wildernessmedic

Appreciate the advice. Thought a lot about it. Still undecided and will probably create a separate thread for that in a few months when he times right.

Fashion queen moment. I hate the dz jumpsuit. And I'm trying to get away from having to borrow/tie up gear. Most of my jumps are alone. Haven't done a coach yet. When I do I could always throw on one with grips right? Also kicking around buying a used rig... Yes at only 13 jumps. I know it sounds silly but the quicker I buy it the more I save in the long run. $20 saved a jump it I got a 2k one it would pay for itself in 100 jumps.

Free flying and eventually wing suiting

Finally have helmet goggles and altimeter. Looking at buying my first jump suit next month. Only looking to max $300. Looking at these three. Probably leaning towards the first. https://www.chutingstar.com/skydive/pittz-freefly-evolution-suit-3472 http://www.flitesuit.com/originalflitesuit.html http://www.flitesuit.com/bodysuit.html The flite suits are local enough to go in/ pick up. Any thoughts or suggestions on picking one? Any other good ones in that price range recommended? I'm a fan of black and want to avoid obnoxious colors

Thanks man! Just did a jump and was super relaxed. Worked on tracking// diving E-W turning back and forth a few times and stood up my landing nearly right on target! Loving it! More enjoyable each time. Think I'm hooked.

Here's one of the 5 sessions. Really happy with them and feel like there was a lot of improvement from last time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_QOEDC60Hc Thanks for the advice, glad I went and did it now rather than later.

No but you can clickify it.... sheesh kids these days Never had to do that. First forums i've been on that didn't all embedding! It was a nice dinner.

Wtf no embedding photos? http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q754/WildernessMedic/Spearfishing/ScreenShot2014-04-11at100851PM_zps92e67f0c.png

What do you consider staying current? I know what usps says is "current", but as far as learning and skills perishing..? Just 2 weeks and it's gone??

Hey, it's 12 now hahaha... Thanks. It is nice not being easy... Funny how many people think falling requires no practice or skill... Just got done. 15 minutes really helped. He cranked the power up this time where if I didn't arch as much as humanly possible I would I up. Really got a feel for the air this time. Great instructor. Side sliding, back, forward,up down, leg turns, and a little bit of transition from back to belly. Taught me how to fly and turn while in the deploy position. Hope it stays with me more. And definitely see how the tunnel could cause a serious injury once the speeds up on the fan and turning fast. I'm basically just a jackass, and can't wait to go back again.

No instructors with me anymore. Already have about 20 minutes tunnel time although only 5 are recent. I don't get it. I can get a good stable arch then the next time I'm like a piece of plywood. Check out 0:48. It's not great but I was decently stable with a good solid heading. Now... Gone. No consistency. Almost seem to work backwards....my final AFF was one of the least stable. 2 steps forward 3 steps back? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lIZxDQMnHI4

Doing 15 minutes of tunnel tomorrow. Really hope it helps. Kind of frustrated.... Jumped today. Of course it was still awesome, but idk why I had such a problem with my arch and stable heading still.... Arch didn't feel too bad besides being a bit head up... But I kept spinning. Felt pretty stable but constantly trying to stop spins. Tapped my toes, tried adjust. Just kept on having to initiate a turn in the opposite direction to stop. Forever stuck on a stable belly earth position.

Didn't take it as an insult, just it a chuckle at the meat missile comment while picturing "Flying high" in a tunnel haha... You think that flip was scary looking. You should see my AFF front half backflip thingy haha. Yeah, I understand the liability and why they can't. He (hopefully) made a mistake. But that was the second time that happened, which is why I specifically asked can I do it with him out not grabbing me. The first time they said the instructor was just new. Oh well, now I know and have that IBA tracker.

