The 5 most common myths in the world of skydiving!

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Myth #1 – Going up when the parachute opens

If you’re planning to skydive soon, you’ve definitely watched some videos to prepare! The jumpers seem to be coming up when the instructor deploys the parachute in tandem parachute jump videos!

This is simply an impression! It is due to the fact that the shooting is done by an external aerial cameraman who continues to fall at terminal speed, while the tandem instructor and guest duo are slowed down by the opening of the parachute.

Thus, it is a slowdown and not a rise!

But then what is the gear shift?! The terminal speed of free fall reached during a tandem parachute jump is about 200km/hour. Once the parachute is open, the rate of descent is about 20km/hour or 1000 feet/minute.

If skydiving remains an extreme sport, a sport of sensations and that it could occur a faster opening, be reassured, in general, the slowdown is done gradually, like a braking in car!

Myth number 2 – ‘Skydiving?! I have too much Vertigo!’

Vertigo is a sensation that gives a person the illusion that his body or the surrounding objects are animated by a movement of rotation or oscillation. For some, it is even an agonizing and overwhelming feeling of loss of balance. Do you recognize yourself?

How is vertigo built?

This is mismanaged by the brain when it receives two contradictory information:

1. The inner ear (in charge of balance) signals that the body is standing, head up, with the feet resting on a solid surface. All our musculoskeletal proprioceptive receptors confirm this… We ‘feel’ our standing on solid.
2. Meanwhile, the eyes show the void below, in the (almost) totality of our field of vision. Our binocular vision perceives a lack of reference point which is called the ‘informational void’.

Unfortunately for humans, the information provided by the eyes takes precedence over the rest.

Torn, the brain does not «believe» at all in our standing and solid position!

Now, let’s talk about skydiving!

1. In our skydiving aircraft, you will be seated and you will be able to contemplate the view through the portholes, which will give you physical landmarks close to you.
2. Unless knee health prevents you, your instructor will gently push you to the door from the sitting position directly to the kneeling position.
3. He will ask you to lean your head against his shoulder and look up, avoiding the mental tension created by the lower vacuum. In addition, you will still have the framing of the door in your field of vision.
4. You will be firmly attached to your instructor and physical contact is known to break the brain loop of fear by drowning it under the information perceived physically.

That’s it! You will surely be afraid… But you will not have vertigo!

P.S. Hypoglycemia and dehydration can alter brain perceptions… Have a small snack on hand!

Myth #3 – “I don’t like rides… forget about the parachute!”

First, let’s discuss the elevator effect!

Whether you like rides or not, you’re probably familiar with the “elevator effect,” but did you know it has a name? An AIRTIME!

An AIRTIME is the feeling of weightlessness, falling into the void or lightening resulting from negative downward acceleration or a reduction in gravity of one gram compared to that on land, at sea level and at rest. The latter is the one with the most effect and that you can feel in the roller coaster.

The airtimes and the sensation of falling into the void result from the inertia of the train and its passengers which is opposed to the force which pulls the carousel down … This makes the passengers take off from their seats for a moment.

Now, let’s talk about skydiving!

When the aircraft reaches the parachute drop altitude, it will decelerate to a constant speed of 85 knots/h (150 km/h). When this is done, the pilot will grant permission to open the aircraft door.

Now imagine opening the window of your car while driving at 150 km/h on the highway and taking out your hand to oppose the wind resistance!

When your instructor gives the starting thrust, it is exactly on a similar air cushion that your body will settle.

So in theory, you don’t jump at all into a vacuum, but into an air bag. If your heart does 3 turns, it’s only the adrenaline!

Myth number 4 – ” It announces 80% rain! Are jumps cancelled?! ”

Contrary to what many people think…

An 80% chance of rain doesn’t mean there’s an 80% chance of rain where you are… But rather that there is 100% chance of rain on 80% of the territory targeted by the forecast!

For example: Let’s say it announces 18% probability of rain in Joliette…It actually announces 100% rain, but on ONLY 18% of the territory!

100% rain… but how many millimeters? What time? And for how long?

It could be 2mm/hour all day or 10mm/hour thunderstorm for 1 hour! From 8am in the morning to 9am!

It is the weather radars that allow us to know!

In fact, even with a probability of 80% rain… we must not forget that it does not announce any rain on 20% of the territory!

It is our job to do the radar analysis! It is therefore essential to call us before you leave home!

Myth number 5 – Hitting a bird in free fall

The idea crossed you… that it would probably be unpleasant to take a bird in your chest… or worse…

Well… why do you think you are attached to your instructor?!

THIS IS A JOKE!

The chances of hitting a bird in free fall are almost impossible! Here’s why!

The tandem parachutes were opened at about 5000 feet. The minimum recommended opening in Canada for a single, certified parachutist is 2500 feet.

While some birds of prey can sometimes fly around 1500 feet, most birds fly at a maximum of 500 feet. The vast majority of birds are therefore not a cause for concern!

But what about major migrations?

Some birds may fly higher, such as swans that travel up to 8000 feet, but there are two reasons why they are not encountered:

1. First, through ‘The Big Sky Theory’: An aeronautical mathematical theory that states that two bodies/objects in flight or free fall have statistically very little chance of colliding due to the huge difference between the 3D size of the sky versus the size of these bodies/objects.
2. Because our airspace is busy, birds naturally bypass our area of operation. What is more, they usually do not fly at high altitude over our territory.

Once in flight under the open parachute, it is possible that you share the airspace with some birds enjoying the thermals (hot drafts), but this remains very rare, because they are naturally fearful! If this happens to you, enjoy this special moment!

Finally, do not hesitate to contact us for all your questions! We will be happy to answer them and reassure you! Someone around you refuses to jump because of one or more of these myths? Send them this blog post! Perhaps his curiosity will overcome fears, thanks to you!