Preparing For Your First Tandem Skydiving Experience? 3 Ways To Get It Right

Posted on: 16 June 2021

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When you go skydiving, generally, you are not going to jump out of the plane on your own the first time. Instead, you are going to engage in a tandem skydiving experience. With a tandem skydiving experience, you will be attached to a more experienced skydiver who will have the bag attached to their back.

1. Wear the Right Clothing

First, it is important to wear the right clothing. You are going to want to wear clothing that is slightly tight or well-fitted. That is because if you wear something that is loose when you are flying through the air at high speeds, that clothing is going to flail and flap like crazy and can be distracting from the overall experience. You don't want to wear too loose clothing or clothing that has anything that can hang down and flap.

You also need to wear closed-toed shoes; tennis shoes are generally some of the best shoes to wear. You don't want your shoes to fly off on your jump, and you don't want to stub your toes when you land. You want shoes that will stay on your feet in the sky and that you can lightly run in and cushion from a jump when you land.

2. Don't Jump on an Empty Stomach.

It is natural to be a little nervous about skydiving, but that doesn't mean you should jump on an empty stomach. That can make you feel light-headed or dizzy and compromise your ability to complete your jump. At the same time, you don't want to eat a huge meal and jump out of the plane twenty minutes later.

Eat a regular meal a few hours before your jump. You should drink lots of water, though; this will help you from feeling fatigued and keep you alert on the flight and jump. Don't drink alcohol; it will not make the experience better and can put your tandem partner's safety at risk.

3. Learn About Body Position

With a tandem jump, it is essential to remember that the instructor is taking a risk by jumping with you. Respect that risk by learning about the proper body position to maintain during the fall and when you land.

When you fall, you are going to want to work to maintain a belly-to-earth position. This will help keep your speed consistent and will allow your instructor to deploy the parachute safely.

As you get ready for the fall, go over your landing. Your instructor, as the one in the back, should touch their feet down first. This will help protect both of you from injury. Talk with your instructor and ensure you are on the same page with body positions.

Dressing correctly, eating normally, and working on body positions will enhance the experience of your first tandem skydiving experience.