The key takeaways for beginners – equipment, a stable body position and safety in one compact sheet for a safe start in the sport.
| Item | Priority | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Rig (container) | High | Harness with main and reserve canopy – provided by the dropzone. |
| Reserve + AAD | High | A reserve is mandatory; the AAD (e.g. Cypres) opens automatically in an emergency. |
| Altimeter | High | Analogue on the wrist + audible alti – altitude is your most important information. |
| Helmet & goggles | Medium | Protects you and keeps your vision clear; full-face for advanced jumpers. |
| Jumpsuit | Low | The fit controls fall rate and stability in the air. |
Concept: A tense or “sitting” body spins and tips uncontrollably. Tip: Hips forward into the banana shape: chest out, arms and legs slightly spread – it stabilises you belly-down.
Concept: In freefall you easily lose your sense of time. Tip: Check the altimeter regularly and ALWAYS deploy at your set opening altitude (usually ~1,500 m).
Concept: Opening too low leaves no time for emergency procedures. Tip: Better early and stable – priority: pull, pull at the right altitude, pull stable.
Concept: Flaring too early or too late leads to hard landings. Tip: Fly in against the wind, legs together and at ~3–4 m brake the canopy evenly (flare).
Pro tip: Your most important reflex is body tension: go into the arch under stress (hips forward, chest out) and you automatically fall stable and belly-down – from there everything else can be steered cleanly.