Planning Your Perfect Skydiving Day: Beyond the Jump

Skydiving is so much more than just jumping out of an airplane – it’s a full-blown experience that has the power to impact you on a much deeper level. With a little planning, your skydiving day can be a seamless adventure from start to finish. At Oklahoma Skydiving Center, we want you to soak in every thrilling, joyful, and awe-inspiring moment. Whether it’s your first tandem or a bucket-list celebration, here is how to prepare for skydiving and make the most of your visit – before, during, and after the jump!

Preparing for your skydive is all about showing up ready, relaxed, and with the right expectations. Planning ahead can go a long way in making your skydiving day as smooth and stress-free as possible! Preparations begin as soon as you book your skydive and kick into high gear, the day before skydiving. Let’s look at how to prepare your body and mind the day before your epic skydiving adventure!

How to Prepare Your Body for Skydiving

Preparing your body for skydiving is a huge component to having an enjoyable skydive. Here are the musts for your to-do list:

• Get a full night’s sleep so you arrive well-rested and energized.
• Avoid alcohol or drugs the night before and leading up to your skydive – hydration and alertness are key to enjoying the jump.
• Eat a balanced meal and drink water throughout the day. It is absolutely crucial for your body to have the nourishment it needs to take on the adrenaline rush of a skydive.
• Lay out your essentials the night before: a valid, government-issued photo ID; athletic clothing; closed-toe shoes; and a light snack and water bottle for the day.

How to Mentally Prepare for a Skydive

We want to start by saying, it is perfectly normal to feel nervous before your jump (honestly, if you weren’t a little anxious, we’d probably be concerned). Skydiving is a BIG deal – and those pre-jump jitters just mean… you are human. Congratulations! Here are some ways to mentally prepare for your big day and calm your nerves before skydiving:

• Visualize, visualize, visualize – Picture yourself landing with a huge smile on your face and feel the overwhelming sense of accomplishment rush over you. This will help prepare your brain for what you’re about to experience.
• Focus on your breathing – Smooth, focused breathing will help you stay calm and grounded.
• Talk to your instructor – Our experienced team of instructors are here to support and guide you on your journey. They are an open book full of great advice – trust us, there’s nothing they haven’t heard before. We want you to be as comfortable as possible throughout the entirety of your experience, so don’t hold back!
• Trust the process – We know, easier said than done, right!? Be assured knowing skydiving is a highly-regulated sport that is done with the most extreme caution. Allowing yourself to let go of a little bit of control and embrace the moment will do your body and mind a service. We got yo’ back!

Once you arrive at Oklahoma Skydiving Center, your day officially begins. We recommend setting aside four to six hours for your entire experience to allow time for check-in, training, gearing up and potential weather delays (we’ll talk more about this in a second).

What to Expect on Your Skydive

Our check-in process is simple. After completing some paperwork and meeting your instructor, you’ll go through a thorough safety briefing and be fitted with your gear. Throughout your time at the dropzone with us, you’ll encounter friendly faces who are all happy to answer questions and make you feel comfortable and confident.

When your load is called, you’ll ride to 14,000 feet (or 18,000 feet if you’re feeling squirrelly) in our Turbine 206 airplane while taking in stunning views and feeling your adrenaline surge as you prepare to exit the plane securely harnessed to your new bestie (aka your tandem instructor). 

After an exhilarating 60 to 80 seconds of freefall, your parachute will deploy, allowing for a peaceful canopy ride back to the ground. 

Be Prepared for Weather Delays

Please keep in mind that skydiving is a weather-dependent activity and safety always, always, always comes first. High winds, cloud cover, or inclement weather can cause delays or cancel your jump altogether. We understand this can be frustrating, but please trust that your safety (and the safety of others) is 100% worth the wait!

If you’ve never been skydiving before, you might feel a bit unsure about what to do or how to get the most out of your experience. We’ve got you covered – no regrets!

• Capture the Moment – Skydiving is a once-in-a-lifetime event for most people, and while it doesn’t exactly have to be, you still will want to relive the thrill of your very first jump with a high-quality video and photo package. Go for a media package and you’ll treasure it always; don’t and you’ll kick yourself in the pants forever!
• Pick the Right Dropzone – When it comes to jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, you want to make sure you’re in good hands. The best way to determine if a dropzone is the real deal is if it’s a member of the United States Parachute Association (USPA). This means that the dropzone follows strict rules and protocols outlined by a governing body that is recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Not only is Oklahoma Skydiving Center a USPA Group Member dropzone, we have a team of dedicated USPA instructors with decades and thousands of jumps in the sport.
• Bring Support – Whether they’re skydiving with you or cheering you on from the ground, we’d love to host your crew. Group skydiving makes for a great bonding experience!

Landing after a skydive is a feeling unlike any other – and it deserves to be celebrated. Whether you’re with a group or jumping solo, take the time to enjoy the rush, share the story and reward yourself for yet another challenge conquered by you! Once you’ve wrapped up your jump, chances are you’ve worked up an appetite. Check out some of our nearby favorites for a post-skydive meal. Cheers!

Ready to Plan Your Perfect Skydiving Day? Book your jump now and let’s make it one for the books! Blue skies.