First Jump Course: Intro to Solo Skydiving

About this experience

This is the first step toward a skydiving license, not a tandem ride. You spend the morning in ground school with Jake learning the equipment, exit, body position, altitude awareness, deploying your own parachute and what to do if something goes wrong. You have to pass a written and practical check before you can jump.

On the jump you wear your own student parachute and exit with two instructors holding your harness, one on each side. They let go once you are stable, and you pull your own parachute. A radio in your helmet helps guide you through the landing pattern. Jake debriefs the video with you afterward.

Your day

Timing depends on the day, so the steps below are in order without set times.

1. 1

   Check-in and paperwork

   Sign waivers, confirm weight and medical form, and get assigned your gear.

2. 2

   Ground school

   Equipment, exit, freefall position, altitude checks and deployment on the training mockups.

3. 3

   Emergency procedures

   Practice malfunction drills in a hanging harness until they are automatic.

4. 4

   Written and practical check

   Pass both before you are cleared to jump.

5. 5

   First jump and debrief

   Jump with two instructors from about 13,000 feet, fly your own canopy and review the video.

What’s included

• Full first-jump ground school
• One jump with two instructors
• Student parachute, helmet, altimeter and radio
• Jump video for your debrief
• First-jump logbook entry

Good to know

• Guests must be 18+ with a photo ID, weigh under 220 lb and be in reasonable physical health. A short medical form is required.
• You will sign liability waivers. You must pass ground school checks to jump; if you do not, you can return to finish training.
• Jumps are weather-dependent and can be pushed to another day. Plan to be at the drop zone all day.
• No alcohol in the 24 hours before jumping. Wear athletic clothes and laced sneakers.

Your curator

Jake Moreno5,000+ jumps, USPA-rated tandem instructor

Jake Moreno made his first jump at 19 and has since logged more than 5,000 skydives. He holds tandem and coaching instructor ratings and has trained dozens of new jumpers. Between loads he coaches newer jumpers on canopy flight and gear care.