So you’re thinking about skydiving huh? It’s on your bucket list right? Your buddy went and was like “super rad dude, you should totally do it, check out my video, you see my pics on facebook??!!” Sure, the pics, video and the bragging rights are cool. Sure, you’ve always wanted to do it and sure you’ll get to it one day, but there’s an underbelly thought process that creeps in when the glamour of the idea fades. Is it safe? Is it worth it? How does it work? I’m going to answer those very questions today.
The efficacy of this article will be proven by your willingness to be flung out of a plane by the end of it!
Let’s see how we do..
The efficacy of this article will be proven by your willingness to be flung out of a plane by the end of it!
Let’s see how we do..
 | A little bit about me.. I’ve been skydiving for a couple of years, have an advanced skydiving license and a parachute in my bedroom. I mostly jump out of planes, but hot air balloon jumps are fun too. My travel suitcase usually consists of a parachute, climbing rope, harnesses and a toothbrush. |
Begin!
Jumping from an airplane is just craziness right? You have a harness with some ropes attached to a piece of material to stop you from rocketing at the insane speed of 120mph, whilst plunging towards your earthly demise. Seems nuts! Without a complete understanding of a skydiving parachute rig, all the training, experience and years of innovation that have gone into skydiving safety systems, you’re going to think it’s crazy. I will explain a few of the key safety systems used in skydiving, a bit of info and recent statistics from Canada’s official parachuting association, the CSPA (Canadian Sport Parachuting Association). Plus, an exclusive interview with Ontario’s favourite, wacky, occasionally clothed, sometimes barfed on, always badass, tandem instructor, Chris Chilton.
Jumping from an airplane is just craziness right? You have a harness with some ropes attached to a piece of material to stop you from rocketing at the insane speed of 120mph, whilst plunging towards your earthly demise. Seems nuts! Without a complete understanding of a skydiving parachute rig, all the training, experience and years of innovation that have gone into skydiving safety systems, you’re going to think it’s crazy. I will explain a few of the key safety systems used in skydiving, a bit of info and recent statistics from Canada’s official parachuting association, the CSPA (Canadian Sport Parachuting Association). Plus, an exclusive interview with Ontario’s favourite, wacky, occasionally clothed, sometimes barfed on, always badass, tandem instructor, Chris Chilton.
Let’s talk about risk
"The risks that kill people and the risks that upset people are completely different," said Peter Sandman, a leading expert on risk, based in Princeton, N.J.
A lot of us skydivers like to walk around talking about how cool, brave and wild we all are. Well we are in fact those things, but our little secret is that skydiving is actually pretty darn safe. What’s more, it’s even safer if you’re just going once as a tandem passenger. In fact, in the past few years, skydiving fatalities have reached an all time low. Safety systems, methods and rules have evolved to make skydiving a pretty safe sport. There are tens of thousands of skydives made in Canada every year and fatalities are very rare. Death! Ah! We don’t like talking about it too much, but it’s definitely the little thought monster that starts bouncing around your head when you hear that sweet, sweet word; skydive. Let’s look at some stats from the CSPA (Canadian Sport Parachuting Association) on death, in the past few years here in Canada.
Season 2013/2014 – 1 fatality – student status – Ontario
Season 2014/2015 - 2 fatalities – experienced skydivers – Ontario
Season 2015/2016 – 1 fatality – experienced skydiver – Alberta
-CSPA
The last tandem passenger fatality in Canada was in 1991.
** UPDATE - In 2019 there was a tandem death at Skydive Gananoque. I couldn't find out what happened, but the tandem master survived, his passenger did not. The passenger had done 2 tandem skydives previously. After this incident, the victim's husband did contact me after reading this article to let me know. Small article here - https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/news-story/9513783-lynn-mackenzie-of-ennismore-identified-as-skydiving-victim/
Onward with the original article..
So in the past 3 seasons here in Canada, we’ve only had a small handful of fatalities in skydiving, none of those tandem related. More often than not, skydive fatalities occur when experienced skydivers approach their landing quickly, turning too low to the ground and crashing into the earth. It’s extremely rare for a first timer, student or tandem passenger to have a fatal jump. Safety systems, methods and the sport in general have come a long way. Like previously mentioned, the risks that scare or upset us and the risks that actually kill us are typically much different. Skydiving scares and upsets you. The chances of an accident are astronomically low.
