Cliff jumping - Easy-peasy Safety Tips for Beginners
The sensation offered by cliff jumping is quite intense and it’s fairly easy for anyone to try it out. It all starts with a simple step, followed by a free fall, broken only by the surface of the water. Plummeting into the water is quite an invigorating way to end such a rush and nothing compares to your first breath of fresh air, after resurfacing. The jump point is usually located over 10 meters and can go as high as 28 meters.
Although when you start jumping from 20 meters it is highly recommended to have medical personnel nearby. Cliff jumping is really not a sport for anyone faint of heart or that has a fear of heights or water. However… it can work as a shock therapy, if you can just take that one step into the abyss below.
Now, things are not quite as scary as they might sound. This sport is not a complicated one, all you need to do is get onto a cliff, bridge or any other high place and jump into the water below. Pretty simple, right? But there are a couple of things that any jumper should keep in mind in order to ensure his safety. After all, cliff jumping is one of the most dangerous extreme sports out there. Jumpers always expose themselves to possible bruises over their body, dislocated joints or even worse bone fractures, spine injuries; paralysis and even death. While, the risk of any of these cannot be completely eliminated, it can be significantly reduced. We will go through these and also reward you with some tips that will significantly improve your game.
1. Practice, practice, practice
Before you go big, you need to start small, as small as a swimming pool. Practice your jumps in a friendly and safe environment, so that you become accustomed to it. If you have the opportunity, you could also try out a trampoline, in order to get a feel for the heights. There are small risks even at the swimming pool. To begin with, you should always test the depth of the water before you jump in. Second, avoid jumping head first, most accidents occur like this. Professional divers train for years and have medical personnel nearby, in case the worst happens. Just try to keep things simple and practice the body position and landing pose recommended for cliff jumping.
2. Make sure the location is right
There are a couple of things to keep an eye open for, when you scout for your cliff jumping location. Either you or your friends can swim around the water and search for any problematic things, like hidden rocks or any other objects that could hinder your safe landing. Remove the ones that you can. Furthermore, check how easy it will be to exit from the water following your jump. The best way is to pick a well-known location, do a quick search to see where others have jumped before you. Also, talking to locals is always a good idea, especially since the conditions can change over time. Not to mention that the tide is something to always take into account as it has a direct effect on the depth of the water.
READ ALSO: A Crash Course in Wakeboarding for Beginners
Beside the water, the ground is also something that is in need of a close examination. There should be no obstructions to hinder your jump. If you find branches, rocks, anything that can be moved, move them. You will need a considerable area of clean space in order to gain momentum for the jump.
Another element that might be easily overlooked or underestimated is the wind, yet this places a crucial role in landing. Even the slightest nudge can affect your concentration or balance, not to mention that it can move some new obstacles in your path, even if you have previously cleared the scene. Make sure to check wind conditions prior to the jump and if it is too windy out there, it is best to postpone for a calmer day.
3. Social support
Cliff jumping is no child’s play. It will go a long way if you can have all your friends nearby. To begin with, they will be offering you moral support, because trust us, you will need it. Everyone has second thoughts when they are standing at the edge. But some insider jokes cracked here and there will immediately make the atmosphere less tense. Also, your friends can be very useful in making sure that the chosen area fits with safety standards. They can get involved in checking and clearing the ground; diving into the water to see and move any possible obstruction. The more people get involved in this aspect, the faster it will be solved and the safer it will be. Plus, as a bonus, at the end you will be resurfacing surrounded by their cheers and the celebrations can begin.
Extra Tips
1. Body and mind
When you are standing on the edge of a cliff or bridge, there will be a lot of emotions building up inside of you: excitement, fear, anxiety… keeping them in check will be the hardest part of the experience. Make sure that you are prepared for the jump, both in your mind and body, as it will certainly take its toll on you.
First the mind. Make sure that you are relaxed and focused. A good night’s sleep can go a long way and really help in this department. Also, there are many relaxation methods and solutions you can choose from, like meditation or breathing techniques. Feel free to browse around until you find the one that suits you best. However, taking a couple of deep breaths just before the jump can be extremely helpful. Mental visualization is also a popular technique used by many sportsmen. All you need to do is imagine the jump as clearly as possible, paint the scenery and think about how you would execute the perfect jump. As for your body, doing some light exercises or stretching will get your muscles relaxed and ready for what is about to come.
