How to Learn Extreme Skysurfing

Trying to decide whether to skydive or surf? Do both and learn skysurfing. It's an extreme sport that combines two of the most daring experiences. In short, it means parachuting while both feet are attached to a small surfboard, which is used to maneuver and do tricks during the free fall. Sound like your kind of fun? Read on and see how to get started.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Educate yourself on the sport of skysurfing, which is a form of freestyle parachuting or skydiving. It's not for the inexperienced, the unfit or the faint-hearted. Still, enthusiasts are many and they say it's pure bliss. A lot of the information you need to get started can be found at the plethora of air sports and parachuting websites. And many books on air sports are available online and through book stores or libraries. Look for skysurfing information under "freestyle" or "artistic events."
2. Have the proper skydiving license. Folks interested in skysurfing are nearly always experienced parachute operators to begin with. A Class A license is what the sport's governing body, the U.S. Parachute Association, requires. The A license indicates a person is past the student stage, is a jump master, has taken part in some USPA competitions, can do group free falls and water jumps and pack his/her own main parachute.
3. Take specialized training. Even experienced skydivers need some instruction before attempting to skysurf. Lessons ensure that novices learn skysurfing rudiments quickly and safely. The USPA recommends beginning skysurfers get coaching in freeflying safety and techniques from a USPA-rated instructor with lots of experience in forms such as head-down and sit-flying.
4. Sharpen your basic skydiving skills. Before attempting skysurfing, fliers should be able to show the following skills: consistent awareness of the altitude, ability to take part in basic skydiving formations, ability to stay horizontally separate from other fliers, understanding of the aircraft's path, or jump run, and proficiency in moving up, down, forward, backward and rotating.
5. Gear up. The most important item for learning skysurfing--besides the aircraft you'll be jumping out of--is the skyboard, itself, which resembles a snowboard in shape and size. Skyboards are light and about 35 inches to 60 inches long. Beginners should use the shorter lengths. You'll also need bindings, a quick release system and a recovery chute for the board. And you must also have a parachute, an audible and visual altimeter, a protective helmet and a jumpsuit or other clothing that will stay close to the body and not interfere with movement. All this is available through parachuting outfitters online or in the phone book.