"The risks that kill people and the risks that upset people are completely different," said Peter Sandman, a leading expert on risk, based in Princeton, N.J.
A lot of us skydivers like to walk around talking about how cool, brave and wild we all are. Well we are in fact those things, but our little secret is that skydiving is actually pretty darn safe. What’s more, it’s even safer if you’re just going once as a tandem passenger. In fact, in the past few years, skydiving fatalities have reached an all time low. Safety systems, methods and rules have evolved to make skydiving a pretty safe sport. There are tens of thousands of skydives made in Canada every year and fatalities are very rare. Death! Ah! We don’t like talking about it too much, but it’s definitely the little thought monster that starts bouncing around your head when you hear that sweet, sweet word; skydive. Let’s look at some stats from the CSPA (Canadian Sport Parachuting Association) on death, in the past few years here in Canada.
Season 2013/2014 – 1 fatality – student status – Ontario
Season 2014/2015 - 2 fatalities – experienced skydivers – Ontario
Season 2015/2016 – 1 fatality – experienced skydiver – Alberta
-CSPA
The last tandem passenger fatality in Canada was in 1991.
** UPDATE - In 2019 there was a tandem death at Skydive Gananoque. I couldn't find out what happened, but the tandem master survived, his passenger did not. The passenger had done 2 tandem skydives previously. After this incident, the victim's husband did contact me after reading this article to let me know. Small article here - https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/news-story/9513783-lynn-mackenzie-of-ennismore-identified-as-skydiving-victim/
Onward with the original article..
So in the past 3 seasons here in Canada, we’ve only had a small handful of fatalities in skydiving, none of those tandem related. More often than not, skydive fatalities occur when experienced skydivers approach their landing quickly, turning too low to the ground and crashing into the earth. It’s extremely rare for a first timer, student or tandem passenger to have a fatal jump. Safety systems, methods and the sport in general have come a long way. Like previously mentioned, the risks that scare or upset us and the risks that actually kill us are typically much different. Skydiving scares and upsets you. The chances of an accident are astronomically low.
Safety Features You Didn't Know About
Parachute rigs have come a long way in the past couple of decades. Check out these 3 innovations that have really changed the safety of the sport and can be found in almost every parachute today:
1. A computer that activates your parachute if you get knocked unconscious or forget to pull your parachute in time (forget...weird huh? It's happened!) . It’s aware of your altitude and velocity!
-Video below of this happening
2. A second parachute (reserve) that is spring loaded and pops out super duper fast when activated. A special parachute packer we call ‘riggers’ are the only ones allowed to pack these slinky, lifesaving, ‘oh gawd yeah’ parachutes.
3. A cutaway system, so that if your first parachute sucks and gets tangly and messy, you can release into the sky like a previously injured bird, that you nursed back to health and then dramatically released into the open blue sky.. ahem. Your brand new, spring loaded second parachute will come out automatically when you ‘cutaway’. Cool!
-Video below of this happening
Parachute rigs have come a long way in the past couple of decades. Check out these 3 innovations that have really changed the safety of the sport and can be found in almost every parachute today:
1. A computer that activates your parachute if you get knocked unconscious or forget to pull your parachute in time (forget...weird huh? It's happened!) . It’s aware of your altitude and velocity!
-Video below of this happening
2. A second parachute (reserve) that is spring loaded and pops out super duper fast when activated. A special parachute packer we call ‘riggers’ are the only ones allowed to pack these slinky, lifesaving, ‘oh gawd yeah’ parachutes.
3. A cutaway system, so that if your first parachute sucks and gets tangly and messy, you can release into the sky like a previously injured bird, that you nursed back to health and then dramatically released into the open blue sky.. ahem. Your brand new, spring loaded second parachute will come out automatically when you ‘cutaway’. Cool!
-Video below of this happening
 AAD Computer: Automatic Activation Device |  Spring Loaded Reserve |  Cutaway Canopy |
Q & A with Tandem Master - Chris Chilton
Now to introduce, the man, the myth, the Chilton!!
I interviewed experienced Tandem Master / Skydiving Hero, Chris Chilton from Skydive Swoop (Dundas, Ontario) for some rapid fired Q’s and A’s.
