
Normally the fans are not super fast, to prevent you from hurting yourself if you cork out. The problem with slow speeds is that you really need to work your legs to get enough lift. If you look stable/balanced on the net though, I think the operator will slightly increase the speeds to help you out.
The good news is you can probably fly head down in the sky without corking, although, it might take a few jumps to get adapted.
Re: [Emmie] How long till you started flying off the net on your head?
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I spent an hour this past weekend getting off the net, but I'm still sort of tethered to the coach. As soon as he lets go I tense up and stop flying. I have about 6 hours total, 3 of which are HD.
Yeah, I hear you on the frustration thing. It's just a plateau, and it just takes time and practice to get to the next step. Part of it is building the muscles, part of it is muscle memory, part of it is relaxing and flying instead of thinking...
I wish I knew how to make it go faster, but tunnel time is all good time. You're learning whether it shows or not. Have you tried getting a coach and getting on your head in the air? I found that helped my confidence immensely. I can relax better in the air than the tunnel, so flying was easier. Plus you don't have to be perfect, and can have a great skydive with only a couple of docks. I always find myself mentally getting down on myself in the tunnel -- "Damn it, I know I can do this, wtf?!"
Stick with it. Eventually it'll click, same as anything else.
Re: [hparrish] How long till you started flying off the net on your head?
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Took me about 2 hours to get off the net with no previous HD experience (I think that might have actually helped having no bad habits)
I have just over 6 hours most of that sitflying.. I probably tried the front flip to HD transition at least 100 times before it finally just clicked. I still don't have the most stable base yet but im working on range of motion and some turns. I think ill need another few hours just to become comfortable with a nice neutral relaxed position.
Re: [punkd] How long till you started flying off the net on your head?
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I dont mean to get off topic, but some of you have 9 hours of tunnel time!? How the hell are you affording that, or do you know of discounts I do not? I am planning on doing some tunnel time this winter, but am only going to be able to do it once, for an hour, because the price is so steep. Im jealous haha
Re: [Will_Evo] How long till you started flying off the net on your head?
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The 9 hours are since last December, flying about 15 minutes a week....It's normally 12$ a minute, so it's still expensive as hell, and took a lot of sacrificing of things I normally would have spent that money on...like food for example...The tunnel I fly at (and I think most of them do as well) offers discounted rates for memberships, which helps keep it from being astronomically expensive. If you split your time with someone else, that also helps. Of course you have to get to the point where you can fly in there with other people first.
Re: [Will_Evo] How long till you started flying off the net on your head?
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I dont mean to get off topic, but some of you have 9 hours of tunnel time!? How the hell are you affording that, or do you know of discounts I do not? I am planning on doing some tunnel time this winter, but am only going to be able to do it once, for an hour, because the price is so steep. Im jealous haha
-Evo
Yeah...the 'league' and membership rates offered by some tunnels help.
Additionally, flying with other people is key. I wouldn't have 17 hours' tunnel time if not for my 4-way team. Probably about 6 hours of that is league time, and the rest is 4-way. An hour is much less expensive when split 4 ways.
A problem with freeflying is that it takes a lot of solo time to get good enough in the tunnel to fly with others & start dividing your costs. That's why the league is great - it gives you a regular excuse to go in and work individually on sit/HD/back/transitions, a well as solo belly drills to work on your precision.
On another note, I think the best way to get cheap individual time is to look for some of the tunnels at different boogies during the summer months. I know SVCO was doing that this year, selling 15-minute blocks of coached time for a great price.
Re: [punkd] How long till you started flying off the net on your head?
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Man, you flying hd very well! I wish I could do this. I finnaly lift of the net and held it for a few seconds at the time. I think I have ~2h of hd training( I really don't count my tunnel time) total of about 4-5h and very spread out. Only go there once or twice a year. That doesn't help for sure. Man I am so stoked and can't wait to go there again and try to improve on newely learned skill! Hope it's sooner than next year :) good luck to everyone! Man it's frustrating at times and hard to keep the moth from cursing out myself :)
Re: [Emmie] How long till you started flying off the net on your head?
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I think you can learn just as much "on the net" as "off the net". What's the rush?
I struggle with my awareness in the tunnel and tend to "tense up" off the net but my tunnel coach said that's normal. There's sooooo many good drills to do while still on the net at a slower airspeed.
Why not do those drills first before getting lift off? 360's, switch daffy, 360's are one of my favorite drills. The other one I really like is being held by 2 TI's in an accordian just off the net while I work on my forward/backward. Finding my "stall point" is another favorite.
The guys that got kicked off the last record will tell you that flying super strong in slot is really important. If you think you're stable, have the TI's push you around a bit - see how you counter and react.
I don't think you need to rush getting off the net until you have all the basics down. (I don't mean you personally, just in general.)
Re: [katiebear21] How long till you started flying off the net on your head?
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You are right! It just feels like such a big accomplishment once you lift off on your own.Instructor told me the next step would be to stay on the net and learn other inputs like switched daffy etc which will help in a long run as opposed to being limited by one hd position.
. Maybe that's the problem? I mean, I definitely see improvement and progression with every session, but it seems to be taking forever! Meanwhile, I've been neglecting other things, I tried backcarving last night, which I could consistently do like a month ago, and which apparently I can't do anymore. 
which makes the whole thing even more frustrating, because I feel like I should be getting it that much faster!!! 
