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For ages, humankind has looked to the skies, fascinated by the seemingly effortless ability of birds to soar on the transparent and breathless winds. Longing to recreate the art of flight, enterprising men and women have tried every act imaginable to capture the sheer thrill of flight including parachuting, hang gliding, and skydiving. In recent years, new technology coupled with human ingenuity has resulted in the discovery of a new form of flying that minimizes the risks associated with past forms of the human endeavor. The newest craze, indoor skydiving has jumped to the forefront of the sporting world to become one of the fastest growing rages in the country.
Indoor skydiving enables the participant to defy the bonds of gravity, and experience the exhilaration and sensation of freefalling at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. Using a wind tunnel and a directed stream of wind, the participant is propelled into flight, experiencing the same exhilaration as a skydiver jumping from an airplane, minus the dangers inherent in jumping from a plane. Skilled and experienced indoor skydivers are also able to perform turns, flips, and tricks similar to those of aerial skydivers.
In addition to being a safer alternative, indoor skydiving offers some advantages over traditional skydiving.
1. First of all there are no age requirements for indoor skydiving. Children as young as three have been known to engage in the sport, although all persons under the age of 18 must have a liability release signed by a parent or legal guardian.
2. Next, indoor skydiving is cheaper than traditional skydiving with prices ranging from $30 to $50 dollars per session as opposed to $100 and up for aerial skydiving.
3. Finally, there is no experience required for indoor skydiving and all equipment is supplied by the indoor facility so there are no additional purchases or training that must be completed.
What can a participant expect to encounter in an indoor skydiving experience? The actual experience takes roughly an hour to complete and is composed of three parts.
1. Generally each lesson begins with some type of basic flight instruction that includes body control techniques as well as safety instructions.
2. The next part of the lesson usually involves education about skydiving gear and equipment preparation. All participants are then instructed to don flight suits, helmets, goggles, ear plugs, and knee and elbow pads.
3. Finally, the moment every participant has been waiting for, the actual flight in the wind tunnel. Never fear, an instructor is always close at hand and actually accompanies the participant into the wind tunnel, assisting in lifting the participant into the wind stream. The actual time a participant spends in the wind tunnel is on average about three minutes, though second trips into the wind tunnel can also be purchased as part of the indoor skydiving package.
Indoor skydiving is the ultimate experience for those wanting to experience the sensation of freefalling at top speeds through the air, unbound by gravity. The feeling of sheer exhilaration coupled with no fear makes indoor skydiving the ultimate high in today's world of extreme sports.
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