Are Skydivers Totally Nuts?

Who–us?

Maybe.

We don’t mean to toot our own horns when we say that skydivers are some of the most genuine people you’ll ever meet–and our general willingness to share our uniqueness can sometimes strike people as utterly nutty. That said, we’re not, like, crazy (for the most part). In fact, we’re pretty much just like you–with a hefty helping of freefall-related happy pumping through our veins.

Want to know more? We’re so glad you asked. Here’s a quick peek into the soul of the average skydiver, so the next time you meet one you’ll know what you’re dealing with. Who knows–maybe you’ll be one of us soon, too!

Skydivers Are Super Energetic.

Some skydivers are easier-going than others, but there’s a common theme that runs through the entire community, and that’s high energy. Whether that high energy manifests as a flouncy-pouncy-fun-fun-fun or a steely, juggernaut resolve to tackle and solve all the problems of the universe, you’re going to see a whole lot of moving and shaking at the dropzone.

“Why is that so,” you ask? Man. There are a lot of reasons that could be the case, and the answer is probably a combination of all of them. First of all, skydiving requires a honed focus and a can-do, let’s-try attitude that tends to spill over into all the rest of one’s life. Secondly, all that packing and practicing and choreographing provide an excellent training ground for the cardiovascular aspects of life’s acrobatics. Thirdly, skydivers prove to themselves on every jump that they’re way capable of pulling off miracles–so why wouldn’t they? Finally, skydiving celebrates joy in its essential form, so jumpers have lots of opportunities to fill their joy tanks, and generally do.

Skydivers Are Highly Educated.

This is a bit of a generalization but ask around at the dropzone. You might be expecting a bunch of Point-Break dudebros and be surprised at the number of doctorates you run into during a short survey. Even the “School Of Life” graduates have a tendency to be super-accomplished people, as skydivers have a tendency to be pretty darn driven–and curious about how the world works.

Why? Well: Skydiving requires an inherent curiosity about what great things might happen if you summon up your strength and take a chance. So does education! Therefore, it feels like there isn’t an enormous difference between the motivation behind diving into an advanced program and diving into a big, blue sky. Catch our drift?

Skydivers Are Well-traveled.

Once you start skydiving, you drop into a close-knit community that spans the entire world. There are many hundreds of dropzones–from the enormous to the tiny–over the planet, and each one of them is a place for like-minded people to come together and enjoy some delicious freefall in excellent company. As a skydiver, of course, you’re going to want to get out there and meet as many of them as you can! Most “fun jumpers” make a serious project of it, earning quite a few passport stamps and U.S. state memorabilia in the process.

Skydivers Measure Risk.

The other–and, perhaps, most essential–quality of a skydiver is that he/she calculates risk in a really proactive way. A skydiver has a tendency to reject someone else’s valuation of a risk, instead approaching a new risk as a research project. Investing energy in working out the true potential risk of a decision and balancing that risk against the potential gain has a near-magical way of creating valuable experiences. Skydivers get lots of practice, so they are quite good at it–and generally have very rich lives.
Does any of this sound like you? …Perhaps it sounds like someone you want to be? We’d love to have you in the community! Come on down and give freefall a try–and you’ll be bowled over by its smorgasbord of positive knock-on effects.