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!