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Fear vs Logic

“I could never jump out of an airplane. I’m afraid of heights.” It is a phrase every skydiver has heard from a wuffo. I am also afraid of heights. So are a lot of skydivers I know. The ones that…

The Wind Is Not Intimidated

When skydivers are in freefall and making formations, the most critical aspect is that they match their fall rate. If not, somebody is below or above everyone else. It’s a bit like if you were at a dinner party with…

Goals

One of my favorite things about skydiving is that it doesn’t require a great amount of physical strength to do well. The sport is almost entirely mental, which is why it is a great metaphor for life. It is also…

Attention

When skydivers meet each other and are going to make a jump together, they need to quickly assess their relative experience and skill level. This can be critical information, as one of the biggest dangers in skydiving is usually the…

Visualization

When skydivers meet and are getting ready to make a jump, it is important to assess the relative skill level of each other. In freefall and under canopy other skydivers are often the biggest danger we encounter.

Calm vs Relaxed

All of my favorite skydivers talk about the importance of being the right amount of calm on a skydive. Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld in his book, Above All Else, talks about being “on the line.” Kate Cooper-Jensen will talk about trying to…