Skydiving Centers Around The U.S. Offer Free Ground Training Classes

This May, participating skydiving centers around the country are offering first-timers the chance to learn how to skydive – for free! The United States Parachute Association (USPA) has proclaimed May as “Learn to Skydive Month.”

Each year, more than half a million people enjoy the life-changing experience of jumping out of an airplane for the first time. Now, skydiving centers are making it easy for beginners to learn all about the sport and what it takes to make that first leap – with free ground training.

“Learn to Skydive for Free” classes will be hosted by participating skydiving centers throughout May. These classes include the ground-training portion of a first-jump course, the first step toward a solo skydive. U.S. Parachute Association-certified instructors will teach the courses, which include all the basics for jumping solo. Students will learn about equipment, aircraft, exiting, freefall, how to open and land a parachute, emergency procedures and more – at no cost! Those who then decide to take the leap of a lifetime can pay for the air portion of the jump and receive additional hands-on training before doing a solo or tandem skydive.

For the past decade, skydiving has continued to grow in popularity. In 2016, USPA membership set record highs, topping 39,000 members for the first time in the association’s 70-plus-year history. USPA members, along with about a half million first-timers, made roughly 4 million skydives last year at more than 230 USPA-affiliated skydiving centers across the country.

USPA also welcomed more than 6,800 new members and issued more than 4,000 basic skydiving licenses, proving that more first-timers are pursuing the sport and becoming certified solo jumpers.

Whether you’ve always wanted to skydive or just want to learn more about the sport, now is your chance! “Learn to Skydive Month” is open to anyone 18 or older. (For those wanting to jump, additional weight and health requirements apply.)

(Source: USPA news release. Images from file)

FMI: www.uspa.org/Make-A-Skydive/Learn-to-Skydive