What Does Skydiving Feel Like?
Ever wondered what skydiving feels like? It’s like asking if getting a tattoo hurts. You can hear the answers, but you won’t truly know until you’ve experienced it yourself. People say it’s amazing, unbeatable, or feels like flying. Those clichés have some truth, but what do they actually mean? And how does that help someone deciding if skydiving is their thing? Well, we’re here to answer some common questions for first-timers. Our goal is to give honest and accurate responses, so you can figure out if skydiving is the right choice for you. So, what does skydiving feel like? Let’s find out!
“Does your stomach drop skydiving?”
A frequent question among curious skydiving students is if they will feel their stomach ‘drop’ when they jump. For those who aren’t sure what is meant by “stomach drop,” it refers to the sensation you feel when experiencing a sudden physical fall. Have you ever ridden a roller coaster? You feel the anxiety building as you climb up slowly, and just as you’re able to peek over the top of that Everest-like hill, you find yourself suddenly falling. Your stomach rushes up like it’s trying to hang on for dear life. That’s the drop that worries our more hesitant guests.
Good news! We can tell you what does skydiving feel like? That sensation of your stomach hanging on for dear life isn’t present with skydiving. What you will feel is the physical g-force exerted on your body created by a roughly 40mph acceleration. The plane will already be moving just shy of 90mphs before you make the jump into your 120mph freefall. Your body will actually be eased into its maximum speed this way,
“What happens when I jump out?”
Freefalling at approximately 120 miles per hour, you will experience the thrill of descending from heights ranging between 10,000 and 14,000 feet. This incredible adventure grants you a full minute of uninterrupted freefall. Though it may not sound like much, you’ll be amazed by how time seems to stretch during this exhilarating flight experience.
This is a part that the less adventurous among us may find the most intimidating, but by the end of their first tandem jump, most are ready to tackle it again. You take in the fresh air as you plummet. The earth curves and looks like a painting below. And just as you begin to relax into the fall, it’s time to open up the parachute and fly. The fall is what the enthusiasts of the sport can’t get enough of- that minute-long pulse-pounding adrenaline rush.
Skydiving is the closest we can come to real human flight. Your chute will open and you’ll slow down a good bit, allowing for a calm ride back down to earth. You’ll be sitting upright and rest against leg pads and your instructor. If you’ve ever tried to swing all the way over the bars on the playground, think of how you feel swinging back and forth. It’s like you took that suspended feeling just before going over and stretched it out.
Have you ever found yourself driving down an empty stretch of highway on a warm day? Your windows are down, the warm air fills up the cab of your vehicle, and not a single soul is around for miles. If you’re like us, you’ll be tempted to stick your hand out and let your fingers ride the wind. The way to air pushes and pulls your hand is similar to how your body will feel. Let yourself relax and lean into the soothing airwave ride.
“Is skydiving scary?”
Anything but. Skydiving can be an overwhelming experience, bordering on sensory overload for some. It isn’t uncommon to shed a tear when skydiving no matter if you are a rookie or veteran, and it’s easy to see why. We could go on and on about the beauty of the view without it being an understatement. There really is no way to oversell the idea, it’s just too beautiful of a view.
The beauty isn’t the only new experience, though. Along with new sights, you will be bombarded with new smells, sounds, and physical sensations. Miles away from familiar smells, your nose will be filled with nothing but pure air. Just as far away from traffic, your ears will fill up with the sound of the rushing wind, and we already mentioned those g-forces. If you do happen to tear up, it could be your body’s way of processing the new data being thrown at it. Or perhaps it was just the wind in your eyes, we won’t tell anyone any different.
“What does skydiving feel like?”
Skydiving feels different to everyone on a personal level. So what does skydiving feel like? Whether it feels like flying, falling, or freedom to you, we can all agree on one thing. Skydiving feels amazing! The experience is unbeaten and incomparable to anything else we’ve found in life. That’s why we’ve dedicated our careers to the sport! No matter how you feel, we want you to walk away loving the sport as much as us.
And if you don’t fall in love enough to become a repeat skydiver, we hope you walk away with an item off your bucket list and a heart full of memories. Our staff, from our front desk to our instructors up in the plane with you, will ensure the best experience you can find in the skies. If you want to share the experience with your loved ones or revisit the memories, we even offer video of your tandem skydiving experience. If you’re still questioning if skydiving is right for you, give us a call or drop us an email today. We would love to answer your questions and clear up any remaining concerns.