2. Body position
When it comes to breaking the water surface, the ideal way to do this is being straight and piercing the water with your feet. The smaller the surface of impact is, the better. Focus on keeping the right body position throughout your jump, just remain straight and with your arms close to your body (try clenching your palms tightly and as close to your hips as possible). You might be tempted to try landing in the water head first, like in diving competitions, but this is not a good idea in this context. The impact from such great heights would simply be too much, the shoulders, arms, neck and head would be exposed to a lot of pressure that will likely lead to serious injuries. Also, focus on squeezing all your muscles in order to produce a “rip” on entrance, this means little or no splash but instead a loud noise.
3. Don’t get over-ambitious with your rotations
Mid-flight rotations are a whole lot of fun, there is no denying it. But, if you overdo it or underdo it, the result can be just as dangerous. Landing on your stomach or your back, instead of piercing the water with your feet, will exercise a huge impact on your spine and it may cause injuries. Some divers reach speeds as high as 60-70 mph during their freefall and hitting the water at this speed can be more similar to hitting concrete if you do not break the surface of the water accordingly.
4. Protect your ears
The altitude you are situated at or the pressure of the water following impact can take a toll on your ears. But it is easy to solve this issue, simply put in some ear plugs or a few drops of olive oil before the jump.
5. Protect your feet
It is recommended to wear water shoes or sneakers, well basically anything you want. This will protect your feet from scrapes and grazes, as the surface bellow the water might not be so smooth.
Last, but definitely not least, consider taking some classes with a trained instructor to cover the basics before you attempt a daring feet. This way you will learn all there is and know you are in safe hands. Finally, when all the preparation and safety checks are made, there is just one thing left to do, and that is to make the most of the experience. Going cliff jumping is a great opportunity to bring your friends together, they can help you prepare and will be your cheerleaders. All in all, it will be an extra fun adventure if you are surrounded by people close to you. Also, ask one or two of them to take photos, or better still, film the event. It will be something worth watching over and over, after the event when you are back home.
Although when you start jumping from 20 meters it is highly recommended to have medical personnel nearby. Cliff jumping is really not a sport for anyone faint of heart or that has a fear of heights or water. However… it can work as a shock therapy, if you can just take that one step into the abyss below.
Now, things are not quite as scary as they might sound. This sport is not a complicated one, all you need to do is get onto a cliff, bridge or any other high place and jump into the water below. Pretty simple, right? But there are a couple of things that any jumper should keep in mind in order to ensure his safety. After all, cliff jumping is one of the most dangerous extreme sports out there. Jumpers always expose themselves to possible bruises over their body, dislocated joints or even worse bone fractures, spine injuries; paralysis and even death. While, the risk of any of these cannot be completely eliminated, it can be significantly reduced. We will go through these and also reward you with some tips that will significantly improve your game.
Cliff jumping for beginners - Safety Tips
1. Practice, practice, practice
Before you go big, you need to start small, as small as a swimming pool. Practice your jumps in a friendly and safe environment, so that you become accustomed to it. If you have the opportunity, you could also try out a trampoline, in order to get a feel for the heights. There are small risks even at the swimming pool. To begin with, you should always test the depth of the water before you jump in. Second, avoid jumping head first, most accidents occur like this. Professional divers train for years and have medical personnel nearby, in case the worst happens. Just try to keep things simple and practice the body position and landing pose recommended for cliff jumping.
2. Make sure the location is right
There are a couple of things to keep an eye open for, when you scout for your cliff jumping location. Either you or your friends can swim around the water and search for any problematic things, like hidden rocks or any other objects that could hinder your safe landing. Remove the ones that you can. Furthermore, check how easy it will be to exit from the water following your jump. The best way is to pick a well-known location, do a quick search to see where others have jumped before you. Also, talking to locals is always a good idea, especially since the conditions can change over time. Not to mention that the tide is something to always take into account as it has a direct effect on the depth of the water.
