The Human Kite

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/63580/80_parachuters_pyramid/

It’s fun to talk about skydiving and parachuting and always try to master the greatest tricks and attempt new stunts. There’s so much to learn and know about skydiving that sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in technical talk and safety regulations, etc. but unless we are actually flying through the air, the actual reasons why we do what we do, the sheer joy and excitement, can sometimes be forgotten. But it’s when we come across rare footage such as this that we remember just how awe-spiring and beautiful this sport can be. Check out this YouTube video to see some of the most precise and stunning group work that you have ever seen!

Blindly Skydiving

A blind man was describing to a bunch of skydiving students one students how his very favourite sport was skydiving and how alive it made him feel. The students were clearly perplexed how someone with such a disability could even attempt a sport as daring as skydiving when one false move could really end his life. Completely impressed, one student asked him how he made his dives. 

‘Well, I do have everything done pretty much for me,’ the blind man explained. They position me in the door and tell me when it’s the right time to jump. Before that, they place my hand on my ripcord so that I will have it even before I go. Then I’m off to enjoy my jump!’

Still in awe, another student asked, ‘But how do you know when you’re about to land?’

The blind man smiled softly. ‘What I get in return for my loss of sight is a keen sense of smell and hearing. This lets me hear when things are getting closer and I can smell the top of the trees before I get to them.’

‘But how do you know when to lift your legs for your final landing position?’ the student pressed on.

To this the blind man replied, ‘Oh, the dog’s leash goes slack.’

The ABC’s of Skydiving: I

In Date: This term is used to describe a reserve pack that has been fully packed. If it was packed prior to 120 days before the jump, it is considered to be ‘in date.’ If it was packed over 120 days ago, it’s considered to be ‘out of date’ and it is illegal to use an out of date pack.

Instructor: To be considered an official skydiving instructor, one must have had a jumpmaster rating for at least one year and must also have completed and passed an Instructor Certification Course.

IPC - This is an abbreviation for the International Parachuting Commission, which oversees  sport parachuting. The commission is a sub-committee of the FAI.

Freestyle Diving

Many people, especially inexperienced skydivers, believe that freestyle skydiving simply means jumping out of the plane and enjoying the feeling of the wind rushing against your face. While it’s true that this is the main benefit of freestyle skydiving and something that you should definitely take some time to enjoy, going into freestyle skydiving without having at least some basic moves under your belt could mean spinning out of control or getting caught in a position that is difficult to get out of. Here are some basics that you should know before attempting the awesomeness that is freestyle skydiving.

First, you always want to practice in a skydiving tank before trying it out from a plane. These tanks are simulators that will allow you to experience what it will be like up there without any of the danger, should you make a mistake. The first position you should try to attempt is the face-down position. With this technique, the diver’s entire body is facing the ground. It’s a very stable position and easy to get in and out of. A jumpmaster may actually get you into a position where you start to lose control so that you will be able to regain control in the air should that happen. If you don’t actually practice it in the tank, prepare yourself simply by talking it through with the instructor and visualizing it in your head so you won’t panic in the air. If you feel confident enough to get really fancy, try doing a back loop. You can do this by lying on your back and then slowly turning your head and body backward. Don’t worry if you only make it halfway through the loop, it’s still a freestyle skydiving move!