{"id":1860,"date":"2023-11-08T06:01:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T11:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/startskydiving.previewthe.site\/?p=1860"},"modified":"2024-02-20T14:18:16","modified_gmt":"2024-02-20T19:18:16","slug":"how-to-prepare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/startskydiving.com\/blog\/how-to-prepare\/","title":{"rendered":"Tandem Skydiving: How to Prepare"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

So, you\u2019ve decided to jump out of an airplane. Now what?! The decision to go skydiving for the first time<\/a> is a big one, and it\u2019s like nothing you\u2019ve ever experienced before. That means knowing how to prepare yourself for skydiving might feel a bit overwhelming. How can you prep for something when you have no idea what to expect?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skydiving preparation can actually be broken down into a few, easy-to-digest categories \u2013 and how to mentally prepare for skydiving is one of the most important ones. Sure, skydiving is a physical activity with very real effects on your body, but your mind is the biggest barrier to consider. After that, everything else is easy peasy! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From what to do (and not <\/em>to do) the night before your jump to what to bring with you to the dropzone, knowing how to prepare for skydiving comes down to understanding what jump day will look like. In this short guide, we\u2019ll give you a rundown of how to prepare to skydive so you\u2019ll feel confident and empowered before you even get to the dropzone! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mental Preparation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your brain is the epicenter of all of your emotions, including the ones you\u2019ll feel while skydiving. Happiness, excitement, confidence, and fear (especially fear). Fear can have a significant effect on the brain and body, and can be difficult to overcome. That\u2019s why knowing how to deal with fear before jump day will make the whole process a lot more fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how do we quiet that little voice in our head reminding us to be afraid? Eliminate the unknown! The internet is an endless resource of information and media. Spend some time online watching videos<\/a> and reading up on other people\u2019s skydiving experiences. Just think about how much better you\u2019ll feel after getting a step-by-step glimpse of the process! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can also be helpful to read reviews<\/a>. First-hand accounts can go a long way in making you more comfortable with what you\u2019re about to do. And hearing what others have to say about the dropzone you\u2019re trusting with your first skydive will give you a sense of the level of service you can expect<\/a> on this most important of days!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve familiarized yourself with what\u2019s to come, it\u2019s time to dig into that brain a little bit. Give yourself the gift of mediation. Meet the moment as a friend \u2026 reflect on what you\u2019ve seen and heard and imagine leaving an airplane mid-flight. Visualize yourself skydiving and having the time of your life. Set the expectation that the jump will be amazing, and it will be! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Practice Makes Perfect!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Alright, so you\u2019ve got your mind right. How about your body? Skydiving will put you in all sorts of different positions, and maybe even some you\u2019ve never been in. Crouching, crawling, scooting, and arching are all regular occurrences when jumping from an airplane. Stretch your muscles and loosen up those joints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most important position you\u2019ll find yourself in during your skydive is called the arch position. Your instructor will go over this with you in detail, but you can get a little practice in ahead of time. There\u2019s nothing wrong with being a teacher\u2019s pet with something like jumping out of an airplane! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re in your arch, you\u2019re going to look a little bit like a banana. You\u2019ll be falling through the sky on your belly, and your hips will be the lowest point on your body. Your arms and legs will be pulled up and out so that they are a little bit higher than your hips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try this at home before you come to the dropzone. Lay on the ground on your belly and push your hips down. At the same time, lift your shoulders and thighs off the ground so that your hips are the only part making contact with the floor. You\u2019re doing it! See? We told you it would be easy! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self Care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few best practices to consider in order to make your jump day straight-up epic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eat a normal meal before you come to the dropzone. Nerves might make it difficult, but you\u2019ll be happy you ate in the long run. No one\u2019s ever performed their best on an empty stomach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drink plenty of water, too. Dehydration is the mega-enemy of good times. Not having enough water on board will encourage dizziness and a feeling of instability. Drink up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even the night before is important. Don\u2019t go out partying and drinking, as much as you might want to celebrate this incredible milestone or lock in some liquid courage. Save the festivities for after<\/em> you\u2019ve landed. Being well-rested (and not hungover) will make your jump so<\/em> much more enjoyable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What to Bring<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you\u2019ve done all of this mental and physical work, the last thing to consider is what to bring on the day of your jump. First and foremost, don\u2019t forget your valid, government-issued photo ID! You must provide proof that you are at least 18 years of age. No ID, no jump \u2013 no kidding! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snacks and water are also a must for a day at the dropzone. You want to stay fed and hydrated before your jump so that you can perform as well as you prepared. The adrenaline that comes with jumping out of an airplane puts your body and brain through a lot. Make sure you\u2019re setting yourself up for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And don\u2019t forget to bring your questions! Your instructor is there to teach you what you need to know, and to help you feel comfortable and ready for awesomeness. Instructors love curious students! It means you\u2019re as excited about skydiving as we are. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask questions before, during (although, not during freefall!), and after your skydive \u2013 there are no stupid questions. This is your<\/em> day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feeling prepared? Cool. Ready? Set. Let\u2019s GO!!!! Book your first jump<\/a> today and show us what you\u2019re made of! Blue skies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

So, you\u2019ve decided to jump out of an airplane. Now what?! The decision to go skydiving for the first time is a big one, and it\u2019s like nothing you\u2019ve ever […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1861,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tandem-skydiving"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/startskydiving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/startskydiving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/startskydiving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startskydiving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startskydiving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1860"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/startskydiving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1860\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3686,"href":"https:\/\/startskydiving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1860\/revisions\/3686"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startskydiving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/startskydiving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startskydiving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startskydiving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}