READ ALSO: A Crash Course in Wakeboarding for Beginners
Beside the water, the ground is also something that is in need of a close examination. There should be no obstructions to hinder your jump. If you find branches, rocks, anything that can be moved, move them. You will need a considerable area of clean space in order to gain momentum for the jump.
Another element that might be easily overlooked or underestimated is the wind, yet this places a crucial role in landing. Even the slightest nudge can affect your concentration or balance, not to mention that it can move some new obstacles in your path, even if you have previously cleared the scene. Make sure to check wind conditions prior to the jump and if it is too windy out there, it is best to postpone for a calmer day.
3. Social support
Cliff jumping is no child’s play. It will go a long way if you can have all your friends nearby. To begin with, they will be offering you moral support, because trust us, you will need it. Everyone has second thoughts when they are standing at the edge. But some insider jokes cracked here and there will immediately make the atmosphere less tense. Also, your friends can be very useful in making sure that the chosen area fits with safety standards. They can get involved in checking and clearing the ground; diving into the water to see and move any possible obstruction. The more people get involved in this aspect, the faster it will be solved and the safer it will be. Plus, as a bonus, at the end you will be resurfacing surrounded by their cheers and the celebrations can begin.
Extra Tips
1. Body and mind
When you are standing on the edge of a cliff or bridge, there will be a lot of emotions building up inside of you: excitement, fear, anxiety… keeping them in check will be the hardest part of the experience. Make sure that you are prepared for the jump, both in your mind and body, as it will certainly take its toll on you.
First the mind. Make sure that you are relaxed and focused. A good night’s sleep can go a long way and really help in this department. Also, there are many relaxation methods and solutions you can choose from, like meditation or breathing techniques. Feel free to browse around until you find the one that suits you best. However, taking a couple of deep breaths just before the jump can be extremely helpful. Mental visualization is also a popular technique used by many sportsmen. All you need to do is imagine the jump as clearly as possible, paint the scenery and think about how you would execute the perfect jump. As for your body, doing some light exercises or stretching will get your muscles relaxed and ready for what is about to come.
2. Body position
When it comes to breaking the water surface, the ideal way to do this is being straight and piercing the water with your feet. The smaller the surface of impact is, the better. Focus on keeping the right body position throughout your jump, just remain straight and with your arms close to your body (try clenching your palms tightly and as close to your hips as possible). You might be tempted to try landing in the water head first, like in diving competitions, but this is not a good idea in this context. The impact from such great heights would simply be too much, the shoulders, arms, neck and head would be exposed to a lot of pressure that will likely lead to serious injuries. Also, focus on squeezing all your muscles in order to produce a “rip” on entrance, this means little or no splash but instead a loud noise.
3. Don’t get over-ambitious with your rotations
Mid-flight rotations are a whole lot of fun, there is no denying it. But, if you overdo it or underdo it, the result can be just as dangerous. Landing on your stomach or your back, instead of piercing the water with your feet, will exercise a huge impact on your spine and it may cause injuries. Some divers reach speeds as high as 60-70 mph during their freefall and hitting the water at this speed can be more similar to hitting concrete if you do not break the surface of the water accordingly.
4. Protect your ears
The altitude you are situated at or the pressure of the water following impact can take a toll on your ears. But it is easy to solve this issue, simply put in some ear plugs or a few drops of olive oil before the jump.
5. Protect your feet
It is recommended to wear water shoes or sneakers, well basically anything you want. This will protect your feet from scrapes and grazes, as the surface bellow the water might not be so smooth.
Last, but definitely not least, consider taking some classes with a trained instructor to cover the basics before you attempt a daring feet. This way you will learn all there is and know you are in safe hands. Finally, when all the preparation and safety checks are made, there is just one thing left to do, and that is to make the most of the experience. Going cliff jumping is a great opportunity to bring your friends together, they can help you prepare and will be your cheerleaders. All in all, it will be an extra fun adventure if you are surrounded by people close to you. Also, ask one or two of them to take photos, or better still, film the event. It will be something worth watching over and over, after the event when you are back home.
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A student of life and probably for life. She likes putting theory into practice and to challenge norms. Currently on a mission to understand human behavior and interaction. Always on the lookout for the next challenge.