Synapse 0 #1 December 26, 2003 Hey guys, I recently went through the wind tunnel AFF course at Skydive University in DeLand, Fl and just wanted to share my experience with their training in case anyone else out there is “up in the air” so to speak about where to go for AFF training or is having problems with traditional AFF courses like I did. Its also a good chance to just say hi and let everyone in on my skydiving background. First, a little history about my experiences skydiving before going to Skydive U., before deciding to come to Skydive U I did 2 tandem jumps and 3 traditional AFF jumps at my local DZ (SC). Almost every one of the AFF jumps felt like somewhat of a disappointment since I seemed to be messing up my body positioning a lot in freefall. This problem became abundantly clear on level 3 when my JMs released me to do 90-degree turns on my own. Well that didn’t go so well. I made one turn during the entire jump… a left one… a very fast left one, which I let distract me from being aware of my altitude and went past my pull altitude of 5,500 ft. I finally pulled at around 4,300 ft. after getting the pull signal from one JM as I spun past him. The main deployed without a problem and I piloted it down to a safe landing. After that I almost gave up on skydiving thinking it must just be beyond my capabilities. After cooling down from it for a little bit I decided to give it another try, but only after getting time in a wind tunnel, so I contacted Skydive U. after reading about them online. From the moment I started talking to the guys there they assured me that the tunnel would clear up any control issues I was having, so I scheduled my training time and headed down to FL as soon as I could get away from work for a few days. The first day I was in FL there were issues with the tunnel, so we didn’t get to go there that day, but rather than waste a day the instructors at Skydive U changed the plans and went through a large part of the ground schooling. The next day we headed straight to the tunnel first thing in the morning and got started early since we had already covered the ground school portion the day before. The tunnel was amazing, period. With each of the 20 minutes I was given with the package deal I was making leaps and bounds towards much more stable and controlled flight. The instructor made sure to always point out the GOOD things about each of my time slots in the tunnel rather than harping on the bad was really enthusiastic, so by the end of the tunnel time I was ramped up and ready to go jump, which we did as soon as we were done. After training on the ground for quite a while, the first jump went pretty good besides a little instability on exit, which I attribute mostly to nerves since it was my first jump coming back to the sport. After we stabilized and I did my PRCPs my 2 JMs released me to do my 90 degree turns, which I actually did this time rather than spinning uncontrollably! This was a much welcomed change. The debrief was thorough and once again focused on what I did correctly rather than constantly harping on mistakes, although they were brought up and discussed. This seemed like a very good balance to me that kept me with an overall good feeling about the jump. For the sake of time and space I’ll shorten this to say that the rest of the jumps went just as well as the first and I completed the course of 8 jumps (3 of which were coaching jumps) without having to even come close to repeating any levels. Also, since control in freefall was no longer such a big deal (i.e. problem) the instructors could place additional emphasis on canopy control without having to worry about overloading me with information and I was able to fly and land the canopy without any assistance from the radio after the first jump. The chance of flying myself in at my original DZ in SC on my second skydive wasn’t even thought about since so much emphasis had to be placed on body positioning and so little was given to canopy flight. All in all I was very pleased with Skydive University’s (www.skydiveu.com) teaching methods (positive reinforcement, clear goal setting, etc.), their knowledge of what they were teaching, the course layout, and the attitude of the instructors. All of which are very important to the success of any “teaching” program, so I would definitely suggest those guys to anyone having problems with traditional AFF courses or that’s just looking for a great place to get quality training at a very good price. Note: In no way am I trying to blame the problems I had in regular AFF on the jumpmasters I had or their techniques, I am no where near being qualified to make that judgment. All I know is that for me personally the training at Skydive U seemed to be more effective. -Syn PS: Sorry for the ungodly length of this post, I tend to babble! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bskyz 0 #2 December 26, 2003 Welcome to the community!! Blue ones Dave My site... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Mixoligist 0 #3 December 27, 2003 Nice post Lee, SDU rocks and now so do you. see you at the DZ Bob.................................. Better you than me .................................. