How to Learn from Extreme Skysurfing Videos

Even though skysurfing is one of the most extreme sports, taking place in mid-air at high speeds, it is also among the most video-recorded of extreme sports. The reason? So-called "camera fliers" are often part of the dives for the express purpose of creating video of the jump. Take advantage of these exciting tutorials to learn the techniques of skysurfing.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. See the free video gallery online at Skysurfer. Running the videos requires a common media player. These videos feature training jumps as well as competitive events. They have been submitted gratis by skysurfers and are always available free at the website.

2. Watch video from the 2006 World Parachuting Championships, which took place in Gera, Germany. Skysurfing was a breakout event. A DVD of the entire event is available from Sky Creations. It shows all the jumps, plus highlights, the teams, the results and lots of background material.

3. View Vertical Journey, a two-DVD set that goes over the basics as well as the details of freeflying, the foundation of skysurfing. The blurb for the instructional video, which is available online, says it contains information that that can speed up your study of freeflying. That way, you can more quickly move on to skysurfing!

4. Get skysurfing videos from rental stores or borrow them from the library. At rental outlets, look under documentary, sports and fitness, instructional, extreme sports and special interest categories. At the library, search under skydiving, parachuting, freestyling, freefalling and skysurfing. If your library doesn't have any skysurfing videos, ask a librarian to get them for you from another system.

5. Keep an eye out for television sports programs that feature video of skysurfers. Extreme sports are being shown more and more on network and cable channels. Check out ESPN on ABC, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, ESPN on cable and the Outdoor Channel.

6. Remember to look at European and other non-U.S. skydiving websites for video on skysurfing, which is just as popular abroad as in America.

7. Take notes. When watching skysurfing videos, pay attention to the fliers' good techniques, as well as their mistakes, and write down things you want to remember. Many videos show what not to do, as well as the best forms to use. Keeping notes will help you recall questions to ask an instructor, the moves you want to work on, or the names of drop zones and skydiving clubs you want to research. Also, write down the video titles and their sources, so you'll remember what your notes are based on.

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