Which dropzone are you doing your training (assuming it's also in Northern California)? Depending on which one, there are skydiving instructors / coaches around who (if you arrange it in advance) could work with you in the tunnel so that what you do in the tunnel can complement what you're doing in your student program. Many of the tunnel instructors at iFly SFBay are not skydivers at all, or if they are skydivers, they are not skydiving instructors. Not a knock on them, but if you're looking to improve specific skills for skydiving, then it can be more helpful to work with a skydiving instructor who also has experience coaching in the tunnel. All that said, as others have noted, for 9 jumps you're looking fine. And I agree with the recommendation to skip the flips in the tunnel. Cloverdale. The free 15 minutes is supposed to be with iFlys lead instructor I believe. I was going to add on $100 while there since it's a long drive and they gave me the 15 free. No it didn't seem like any where skydivers. It felt like my mention of that was ignored, possibly scoffed at, and on to tunnel flying we go...Could be in my head, I don't know, but it felt like a tourist trap rather than a place to train. My AFF instructor sounded like he goes once in a while, but thought me going back might cause me to pick up more bad habits and suggested I wait.

You know i'd almost agree with you had I not called before making a couple hundred mile drive and clearly asked weather I could do that without any contact, and was reassured I could. Which was my main gripe with them. I understand the liabilities now but I was reassured I could. The guy at the counter even looked me in the eyes and said yeah I just said that it wasn't true afterwards. And I believe I have 20 minutes of tunnel time. It's just been spread out over many years and the last time I did AFF. Meat missile? I'm 4 feet off the ground wearing a helmet over a spongy net lol.... I don't see how holding on to me like that could prevent any injuries. If anything it seems like it might cause more. But that's irrelevant, now I know and will be focus more on the arch and smooth turns.

Shoes it is. Guess you're referring to my video intro. No those were pet rattlesnakes. Wasn't grabbing them, feeding time they struck the camera. The wild hawk however I was grabbing (not as cool I know...) Thanks. Music was meant to be ironic. He wouldn't need shoulder surgery if he backed off. I understand why back flying comes before flips in a tunnel. But I'm not trying to be a tunnel flier. I'll definitely work more on my arch. There I was trying to practice for my final AFF such included the flips.

Ok. Guess I have to buy shoes now.

Thanks will practice that way. Lose the boots even if I normally jump with them?

See the huge improvement between them. Also noticed somewhat early on in the first he looked like he tried to bring your arms in to not sink intoa the net. Ok, so truly relax. Had trouble understanding because on the ground practicing obviously you can't relax of you'd just be laying on the ground. I've been trying to stiff arm and leg it like I was holding a practice arch on the ground. I made sure they knew I was a student skydiver. Didn't seem to change much. Could be wrong but it seemed like they just blew that off. He kept calling it strafing. Side sliding left and right by dropping the elbow and knee to the side.

I'm confused, relax how? I see things like that other posts saying clench and tighten hips and thighs to hold he arch. Let everything loose, or keep some things tight and relax in a more psychological aspect?

Thanks guys. Guess I'll go practice. The tunnel I went to was ifly SF. Really wasn't happy with it. (2nd visit I left unhappy). Wrote a yelp about it and the guy called me and offered 15 free minutes with him coaching. While there I started gabbing the air like I was trying to go up because in my arch I was on the ground. He didn't turn it up so... Yeah. This time I'll sit there until he does I guess. I told him where I was in jumping and what my goals were. Seemed more focused on tunnel things like me learning to strafe rather than working on my AFF stuff. Here's part of it. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=onfrt9kjHtw

I'm a new skydiver. Just got signed off AFF and did 1 solo jump. (11 total jumps, didn't complete AFF a few years ago) Before my final AFF jump I went and did some tunnel time. My final jump was by far my worst arch. Stiff as a board, wobbly... It looked like I picked up some bad habit from the tunnel, like trying to grab the air to stay up. 1st solo felt way better, but still not good. I have 15 minutes of tunnel time to use. Should I use it and just keep in mind to watch out for bad habits like that, or wait until...? Is the key just to jump more until the arch is natural, or practice more on ground? When I practice on the ground I noticed my legs are getting asymmetrical a lot and have trouble correcting them. Advice? Jump more, use that tunnel time, practice on the ground more, or all of the above? I don't want to be stuck on a sloppy arch, i'd like to move on to more fun stuff.