The First Skydive Experience

Upon arrival at the jump center, all jumpers will be required to fill out a registration form and sign a liability release before jumping. This release will verify that the person understands that there are risks involved in skydiving and that the participant freely agrees to accept those risks. 

Upon completion of ground school and before the first jump, it is common practice and good teaching procedure for all students to be required to pass written, oral and practical tests. Written tests are designed to have the student explain his/her knowledge and understanding. Oral tests should be used to develop decision-making ability. Practical tests are designed so the student can demonstrate reactions and skills.

A person should be in good health and physical condition to skydive and should not be on medication which could affect judgement or performance. Some medical conditions can be properly managed if the instructor knows about them. People who have recently gone SCUBA diving or donated blood should wait a period of time before skydiving.

All participants to be at least 18 years of age.

Approach the aircraft, whether the engine is running or not, ONLY under the direct supervision of a USPA instructional rating holder. Always approach a fixed-wing aircraft from behind the wing.

You'll sit on the floor or a bench, very close to the other skydivers, likely between their legs, and with the next jumper between yours. Get as comfortable as you can. Follow your instructor's instructions on buckling and unbuckling your seatbelt. Enjoy the view!

Tradition varies from dropzone to dropzone, but skydivers usually give each other a handshake of some kind just before exiting. This is to wish each other a good, safe and fun skydive. 

As a student, you'll probably be one of the last skydivers to exit. It might be intimidating to see everyone else jump out, but take a deep breath and relax. 

Freefall is one of the most exciting, adrenaline-filled experiences you're likely to ever have. The feeling is different for everyone, so check out the testimonials from people just like you, with one exception—they've fallen towards the earth at 120 miles per hour!

Parachutes are also called "canopies" in skydiving. There are many different types and sizes of parachutes. 

Sadly enough, there comes a time when the fun is over, but landing a skydiving parachute can be part of the fun. You might see advanced skydivers "swooping" at your drop zone—landing at a high speed, skimming the ground just inches above it, or dragging their toe through a "swoop pond." Student canopies are big and docile, which makes them much more forgiving when learning landing maneuvers. 

Skydiving can be an intense experience. What happens when you're done? For some people, the mere thought of their skydive gets their heart rate up and the adrenaline going again, even days or months after they jumped! This can be a very positive thing; if you can jump out of a perfectly good airplane, you can do anything!  So, what do you do with this newfound passion? 

Congratulations on making your first skydive! You’re now part of a special minority of the population—not many people have what it takes to go to a drop zone and actually jump out of an airplane! All of us who skydive know exactly how you feel now. It was the most exhilarating and liberating thing you have ever done—EVER! Since the day of your first jump, the sky is bluer, the grass is greener, people are more interesting, and life is better. Now what? You can keep skydiving. You can have that heart-pounding, life-affirming exhilaration every time you jump, which explains why many people (who only planned to make one jump) take up skydiving as a sport, hobby and even lifestyle.