Exhilarating. The ultimate rush. Thrill of a lifetime.
For those who have jumped out of an airplane and plummeted toward earth in a skydiving freefall, words seem to be inadequate to describe the experience.
You just have to try it they say. And, who has not thought of doing just that? You’re never too old. Former President George H.W. Bush did it to celebrate his 75th birthday, then again on his 80th.
There are a few things to consider before taking that first big step, to make sure that the experience is rewarding and that you get everything out of it that you can.
1. Choose a certified instructor
Go online and do your research. Make sure that all instructors at a diving club or commercial skydiving establishment are certified. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions to help you be comfortable with the idea of that first jump.
2. Check the safety record of instructors and pilots
Before you do your skydive, you want to make sure that they have a good safety record, and that you know everything you can about them. Don’t be afraid to hang around for awhile and ask experienced jumpers what they think of the airplanes, the pilots, the instructors and the rental equipment.
3. Decide whether to jump tandem or solo
Beginners are encouraged to take a tandem jump( as President Bush did with a highly qualified instructor). Tandem jumps are a great way to get an introduction to the sport.
They allow the learner to gain an understanding of the sport with an experienced jumper. A tandem jump consists of an experienced jumper called a “Tandem master” and his or her passenger - you.
The passenger and tandem master each wear a harness. The passengers’ harness attaches to the front of the master’s harness and the two of them jump together from approximately 14,000 feet above the ground, free fall together for 65 seconds, open the parachute together, and land together under one really big parachute. A tandem jump requires anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes of additional ground preparation.
Tandem jumping avoids the time, expense and effort of the more in-depth training required for solo jumps.
If you decide you want to do a solo jump for your first experience, you will have to take an instruction course and you will probably be required to use a static line. A static line is attached to the airplane and to the jumper’s chute. The line pulls open the parachute as soon as you leap out of the plane.
If you do a tandem jump, you jump with an instructor who is going to do all the work. You will just go along for the ride.
4. Make sure that you understand everything
Before you decide to sign up for your first jump, be sure you understand every instruction you are given.
Don’t go up without a full understanding of the steps to the jump. You certainly won’t gain an understanding of the thrill and rush of the experience, but you should be well aware of the sequence of events in your jump, the timing, how to land and whether or not it helps to scream on the way down.
Take your time. Assure yourself that the person who is instructing you is answering your questions fully and not rushing you.
If you don’t feel comfortable with the way it’s going, don’t go. Wait awhile, go to another jump school, or just keep asking questions of those who are already experienced jumpers. They are such an enthusiastic bunch, you’ll probably have a hard time shutting them up.
5. Then what?
If you enjoy that first skydiving experience , think about getting instruction and personal certification.
You should be aware, though, that it can be a very expensive sport. That is something you will really want to consider before paying for training, jump gear, parachute, airplane time and many miscellaneous charges.
If you take the big step, you will probably be the one searching for superlatives to describe your experience.
For more information visit the web site below.
Jay Marsh is a writer-researcher with more than four decades of journalistic experience. His publishing company, Info Innovations LLC, offers in-depth information about everyday matters and concerns. There’s a lot more skydiving information for you at his web site: www.info-innovations.com/skydiving You can learn much more there to help you decide whether skydiving is for you.
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