How many tandem passengers did you take up last summer?
208
That seems like a lot..
Meh.
What’s the scariest part of the dive?
When the door opens. That’s when my passengers usually clench up and their faces change. There’s usually a squeel or a scream too. That’s when it gets real.
Has anyone ever backed out?
Only 1. A lady cop from Hamilton. I couldn’t get her out the door. She had her feet up on the door frame and wouldn’t move, so down we went. Heartbreaking.
Best story ever?
A girl wanted to go naked. Did you go? Yes I did. A nice looking 30 year old. Why not? How was it? Well, the jump was great, but the spot wasn’t and we landed in a field next to a Christian Church, buck naked and had to wait til someone came to pick us up. If you’re going to do the craziest thing of your life, why not naked?
Makes sense.. Is there video?
Of the jump, yes, the landing, no. (Laughs)
What can people expect when they arrive at the drop zone?
They show up, sign a big waiver, get trained (15 mins) and then sometimes wait a while depending on weather and how busy it is. It’s a simple process, but bring a lunch.
Why do you do this job?
I like the excitement that you get from some people and the fear you get from others. (big laughs). I just love the sport and love to be a part of people’s first jump.
A pretty important role I’d say..
Yep
Anyone ever barf on you? Pee their pants?
I’ve had two girls barf all over me, 2 girls pass out and 1 of the girls that passed out, also pee’d herself, while she was out. So, it really wasn’t her fault.
You’re a good sport
(Laughs)
What do you say to people that are afraid of heights and don’t wanna go skydiving?
I’m afraid of heights too. I won’t go on the roof of my house. The perspective is much different.
Oldest tandem passenger?
81. Bryan at Swoop, took up a 91 year old last summer.
Any messages of encouragement to leave people with?
A lot of people come down and say they’d wish they’d have done it sooner.
-Interviewed January 2016
Dolla Dollas
Skydiving costs money.. lots and lots of money.. On average, you’ll pay $300 for a tandem skydive + extra for video and pics if you want them. Why so much? Pilots, tandem instructors, ground crew are all professional people that are required for you to do your jump. It takes a long time and a big investment for these professionals to acquire these skills. There’s also plane fuel, equipment maintenance and a lot of other expenses that go into the running of a regulated facility, like a drop zone. My dropzone is a non profit co-operative, so I can attest to the fact that the $300 doesn’t go a long way, but it is a fair price for all involved.
Skydiving costs money.. lots and lots of money.. On average, you’ll pay $300 for a tandem skydive + extra for video and pics if you want them. Why so much? Pilots, tandem instructors, ground crew are all professional people that are required for you to do your jump. It takes a long time and a big investment for these professionals to acquire these skills. There’s also plane fuel, equipment maintenance and a lot of other expenses that go into the running of a regulated facility, like a drop zone. My dropzone is a non profit co-operative, so I can attest to the fact that the $300 doesn’t go a long way, but it is a fair price for all involved.
What Happens on the Jump
When your ‘load’ is called (your plane is coming), your tandem instructor will find you and get you geared up. This includes a jumpsuit (glorified onesie), a harness and goggles. What, no helmet? Nope, not if you want your tandem’s face intact! Remember, you’ll be wearing your instructor like a big backpack. You wear the instructor, they wear the parachute.
You’ll then approach the plane, which will already be revvin' up and ready to go. You’ll climb aboard and get comfy. There are 2 main type of aircraft that you’re most likely to encounter.
When your ‘load’ is called (your plane is coming), your tandem instructor will find you and get you geared up. This includes a jumpsuit (glorified onesie), a harness and goggles. What, no helmet? Nope, not if you want your tandem’s face intact! Remember, you’ll be wearing your instructor like a big backpack. You wear the instructor, they wear the parachute.
You’ll then approach the plane, which will already be revvin' up and ready to go. You’ll climb aboard and get comfy. There are 2 main type of aircraft that you’re most likely to encounter.
1. The Cessna - A Cessna is a small aircraft that carries 4-5 skydivers. It’s a tiny, bouncy plane that is really fun to ride in. It’s definitely a tad uncomfortable, but its a great experience if you’ve never been in one before. The exit procedure is much more fun out of this little guy. You have to scoot to the door and scoot out. It’s an experience.