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites czechbase 0 #4 December 27, 2003 I always encourage new students to take advantage of the wind tunnel here in Malaysia and almost everytime they go for their first freefall, they are extremly stable. We get them to do practice waves and pulls in the tunnel and if they mess it up there, it's a lot safer plus they can counter really well when they go for a real freefall. Good one! Spend more time in the tunnel, it'll help you more in the air. If you can backfly and do a little bit of freeflying in the tunnel, even better Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites riggerrob 643 #5 December 27, 2003 czechbase, Please post a clicky link to the Malayasian wind tunnel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites czechbase 0 #6 December 28, 2003 http://www.geocities.com/blackbearskydive/windtunnel.html Njoy! www.motavi.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites CharlieAt 0 #7 December 28, 2003 Hi Rob, We were there begin 2003, and used 18 hours of flight time. A great bunch of guys running the place, we had a total blast there. Quite a shock too, as it is in the middle of an indoor amusement-park. Cons: it is on top of a mountain at 1800m (5400'). I would recommend 4 way only with old suits, as you will spend quite a bit of time on the net. Freefly/style only for pretty light people. Skyventure Genting http://www.genting.com.my/en/themepark/indoor/skyventure.htm A few more photos http://www.charlie.at/cgi-bin/Images.cgi?Where=200302Genting charlie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites sducoach 0 #8 December 28, 2003 The only way to fly!! Who did you work with? Blues and Congrats! J.E.James 4:8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Synapse 0 #9 December 29, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome guys... much appreciated! QuoteThe only way to fly!! Who did you work with? Blues and Congrats! J.E. Three instructors mostly: Rob Laidlaw - tunnel instruction and first jump Chromy (not sure of his real name... this is what everyone called him) - first jump Joao Tambor - remaining 7 jumps All of these guys were really great to work with and made the whole process go really smoothly. Also just this weekend I made a somewhat last minute decision to drive to DeLand and with very little notice at all these guys were able to hook me up with an instructor (Pete) to do a refresher jump on the first day I was there. -Syn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. 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bskyz 0 #2 December 26, 2003 Welcome to the community!! Blue ones Dave My site... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mixoligist 0 #3 December 27, 2003 Nice post Lee, SDU rocks and now so do you. see you at the DZ Bob.................................. Better you than me .................................. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
czechbase 0 #4 December 27, 2003 I always encourage new students to take advantage of the wind tunnel here in Malaysia and almost everytime they go for their first freefall, they are extremly stable. We get them to do practice waves and pulls in the tunnel and if they mess it up there, it's a lot safer plus they can counter really well when they go for a real freefall. Good one! Spend more time in the tunnel, it'll help you more in the air. If you can backfly and do a little bit of freeflying in the tunnel, even better Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #5 December 27, 2003 czechbase, Please post a clicky link to the Malayasian wind tunnel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
czechbase 0 #6 December 28, 2003 http://www.geocities.com/blackbearskydive/windtunnel.html Njoy! www.motavi.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CharlieAt 0 #7 December 28, 2003 Hi Rob, We were there begin 2003, and used 18 hours of flight time. A great bunch of guys running the place, we had a total blast there. Quite a shock too, as it is in the middle of an indoor amusement-park. Cons: it is on top of a mountain at 1800m (5400'). I would recommend 4 way only with old suits, as you will spend quite a bit of time on the net. Freefly/style only for pretty light people. Skyventure Genting http://www.genting.com.my/en/themepark/indoor/skyventure.htm A few more photos http://www.charlie.at/cgi-bin/Images.cgi?Where=200302Genting charlie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sducoach 0 #8 December 28, 2003 The only way to fly!! Who did you work with? Blues and Congrats! J.E.James 4:8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Synapse 0 #9 December 29, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome guys... much appreciated! QuoteThe only way to fly!! Who did you work with? Blues and Congrats! J.E. Three instructors mostly: Rob Laidlaw - tunnel instruction and first jump Chromy (not sure of his real name... this is what everyone called him) - first jump Joao Tambor - remaining 7 jumps All of these guys were really great to work with and made the whole process go really smoothly. Also just this weekend I made a somewhat last minute decision to drive to DeLand and with very little notice at all these guys were able to hook me up with an instructor (Pete) to do a refresher jump on the first day I was there. -Syn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
