Skydiving Fort Collins FAQ
Through a tremendous amount of time and effort, we have simply copied the most common and informative questions that our customers have to offer. In the next magical act, we answer them! If your question is not listed, your not satisfied, or you just want to talk to a friend that you can trust with your skydiving in Fort Collins experience, call 1-800-571-5867 and we will do our best to answer each and every question.
Why jump out of a perfectly good airplane?
- All your fears are put into perspective during an almost intangible view of the world. Everything is peaceful; this is how Earth is meant to be seen, and you feel the wind holding you in the air as your mind races to take evertything in.
- Skydiving captivates your mind to the serenity and freedom of the experience; it guides you away from the worries, aggravations and frustrations of everyday life.
- Nothing is quite so impossible as it was the day before, and your mind snaps to the reality you want to exist.
- Some of the most interesting people on the planet are those that skydive. You can meet them, and possibly become one of them.
What is the Age Limit?
You must be 18 years of age to skydive in the United States. We're sorry, but parent permission isn't enough to reserve a skydiving in Fort Collins experience. The oldest person known to skydive was 101 when they took the leap; although each person has to be physically capable, there is no upper age limit.
How long will my first jump take?
A tandem skydiving in Fort Collins experience will take approximately 3 hours, but you should plan on spending about half a day at the skydiving center of your Fort Collins Skydiving network vendor. For the first level of the Fort Collins skydiving school network certification program, plan to spend the entire day at the skydiving center. The first jump of the Fort Collins skydiving school network certification program requires an approximately 6 hour ground course to provide safety and technique training. For a tandem, the student requires minimal training. This accounts for the time difference between the two jumps.
Can I get pictures of my skydive?
Depending on your Fort Collins Skydiving network vendor of choice, stills may be available at no extra cost. Almost all vendors sell DVD's for their video packages, but few sell photos as well. Generally, when Fort Collins Skydiving network vendors provide photos, it is at no extra cost.
Can I take my own camera with me?
Yes! There are many ways to document your experiences at Fort Collins Skydiving network centers. Taking pictures in freefall should be left up to the discretion of the professionals, but you can take pictures in the aircraft and have friends take pictures of your landing. Some of the most fun pictures are of students putting on their jumpsuit. With a little creativity, bringing a camera and save some great memories.
What does skydiving feel like?
Most people equate freefall with the feeling of falling in an elevator. Contrary to popular belief, it is nothing like that. In fact, it feels much more like flying than falling. Much more like the slow and silent type, the parachute flight to landing is serene and awe inspiring.
What happens when the parachute opens?
No one likes a jerk, but you should be too caught up in the thrill for any discomfort. You parachute will open, and your speed will slow dramatically. From there, you will experience the tranquility of being thousands of feet in the air; no engines and no noise other than the flap of your parachute and the wind blowing by you.
What happens if I forget to open my parachute?
In the very unlikely event that the main parachute isn't opened, your rig comes packed with a reserve chute. For the safety of our customers, each rig is inspected and packed by a FAA certified parachute rigger. All reserve parachutes are equipped with AAD's (Automatic Activation Device) available as a backup system. This means, that if you reach a low enough altitude without opening your parachute, the AAD inside your rig will sense this and react. Immediately, the reserve will be activated to help you land safely.
How long will it last?
The duration of your flight will depend on the conditions of the day. From the amount to wind to when you pull your parachute, there are a few factors that can change the duration of your skydiving in Fort Collins experience. Generally, your flight will fall into a couple time frames. The most exciting portion of your skydiving in Fort Collins experience is the freefall, and this is followed by the peaceful and scenic glide to the landing zone. Your freefall will last approximately 60 seconds, and the parachute ride is around 5-7 minutes long.
Is the landing like jumping off a building?
Of course not! Fort Collins Skydiving is sure that all the required procedures are more than enough to virtually guarantee the safety of each customer. In the early days with skydiving Fort Collins, landings were sometimes quite hard. The new "ram-air" parachutes of today allow landings that feel equivalent to hopping off a step 1-2' high.
Will I be scared?!
Maybe...maybe not. You might feel butterflies building up, and you might feel eagles flying around in your stomach...either one is pretty normal. No matter what you feel in anticipation, you'll love your skydiving in Fort Collins experience. The thrill is too overwhelming to succumb to a bit of anxiety. Rest assured, you'll be smiling all the way.
What to bring? What to wear?
For your first skydiving Fort Collins experience, we recommend wearing casual clothes suitable for outdoor activity and appropriate for the season. During your experience as a student with the Fort Collins Skydiving network, you will be provided with all the necessities for Fort Collins Skydiving. Bringing the "extra necessities" like a camera, a hat, or binoculars is your prerogative! Children must be supervised at all times, and Fort Collins Skydiving encourages our customers to bring friends, cameras, and picnic lunches.
