Skydiving for beginners - Things to know before taking the jump
If you are getting ready to experience skydiving for the first time this article will be useful for you. There are a couple of tricks that can make you seem experienced, even if you are not. So, let us take you through a crash-course in skydiving.
A look back
To begin with, everyone is impressed by men who seem knowledgeable. Knowing the history of the sport and a few interesting facts can get you a long way in public admiration. Just be careful, not to overstretch, especially if you are not that well informed. Try to keep things casual and fun, you wouldn’t want to seem like you are boasting your intelligence.
As one might expect, there is a lot of dispute surrounding the first person to skydive. One of the main contenders is Captain Albert Berry who jumped out with a parachute from an airplane and landed successfully. But another name that gets a lot of credit is Grant Morton, whose feat dates back to 1911 when he jumped out from a Wright Model B in California. However, the first recorded free fall supposedly goes to Leslie Irvin in 1919, whilst the competitive form of the sport can be traced back to around 1930. It is important to note, that World War II, especially, had a great impact on the evolution of the sport. During war time, there were significant improvements made to the parachutes, as these were frequently used in military moves.
And now some fun facts:
- the highest recorded skydive of over 102,000 feet belongs to Captain Kittinger
- Georgia Broadwick (nicknamed “Tiny”) was one of the first parachute testers
- during the Cold War skyhooks were used to parachute people out of the Arctic, this basically means that they were parachuted upwards. A helium balloon was used to elevate a rope high into the air, where it could be intercepted by an aircraft, that would then bring up the person from the other end of the rope. This was first tested on pigs.
A step by step guide to skydiving
There is no better way to look like a pro, even if you are not, than knowing the procedure and technical details. To begin with, you should be aware of the fact that there are licensed skydivers, like your instructors, who have been certified by a board. There are different levels of certification, in the USA these are from A to D, each with specific criteria to fulfill (you can read more about this here). If you are unlicensed, you will make a tandem jump with a licensed professional, which basically means that you will be tied together and will be in safe hands.
Of course, before anything else, you need to go to a skydiving center, which are usually based at an airport within driving distance from a city. Some even offer accommodation at the airbase. But more on accommodation here The best budget-friendly places to go skydiving. Also, you can read more tips about the preparations you can make prior to the jump here.
1. harness and training
- the harness is customized to each person, it is chosen and fitted based on body size and shape
- the instructor will go over the procedures, before embarking on the adventure
2. the flight
- the airplane ride can last anywhere up to 30 minutes, until you reach the right altitude for the jump
3. the jump
- before the jump the instructor will quickly double check everything
- the green light will signal that the time has come to make the jump
4. freefall
- will be somewhere between 20-60 seconds, depending on the altitude
- the stomach drop sensation is not really strong nor completely absent, people have associated freefalling to floating
5. parachuting
- the freefall is ended by the parachute deployment, initiated by the instructor
- this has a longer duration, and can last up to almost 10 minutes, depending on various factors
- you can have the opportunity to manoeuvre the parachute, but only with the assistance of your instructor
6. landing
- the instructor will direct the landing
- there is a landing pattern to follow, similar to aircrafts
- all you have to do is lift your legs for a smoother landing
- a helpful tip for landing is to focus your sight on the horizon, rather than on your feet
Extra tips
1. the body
Do a couple of pushups or a short exercise routine before the jump to prepare your body for the freefall. This will make your muscles feel loose and more relaxed for what is to come.
2. the mind
You should also try to keep your cool, appearing calm (at least on the outside) will make everyone feel more at ease with a rather scary, but fun, experience. Not to mention, that maintaining your composure will also make you seem in control of the situation and more sure of yourself. If you are with people who express their fear with what is going to happen, try to reassure them as best you can, but without being patronizing. Remember and remind them that you are in the hands of experts. If you get nervous try out some relaxation tricks, like breathing techniques, meditation, talking, or whatever works for you. Try to make the most out of the experience, take it all in.
3. the banana
During the freefall it is recommended to become a banana. In other words, curving your body to mimic the shape of the banana is the ideal posture for tandem freefalling. Focus on making your belly button the closest point of your body to the ground. The good thing about this is that you can even practice this at home and then it will come easier for you during the jump.
4. the talk
It can be very helpful if you can find an experienced skydiver to talk with about the experience. But if you do not have access to such a person, you can always rely on forums, watch videos, or read blogs. This is a great way for you to manage your expectations, not get over excited and most of all know what to expect.
5. the experience as a whole
You should keep in mind the fact that your skydiving experience is not limited to the above mentioned 6 steps, it starts well before that and can continue afterwards. Try to make the most of it as a whole, all the prior preparation that goes into it, the atmosphere at the drop zone, the socialization and barbecue following the jump. It would be a pity to shrink down the adventure, so stick around the drop zone before and after your jump, you will meet interesting people and will have the opportunity to share exciting stories.
The first time you go skydiving will certainly be an experience to remember, so try to take it all in. The best way to make sure that you are able to do this and also not make a fool of yourself is preparation. Do some readings on the topic, inform yourself (this article is of course a good start), know what to expect and what is what. But another important aspect is to prepare your body and your mind for the experience. So, take your time and do not rush things, skydiving is more than just a 60 second freefall.
