| The Basics For Beginners | | | | typically lasting about 30 minutes, you will then |
| First and foremost, you may want to find a truly | | | | jump out of an airplane while strapped to the |
| and reliable skydiving school. It can be a good idea | | | | chest of a professional Tandem Instructor.After |
| to ask for a good reputation one.This is a quite | | | | three or four of these jumps and completion of |
| easy task to do. The best places to start seeking | | | | the approved First Jump Course (ground school), |
| on them are local airports, internet and phone | | | | a student may then move on to the next level. |
| books. Since skydiving is one of the more | | | | Tandem jumping, however, does provide an |
| expensive sports to learn, you must decide how | | | | opportunity for the adventurous spirit who may |
| you want to learn and then you to check your | | | | not quite meet the physical or proficiency |
| pocket book. | | | | requirements for the static line or accelerated |
| There are three methods of training: | | | | free fall jumps. By relying on tandem instructor's |
| Tandem | | | | skills, it may still be possible to experience the |
| Static line | | | | extreme thrill of skydiving. |
| Accelerated Free Fall (AFF). | | | | Static Line |
| All of these methods have their benefits and | | | | Static line skydiving was developed by the military |
| drawbacks, but we will touch more on those a | | | | as a safety measure for paratroopers.It is used |
| little later. | | | | for instant and reliable deployment of parachutes |
| What to do First? Safety and Heath tips. | | | | at a relatively low altitude, about 2000 - 3000 |
| The first thing to do is to consider health and | | | | feet.Basically what happens is a specially designed |
| safety.Know the risks involved before you get | | | | cord is attached to the plane and to your |
| involved.Skydiving is not chess; you will not be | | | | parachute.As you step away from the plane, the |
| sitting on an uncomfortable concrete bench | | | | cord immediately deploys your parachute for you. |
| moving your pieces around a game board.You are | | | | No fuss - no muss. After about two of these |
| going to step out of an airplane and, in freefall, will | | | | jumps the student begins demonstrating |
| reach speeds of up to 250 feet per second... that | | | | mock-pulls of a dummy ripcord.After about three |
| is 110 miles per hour!!If you have a bad ticker, | | | | of these jumps the student is then ready for |
| unregulated high blood pressure, or any number of | | | | their first free fall. |
| other health problems, speak to an instructor and | | | | Accelerated Free Fall |
| discuss your options in detail.Also keep in mind, | | | | This is the way to go for the adrenalin junky out |
| even the best of the best in this sport | | | | there.Why?You get to free fall from jump one!!Of |
| sometimes hit the ground a little harder then they | | | | course this method is a little more expensive due |
| intend to.So, bad knees may also be a | | | | to the fact that you will have two instructors |
| consideration.DO NOT be afraid or embarrassed | | | | jumping with you, and, although you will be in free |
| to discuss these things with your instructor | | | | fall, the instructors will maintain hands-on contact |
| before making that first jump. It is always | | | | at all times during free fall.After a few jumps like |
| preferable to hit the ground safely then to plant | | | | this, you will begin doing it on your own with a |
| yourself in it.Truthfully though, with the proper | | | | single instructor giving more advice and |
| preparations and instruction you would be more | | | | training.This method will get you your class a |
| likely to develop cataracts from reading t!his | | | | license a little faster. |
| article then suffer a serious injury from | | | | When my first jump is completed? What to do |
| skydiving.Listen to your instructors, know your | | | | after the first class |
| equipment, and never assume you know how to | | | | After you have completed 4 to 5 hours of |
| do something just because you saw it in a movie. | | | | ground school training and have made 25 jumps, |
| Training Methods. Which Training Method To Use? | | | | you are qualified for a license and can keep going |
| As I researched information, I discovered that | | | | all the way to your D license, requiring 500 |
| there are three approved methods of training to | | | | jumps.But once you have your license, are you |
| become a licensed skydiver, the Tandem jump, | | | | really done?The answer to that question is no.As |
| the Static jump, and the Accelerated Free Fall | | | | with any skill, you never learn everything.There is |
| (AFF). | | | | always going to be that next skill level to work |
| Tandem | | | | towards.New equipment and techniques are being |
| The tandem jump is the easiest and quickest | | | | developed every day.So the only thing left to do |
| method to get into the air.With ground training | | | | now is to get started!Have fun and good jumping! |