NeedToJump

If the NorCal girls are going then I'll have to put together a pick up team and go too... I'd love to get out there for it. It I can make it work, I'll be there.

I'm getting into PHX on Thursday 10/16 at 1:50PM. Anyone else getting in around that time want to share a ride to Eloy? Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

I'm really curious who responded to this poll saying freeflying in the tunnel does not help in the sky. Freeflying in the tunnel absolutely does help freeflying in the sky as long as you are getting quality instruction. Sure, if you just jump into a wind tunnel and try to freefly without knowing what you are doing or having anyone help you, it probably won't help. But the same thing is true in the sky. Freeflying in the tunnel and the sky are not the same, but the tunnel will definitely help. The more you do, the more it will help. Look at Derek Cox who was on the freefly world record with about 300 jumps. He still had to exit, dive to the formation and dock on it (I believe he was last out of the plane too.) Everyone I know who has done freeflying in a tunnel has said it has helped them in the sky (and I know a LOT of people who have been freeflying in a wind tunnel.) I learned how to freefly in tunnels. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Kim, thanks for running a great competition! I had a blast and will definitely be there for any competitions in the future. Haley and Trey should do a 2-way team at the next one. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

The Louie Loop risers are a very different design than standard risers. You can't just modify the regular risers into the Louie Loop risers, you have to buy a new set. It's not just the dive loop that is different, it's the construction of the whole riser. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

I agree with what you said completely. If you land in the main landing area, follow the first person down. If you don't like their pattern / direction, land somewhere else. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

As I see it, this is a backup rule to setting the landing pattern and direction on the ground. What happens when the first person down lands in a different direction than the agreed upon landing direction? Should the second person down follow the first person or follow the original direction? I think you should have a plan for what you are going to do before boarding the airplane, but be ready for anything. If the first person down lands in a different direction, everyone should follow that new direction and then talk to the first person when you're on the ground. There are cases where the first person down could announce before getting on the load "I'm going to be first down and I'm going to land downwind so don't follow me." In that case, follow the second person down. It's better for everyone to land in the same wrong direction, then have a few people try to land in the right direction and fly a conflicting pattern. Winds shift and people make mistakes. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

The $45 gets you two flights lasting one minute each. The whole experience takes about an hour including the class, your flight time and everyone else's flight time in your class. That specific intro to flying deal for $45 is also more of a tourist ride than something that will help you with your AFF. The tunnel is fantastic for learning how to fly. If you want to use it to help with your AFF, then I'd recommend getting a 10 or 15 minute block with coaching. I believe SkyVenture Orlando offers an AFF coaching package that includes tunnel time and coaching. I'm not sure the specifics of it, you'd have to contact them for more details. There are also a lot of outside coaches (like me) who coach students at the wind tunnel. Usually whatever dropzone you are doing your AFF at has instructors who will also work with you at the wind tunnel. Since you live in Orlando, I'd guess you'll be doing your AFF at either DeLand, ZHills or Sebastian. All three of them have instructors who can work with you in both the sky and the tunnel. If you pay for coaching at a wind tunnel, make sure you get a good brief before you fly and a video debrief after you're done. Feel free to PM me with any questions as I coach at the Orlando tunnel all the time. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

The freefly scene in Sebastian is great! There is high quality freeflying going on there most weekends. There's a really good crowd of locals and there are often organizers for all skill levels. We've got a VRW skills camp going on July 26-27. You should come check it out. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Ari Perelman and Chris Ash from Sebastian Tempest will be holding a VRW skills camp at Skydive Sebastian on July 26 and 27. There is no charge for the camp, you just have to cover slots. We’d like to focus specifically on 4-way VRW, but will be open to changing it to accommodate however many people want to do it. We’re up for doing as many jumps as you’d like to do, but want to shoot for around 6-8 per day. You don’t have to commit to both days or even a full day. If you want to do just a few jumps, that’s fine. If you want to do it the whole weekend, that’s fine too. PM me for more details. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