2. Caravan / Twin Otter - By far the most popular skydiver planes. Much larger than a Cessna and much more comfy (less cool though). The exit is much easier out of a larger plane. It has a big roll-up door that is simple to approach and exit.
2. Caravan / Twin Otter - By far the most popular skydiver planes. Much larger than a Cessna and much more comfy (less cool though). The exit is much easier out of a larger plane. It has a big roll-up door that is simple to approach and exit.
 Cessna Exit |  Caravan / Otter Exit |
As you approach your skydiving altitude, your instructor will connect you to him/herself and get you all geared up and talk you through the entire skydive from start to finish.
You’ll reach altitude. The door will open. The number of contractions of the heart by unit of time, will increase dramatically and delightfully. You’ll approach the door, put your head on your instructors shoulder and then blam, you’re free falling. Watch that plane disappear!
It will take about 10 seconds to reach terminal velocity and feel stable. Your instructor will throw a little mini parachute called a drogue that slows your rate of descent. You’ll float through the air for about 40 seconds until the main parachute is pulled. You’ll feel a slight tug as the parachute deploys and then wham, you’re sitting in a chair, way up in the sky. Saweet.
The canopy ride is so damn cool and beautiful, especially the first time. If you have a solid stomach, call out for some spirals on your descent.
As you approach the drop zone field, you’ll hear your instructor call out to get your legs up for a smooth, butt slide into home plate. The parachute will collapse onto you and booyah, you just did a skydive.
No Big Deal!!
You’ll reach altitude. The door will open. The number of contractions of the heart by unit of time, will increase dramatically and delightfully. You’ll approach the door, put your head on your instructors shoulder and then blam, you’re free falling. Watch that plane disappear!
It will take about 10 seconds to reach terminal velocity and feel stable. Your instructor will throw a little mini parachute called a drogue that slows your rate of descent. You’ll float through the air for about 40 seconds until the main parachute is pulled. You’ll feel a slight tug as the parachute deploys and then wham, you’re sitting in a chair, way up in the sky. Saweet.
The canopy ride is so damn cool and beautiful, especially the first time. If you have a solid stomach, call out for some spirals on your descent.
As you approach the drop zone field, you’ll hear your instructor call out to get your legs up for a smooth, butt slide into home plate. The parachute will collapse onto you and booyah, you just did a skydive.
No Big Deal!!
Finally..
Welp, that’s a first tandem skydive in a nutshell. You can do it naked, your tandem master has most likely already been barfed and pee’d on and if you decide to back out, you’re not the 1st. Heights are irrelevant and super old people are welcome. Who woulda thought?
Hopefully I’ve deconstructed your fear of skydiving a little bit. For me, conquering fear makes you feel like you’re capable of doing anything. If we obey our natural impulses, we must then disobey a much more worthy impulse: to push our limits. Maybe skydiving for you will be a fun day out with friends or maybe it will be a catalyst to lead you into more adventure, self discovery and doing great things that will blow your mind - that’s what it’s done for me anyway. Don’t forget to play.
Empty your bank account, fill your heart up and get way, way out there.
-Matt
Ends of the earth skydiving & other vids
Resources:
CSPA Website
AAD Computer activated parachute due to altitude ignorance
Cutaway System in Action
Welp, that’s a first tandem skydive in a nutshell. You can do it naked, your tandem master has most likely already been barfed and pee’d on and if you decide to back out, you’re not the 1st. Heights are irrelevant and super old people are welcome. Who woulda thought?
Hopefully I’ve deconstructed your fear of skydiving a little bit. For me, conquering fear makes you feel like you’re capable of doing anything. If we obey our natural impulses, we must then disobey a much more worthy impulse: to push our limits. Maybe skydiving for you will be a fun day out with friends or maybe it will be a catalyst to lead you into more adventure, self discovery and doing great things that will blow your mind - that’s what it’s done for me anyway. Don’t forget to play.
Empty your bank account, fill your heart up and get way, way out there.
-Matt
Ends of the earth skydiving & other vids
Resources:
CSPA Website
AAD Computer activated parachute due to altitude ignorance
Cutaway System in Action
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