NeedToJump

We must know very different tunnel rats then. I understand and follow your logic, but I disagree with it. I've been very heavily involved in tunnels for close to 5 years now and I know a lot of people who became tunnel rats with zero or very few jumps. A lot of them have gone on to become fantastic skydivers and very few of them have tried to downsize too quickly. Most of them are very conservative canopy pilots. Again, I personally think that the attitude that causes people to downsize too quickly and not listen to people telling them to slow down has absolutely nothing to do with tunnel time and everything to do with the person him or herself. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Stevie Wonder singing The Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting...) Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Ok, I take the word "everything" back. I'll change it to "get a jumpsuit with the same options that the top teams have." That means booties (not necessarily vented) and big grippers. I agree with this: Giant grippers may be a fad, but they are used by every single top team in the world (that I know of). There's a reason for that. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Why not? He's asking about an RW suit. Why wouldn't "experienced RW" input apply? Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Again, I completely agree with this. If buying a new jumpsuit, get everything with it. If buying a used jumpsuit then be extremely picky. I do a lot of coaching and I've seen way too many people buy used RW suits that don't fit well. Most of the time the booties are too big which results in effectively not having booties. Occasionally the suit is too small which can severly limit range of motion. I've also 'sold' two used jumpsuits - both were given away for free. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

I don't think it is a necessity to have the big grippers, but it will be if the jumper decides to get into 4-way. I believe it's about an extra $20 to get them. It will cost a lot more to replace the existing grippers with big ones or to get a new suit entirely later on should the need arise. Why does your 4-way team not like their big grippers? I've never, ever heard anyone complain that grippers were too big before, only too small. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Why is this such a common assumption? I've known lots of people who started out as tunnel instructors / tunnel rats before ever making a jump and none of them have rushed through their canopy progression. I also know a ton of people with zero tunnel time who have rushed through their canopy progression. Some are still around, some are not. I completely agree with Baksteen: This attitude has nothing to do with how much tunnel time a person has. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

I completely agree. If you are going to get a custom suit, get one that will last. I went through 2 "beginner" RW jumpsuits before getting a "real" one. Looking back, I don't feel that a gained anything by doing this instead of going straight to the "real" one. Get a good suit with all the options and get some tunnel time.

Very cool video Brian. It looks beautiful out there

I think what the kids have accomplished and are continuing to accomplish is fantastic. I can't wait to meet and fly with them at some point

I might be able to make it as well. It's only about 10 minutes from me. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Cool, thanks for the clarification! Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

In the above case, once the clock starts I assume it keeps running? Or do you stop the clock each time a flyer gets out of the airflow and resume the clock each time a flyer gets back in? Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

It depends on where you go, if you get coaching, who the coach is (if you get coaching), where you are starting from and most importantly - you're attitude. The only way to accurately answer your question is to do 3 hours of tunnel time and see where it gets you. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

As others have said - if you're looking for the view then go to Sebastian. When will you be in Florida? Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

I believe that PD reserves are the best reserves out there and, if I have to use a reserve, I want the best one there is. It's my life and it's worth it to me. I've had two reserve rides on PDRs and they were extremely easy to fly and land. I know the amount of R&D that goes into making them and the testing they go through. I won't settle for anything less when it comes to my reserve. Extreme? Sure. Uninformed mind control? Nope. I'm well aware that they are completely different. I trust my life to both of them. Why do I have to choose between them? I currently own two PDRs and am getting an Optimum for my new rig.

Skymama had some good advice for getting to as many Florida DZs as you can. The big three to visit in central Florida are DeLand, Sebastian and ZHills. Definitely make sure you check those three out. Give Sebastian a call about doing beach jumps while you're there too.

I just can't stay current enough on the Navigator; it's too big to bring into the tunnel I can definitely bring more cookies I hope the weather starts cooperating in Sydney. I want to see how the PD boys do on the velo 2

Then why do you still own it? I don't understand why people settle on something they don't like when it comes to a reserve. Do you really want something you don't like or can't land well as your last chance? I agree with Fast about being PD snob. I've tried a lot of main canopies but have only ever owned PD. I will not jump a rig that doesn't have a PD reserve in it; it's just not worth it to me. I want to know that if I have to use my reserve, it is going to work and fly well. I don't just want a reserve that will get me to the ground alive, I want a reserve that will get me to ground in the same condition I was in when I left it. PDR or Optimum for me, thanks

I don't think so. Any manufacturer would want to get their R&D money/investment back... You do realize that Kolla works for PD, right? I think she knows what she's talking about So Kolla, what do I need to do to try one of these out? Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

Generally, you want to share the time with other people so you can all rotate who is flying in the tunnel. You can split a half hour between two people or an hour between 3 or 4 people. This will give you time to rest your body inbetween sessions as well as debrief and brief. My recommendation is to call the tunnel where you are planning on flying and ask them who the established coaches are. Get in touch with a coach and let them know what you'd like to do. Have fun!

Enjoy AZ, you'll have a blast! Definitely get in the tunnel while you're out there too

If it's a Wednesday when I'm not working, I'm all for it. I think the only Wednesday I'm off is during the XKeys Invasion and Sebastian is already planning on doing daily beach jumps during the boogie. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

It's Scott Miller, not Steve. Give him a call or send him an email. He does 1-on-1 canopy coaching. You don't need to wait for him to have a course scheduled. Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

December is part of the busy season in DeLand. The weather is usually jumpable all day every day so you will be able to jump as much as you want 7 days a week. Average temperatures that time of year are 50s-70s. Cold nights can get down in the 40s. Weekdays they will probably have 1 plane running all day. Weekends will be 2 or 3. The regulars will be jumping. If you get a chance, try to check out the other central Florida dropzones as well. Sebastian and ZHills will be very busy on weekends and both are great dropzones. Sebastian has an amazing view. I live in Orlando so feel free to PM me if you have any questions.