I recently switched from a Z1 to a Factory Diver and I love it. It fits much better and is much more secure. With the Z1 I had, if you pushed the sides in while wearing it, it would easily slide right off. I recommend a Factory Diver and getting a snap put on it. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Give them a call to see if they are hiring instructors. Go over there, talk to them and fill out an application. http://www.skyventurecolorado.com/ 303-768-9000 Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Bodyflight Bedford - http://www.bodyflight.co.uk/ Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Glad you enjoyed it! Which tunnel did you fly? Chances are the instructors at the tunnel will be able to give you some tips and basic advice. Don't expect them to coach you if you're not paying for coaching, but ask them and ask local instructors at your dropzone. You're going to learn a lot more talking to someone in person about this, especially at the stage you're at. As for the principles of freefall movement - all of it is based on air deflection. Deflect air to the right, you move left. I strongly recommend getting some basic coaching to make sure you don't build in any bad habits. At least get 1 or 2 sessions coached. You'll learn the correct way and learn much faster. For the specific questions you asked, the reason you were higher off the net toward the end of the session is *probably* because either you were more stable so the controller increased the wind speed, or you were tired so you weren't arching as much. Without seeing video there's no way to know for sure. You go down by arching and up by dearching. The dearch looks similar to a cat when it stretches or someone getting punched in the stomach. Learn that before adding your arms and legs into it. You go down by arching more. The easiest way to do that is to relax (take a deep breath and exhale) and let the wind do the work for you. You can perform fine in the tunnel using the basic arch (I'm guessing you are referring to the boxman position) or mantis. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

http://www.tristan.tw/videos/Tristan&TonysuitsInEurotrashland.wmv Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

What transitions are you trying to do? Sit -> hd? hd -> sit? hd -> hd? Front flip, back flip or cartwheel? In general I'd recommend keeping the transition fairly slow and flying through the whole transition and not just 'throwing' it. Try to feel the wind throughout the whole thing and be aware of what you are doing with your body. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Let me know when you're around Orlando. I'm at the tunnel just about everyday so come say hi and I'll show you the good bars. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

The Hybrid XP guys are competing in 4-way RW and 4-way VRW (FS and VFS). They coach all of it. Kirk Vernor and Andy Honigbaum are also both there. They know a little bit about 4-way... I'll be out there this weekend too with my 4-way team. Come say hi

I highly recommend any of the Hybrid XP guys (Mick, Will, Plamer, Derek.) I've personally been coached by Mick and he is one of my favorite coaches I've worked with. All the staff there are fantastic coaches. You can't go wrong with any of them. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

I guarantee there is a ton you can learn from a 12 foot octagon. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

http://www.teamfastrax.org/ is a great resource for learning about 4-way. Download the Dive Pool PDFs and try to memorize what the formations are (start with the randoms.) Watch lots of 4-way videos. http://www.skyleague.com has lots of them. Try to figure out what the formations are. When you start recognizing the formations, pick a person and follow him/her through the entire dive. Try to figure out which "color" that person is on the Fastrax PDFs. Our team is going to be holding a 4-way skills camp in Sebastian April 26-27. It will be a great opportunity to learn a lot about 4-way and meet other people interested in doing 4-way. We'll be posting details soon about that. Our team tends to be at Sebastian a lot so just come up to any of us and ask us any 4-way questions you have. At the end of each training day, we usually put our videos on the big screen so grab a beer and come watch them with us. Try going to the tunnel with a coach who knows about 4-way Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Glad to hear you guys are enjoying it out there. Have fun and rip it up at Bedford! Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Sweet video! And to reiterate - Ray, you are definitely a bad ass. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Then there's the other side. I have about 1700 skydives and hundreds of hours in tunnels; most of it in SkyVenture Orlando. I've done a few hours in FlyAway Las Vegas and a just a few minutes in FlyAway Pigeon Forge. I absolutely LOVE both of them. Flying in that style of wind tunnel is not skydiving, but neither is flying in ANY wind tunnel. If you go to a tunnel and are open to what the staff at the tunnel has to say and just go expecting to have fun, then you'll have a great time. That's what tunnel flying and skydiving are all about anyway, right? Just enjoy it all for what it is.

I think the tunnel is a great way to introduce children to jumping. It's also great fun just as it's own thing. Children also tend to do very well with it - check out Team Future if you're not familiar with them. At Orlando, the rule is 3 years old and potty trained so I'd say 3 is a great age to introduce them to the tunnel.