How to Prepare for Skydiving
You’ll only need a small amount of training in order to execute your first tandem jump, but showing up and suiting up are the last steps in a process that should start well before you book your trip. Our ten-step guide covers everything you need to know about how to prepare for skydiving—before, on the day of, and immediately prior to your jump. Once you’ve mastered skydiving preparation with DZONE®, you’ll be ready for the experience of a lifetime.
What To Do Before Skydiving: Planning Your Trip
1. Choose the Right Dropzone
Check out the skydiving provider’s website to get familiar with their culture and their offerings, and find out what others have to say by exploring the jump site’s recent reviews. No matter how you feel about the information you’ve encountered, you should only choose skydiving providers who are members of the U.S. Parachute Association, adhering to professional standards! These providers will be held to the highest standards of safety—and before you ask, yes! DZONE® is a USPA Group Member.
2. Read the Frequently Asked Questions
If you really want to know what to do before skydiving, read our frequently asked questions! We cover all the basics in detail because we want your first jump to be as rewarding as it can be.
Once you’ve got the basics, you can get even more detailed information by browsing through our articles or our skydiving video collection!
3. Watch the Weather Forecast.
If you’re worried about the weather on the day of your jump, reach out to the customer service team to learn about their precautions, back-up plans, and limitations. Delays due to weather are not uncommon.
Skydiving Preparation on the Day of Your Jump
4. Get a Good Night’s Sleep.
You want to be alert when you skydive, and a good night’s sleep is your best defense against drowsiness and confusion. Sure, the adrenaline will keep you awake during freefall—but you want to be at your best for the five to nine minutes of canopy time that follow. Remember you are an active participant in this adventure!
5. Eat a Light, Balanced Meal.
What would you eat if you were preparing for a run or a bike ride? Light, balanced meals help to mitigate the risk of nausea and vomiting, and help to keep your blood sugar right where it should be. Oatmeal, sandwiches, and salads with protein are all great options. Since delays are not uncommon, make sure to bring a snack to the dropzone, too!
6. Dress in Comfortable Close-Fitting Layers.
When jumping, you’ll want to keep the temperature in mind. It’s typically about 40 degrees colder at the jump point and 20 degrees colder at the parachute opening altitude than it is on the ground. With this in mind, layers can keep you comfortable on cooler days. However, on a warm summer day, you may still be comfortable jumping in a t-shirt and shorts.
Concerned about getting grass stains on your clothes during landing? We offer Jump-Pants that you can wear over your own shorts or pants in order to keep clean.
7. Stay Hydrated.
Dehydration is always serious—and doubly so at high altitudes. If you haven’t had enough fluids, you may experience dizziness, confusion, headaches, or fatigue, among other potential symptoms. Drink plenty of water during the days leading up to your skydive, and on the day of the jump make sure you’re drinking water and that you have a balanced meal.
Avoid alcohol on the day of your jump, and don’t jump with a hangover either. If you’re struggling to get moving, stay home. You and your instructor will both be thankful for the reprieve.
How to Mentally Prepare for Skydiving
8. Arrive on Time—or Earlier.
Skydiving can be dangerous, and feeling a little scared is normal. Don’t compound the stress of the experience by rushing through your preparations or hoping for the best after a delayed start. In fact, we recommend that all first-time skydivers arrive at least fifteen minutes early.
9. Breathe and Relax.
Make a conscious decision to enjoy the experience, and don’t let your nerves get the best of you. If you already have tactics that you use to manage anxiety, they will serve you well here, too. If you need to give yourself an extra push, try a little bit of exercise, yoga, or meditation on the morning of your jump.
10. Capture the Experience
Your skydiving preparations won’t be complete until you’ve decided how to preserve the memory of your first jump. For safety reasons, you can’t bring your own GoPro camera to a skydiving session. In fact, even brand-new instructors aren’t allowed to bring a camera due to the level of experience and awareness needed to avoid entanglements. However, our experienced instructors have been trained to capture the experience with both photo and video. Let us know what you’re looking for when you sign up!
Experience the Rush with DZONE®
Now that you know what to do in advance and how to mentally prepare for a skydiving experience, we know you’ll have one thing on your mind. If you’re ready to book your jump in Boise and Bozeman just get in touch! We’ll be happy to answer any additional questions on your mind.
Book Your Skydiving Experience at DZONE®
Reading about how to skydive is one thing—experiencing the jump is another! If you’re ready to get first-hand experience with skydiving equipment and best practices, don’t wait to book your appointment! While you’re here, you can get an even better sense of how skydiving works by watching videos of experienced jumpers who were once just like you!