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Free-falling from an aircraft is one of the extreme sports that millions around the world take part in every year. The excitement of plummeting to earth with the time to think and enjoy the view is what attracts so many to jump from what most would consider a perfectly good airplane. Over the years, sky diving has evolved from what was once a necessary skill of self preservation to the source of inspiration for other sports like sky surfing and B.A.S.E. jumping.

Over the years, the high standards developed for both jump schools and jumping operations have made sky diving a relatively safe sport. According to the United States Parachuting Association, during the last five years, only one jump in 80,000 has resulted in death, suggesting that sky diving may well be safer than driving a car in many places.

Traditionally, sky diving students have been taught by the “static line”method which automatically deploys the jumper’s chute once clear of the aircraft. This method allows for no free fall time, so most schools are moving to the tandem and Accelerated Free Fall methods of instruction. In a tandem jump, the student can experience the thrill of free fall while safely connected to a certified instructor. The AFF method then allows the student to jump solo and free fall in the company of instructors, who free fall with the student until they successfully deploy their chute.

Another benefit of the evolution of sky diving is the development of the square “Ram Air”-style parachute which allows jumpers to steer their chutes and provides additional lift compared to the older round chutes. The additional lift makes for a softer landing, too.

Having progressed through the learning stages (generally 15-plus jumps), new sky divers are ready to try more difficult maneuvers and tests of skill. With practice, they can soon participate in the sport of sky diving, including events like accuracy contests, formation free fall, canopy stacking, canopy relative work, freestyle, and perhaps even sky surfing and B.A.S.E. jumping if they’re so inclined.

Shortly before WWI, the idea of parachuting for sport was born when bi-plane tours became a popular attraction at fairs. The first known parachuting contest was held in Russia. Contestants were scored on their ability to hit a ground target. Target accuracy is an aspect of parachuting competition that is still practiced today. Present day targets are merely 20 inches (0.5m) in diameter. The current record for accuracy is held by Russian sky diver Linger Abdurakhmanov, who landed on the target disk an incredible 50 consecutive times.

Formation free fall events take place when several sky divers free fall together, then move into positions enabling them to hold on to one and other in formation. The danger of formation free fall stems from the possibility of a high-speed collision mid-air, causing one or more jumpers to lose consciousness. The use of an Automatic Deployment Device (ADD) is one way to ensure that unconsciousness does not lead to a non- deployment. The current World Record for Free Fall Formation is held by 200 sky divers who managed to link up over Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Another style of formation jumping occurs after deployment. In stacked canopy formation sky diving, the jumpers deploy their chutes and then physically hook their legs into the lines of the open canopy of a jumper below. Another series of jumpers then stack themselves on the canopies of the linked jumpers, until the final formation is completed.

The biggest risk in this form of formation sky diving is that the jumpers can get entangled in the canopies of other jumpers with deadly results. Jumpers all carry secondary canopies in case they must cut themselves free of entanglement. The current World Record was set when 46 jumpers fell into a stacked canopy formation over Davis, California. The canopy relative work (CPW) event consists of two or more sky divers working together to form geometric formations. Geometric forms are created through aerial maneuvers that are judged.

Dancing in the sky

Freestyle sky diving is an aerial ballet that is captured on camera for judging. The freestyle sky diver performs an assortment of airborne gymnastic maneuvers prior to deploying their chute, and is judged on the style and artistic elements of the jump.

The sport of sky diving has an interesting history. There are reports of parachute-like devices being used in 12th century China as well as 16th century Venice. The first documented use of a parachute was in 1783, the same year balloons were first being experimented with. A large audience in Paris watched as stunt performer Andre Germain jumped with a parachute in 1797. Jodaki Kuparento bailed out of a burning balloon several thousand feet above Warsaw in the first documented emergency use of a parachute. He survived.

Of course, most of the styles of sky diving would not be possible had Frenchman Leo Valentin not developed a technique for stabilized free fall. The fact that sky divers could free fall for prolonged periods under control is what led to the establishment of much of the modern sky diving elements. The first Parachuting World Championships were held shortly thereafter in the former Yugoslavia.

The sport of sky diving is one of the easiest of the extreme sports to learn, and dive centers are located in every major region of the world. Anyone considering learning should seek out a center with new equipment and a history of quality instruction.

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