A look back
To begin with, everyone is impressed by men who seem knowledgeable. Knowing the history of the sport and a few interesting facts can get you a long way in public admiration. Just be careful, not to overstretch, especially if you are not that well informed. Try to keep things casual and fun, you wouldn’t want to seem like you are boasting your intelligence.
As one might expect, there is a lot of dispute surrounding the first person to skydive. One of the main contenders is Captain Albert Berry who jumped out with a parachute from an airplane and landed successfully. But another name that gets a lot of credit is Grant Morton, whose feat dates back to 1911 when he jumped out from a Wright Model B in California. However, the first recorded free fall supposedly goes to Leslie Irvin in 1919, whilst the competitive form of the sport can be traced back to around 1930. It is important to note, that World War II, especially, had a great impact on the evolution of the sport. During war time, there were significant improvements made to the parachutes, as these were frequently used in military moves.
And now some fun facts:
- the highest recorded skydive of over 102,000 feet belongs to Captain Kittinger
- Georgia Broadwick (nicknamed “Tiny”) was one of the first parachute testers
- during the Cold War skyhooks were used to parachute people out of the Arctic, this basically means that they were parachuted upwards. A helium balloon was used to elevate a rope high into the air, where it could be intercepted by an aircraft, that would then bring up the person from the other end of the rope. This was first tested on pigs.
A step by step guide to skydiving
There is no better way to look like a pro, even if you are not, than knowing the procedure and technical details. To begin with, you should be aware of the fact that there are licensed skydivers, like your instructors, who have been certified by a board. There are different levels of certification, in the USA these are from A to D, each with specific criteria to fulfill (you can read more about this here). If you are unlicensed, you will make a tandem jump with a licensed professional, which basically means that you will be tied together and will be in safe hands.
Of course, before anything else, you need to go to a skydiving center, which are usually based at an airport within driving distance from a city. Some even offer accommodation at the airbase. But more on accommodation here The best budget-friendly places to go skydiving. Also, you can read more tips about the preparations you can make prior to the jump here.
1. harness and training
- the harness is customized to each person, it is chosen and fitted based on body size and shape
- the instructor will go over the procedures, before embarking on the adventure
2. the flight
- the airplane ride can last anywhere up to 30 minutes, until you reach the right altitude for the jump
3. the jump
- before the jump the instructor will quickly double check everything
- the green light will signal that the time has come to make the jump
4. freefall
- will be somewhere between 20-60 seconds, depending on the altitude
- the stomach drop sensation is not really strong nor completely absent, people have associated freefalling to floating
5. parachuting
- the freefall is ended by the parachute deployment, initiated by the instructor
- this has a longer duration, and can last up to almost 10 minutes, depending on various factors
- you can have the opportunity to manoeuvre the parachute, but only with the assistance of your instructor
6. landing
- the instructor will direct the landing
- there is a landing pattern to follow, similar to aircrafts
- all you have to do is lift your legs for a smoother landing
- a helpful tip for landing is to focus your sight on the horizon, rather than on your feet
Extra tips
1. the body
Do a couple of pushups or a short exercise routine before the jump to prepare your body for the freefall. This will make your muscles feel loose and more relaxed for what is to come.
2. the mind
You should also try to keep your cool, appearing calm (at least on the outside) will make everyone feel more at ease with a rather scary, but fun, experience. Not to mention, that maintaining your composure will also make you seem in control of the situation and more sure of yourself. If you are with people who express their fear with what is going to happen, try to reassure them as best you can, but without being patronizing. Remember and remind them that you are in the hands of experts. If you get nervous try out some relaxation tricks, like breathing techniques, meditation, talking, or whatever works for you. Try to make the most out of the experience, take it all in.
3. the banana
During the freefall it is recommended to become a banana. In other words, curving your body to mimic the shape of the banana is the ideal posture for tandem freefalling. Focus on making your belly button the closest point of your body to the ground. The good thing about this is that you can even practice this at home and then it will come easier for you during the jump.
4. the talk
It can be very helpful if you can find an experienced skydiver to talk with about the experience. But if you do not have access to such a person, you can always rely on forums, watch videos, or read blogs. This is a great way for you to manage your expectations, not get over excited and most of all know what to expect.
5. the experience as a whole
You should keep in mind the fact that your skydiving experience is not limited to the above mentioned 6 steps, it starts well before that and can continue afterwards. Try to make the most of it as a whole, all the prior preparation that goes into it, the atmosphere at the drop zone, the socialization and barbecue following the jump. It would be a pity to shrink down the adventure, so stick around the drop zone before and after your jump, you will meet interesting people and will have the opportunity to share exciting stories.
The first time you go skydiving will certainly be an experience to remember, so try to take it all in. The best way to make sure that you are able to do this and also not make a fool of yourself is preparation. Do some readings on the topic, inform yourself (this article is of course a good start), know what to expect and what is what. But another important aspect is to prepare your body and your mind for the experience. So, take your time and do not rush things, skydiving is more than just a 60 second freefall.
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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.