ebusto

Your expectations are unrealistic, as Krisanne mentioned. If you're just beginning to fly on your feet, you almost certainly won't be ready to start head down after 2 to 3 hours. If you are a natural, you might be able to start head down after 4 or 5 hours. Most tunnel instructors and coaches want to see competence (i.e. are you safe?) on your back and belly as well, not just on your feet. You likely won't find a stranger who is qualified to coach willing to do so for free. Driving to the tunnel, briefing, debriefing, etc. take a considerable amount of time. Flying with a less experienced student isn't the same as flying with someone of equal experience. Some coach their friends for free, because they are friends. If you combine your time (to maximize rest time) with experienced flyers, you may get some impromptu free coaching. To coordinate with other flyers, you can join the Bay Area Tunnel Fliers Google group. Some of the tunnel instructors at iFly SF Bay will provide coaching while they instruct your session. Unless you make arrangements ahead of time though, there is no guarantee you'll get an experienced instructor, and they're not obligated to coach. If they do, tip well.

Mine is definitely more comfortable than it was originally, presumably after it has "loosened up."

I sent them an e-mail about their very strange pricing structure. I didn't bother mentioning that their rates are significantly higher than Paraclete XP.

This is good advice. As another point of reference, check out pictures of various top freefly teams: SoCal Converge, AZ Arsenal, etc. You'll notice their suits aren't baggy.

I'm a regular at iFly SF Bay. PM sent with coach suggestions.

It is his home DZ, and he does one on one coaching.

Are the lead times still 4 weeks? I just finished designing mine and filling out the order form.

I can think of 3 ladies from Northern California alone with less than 700 jumps each who were on the HD record. I want to see this happen. Where do I sign up?

For an inexpensive suit, check out FireFly.

I've got one on order with Paragear. It should arrive in the next week or so.

Squat.

I've encountered the same thing, multiple times. I remember being checked off on front flips to my head, hopping in, transitioning, and promptly slamming my ass into the glass. Yeah, it sucks. Try something new. Have you trained 2-way or 4-way VFS? Flown at very slow speeds, i.e. where sit flying is a challenge?

This feature really excites me: "The ability to wear certain glasses beneath the visor" I've been hunting for a full-face that lets me wear my glasses, to no avail. Maybe this will be the one. I have a few other Cookie helmets and they're fantastic.

Are you suggesting he fly 10 minutes straight? In my experience, you learn more effectively when you get a moment to catch your breath and reflect between rotations. My preference when flying 10 minutes is to do so in a 30 or 60 minute block.

As much as you can afford. Or, start with 15 minutes. Try to fly those 15 minutes in an hour block so you have plenty of rest time. Make sure you inform your instructor that you are an AFF student, and they will structure your training appropriately.

It took me at least an hour to get sit to head front flips checked off, and even then I would randomly under rotate and put myself into the glass for a while after. Same with cartwheels. Back flips were a lot easier. Around here they start people out with front flips, but I believe it is generally agreed that back flips are the easiest of the sit to head transitions, so you could simply focus on that for a while. Four minutes a week isn't really enough to progress on any skill. Try ramping it up for a few weeks and see if you break through.

I want to attend but I'm having a hell of a time getting someone at work to cover for me.

I suspect you are looking for this: http://tunnelflight.com/.

Thanks Marcel, good stuff!

Could you elaborate on how "both groups are wrong"? I can't comment on people with a ton of hop and pops thinking they are sky gods, since most folks I know that primarily focus on canopy flight are realistic about their freefall skills. I do know people with a non-trivial amount of tunnel time, but not necessarily a lot of jumps, and their freefall skill is definitely representative of the effort they have put in at the tunnel. I'm referring to people with only a couple of hours up to a couple tens of hours of tunnel time.

Yes, get a good quality and correctly sized suit now.

Everything Drew said is correct in terms of the experience required to build successful vertical formations. However, don't let that discourage you. The key to having fun yet being safe when you're inexperienced is by sticking to small groups. You don't need to do a 10-way (or even a 4-way, which for a belly jump is modest in size) to have a great time.

I also like that footage, because I'm in it!

Yup.

A few random shots.