As I mentioned in Tuesday’s post, lots of time this weekend was spent bonding over beers with fellow skydivers.

This has quickly become one of my favorite past times. Not only do we reflect, reminisce, and have a good laugh at the skydives of the day, it’s also a great chance to learn from other jumpers. And of course, what a better way to make new friends than over a cold beer!

After the sunset load on Sunday, I decided to trunk pack out of pure laziness and spent that time having a 1-on-1 pow-wow with one of my favorite belly flyers. 

As I sat on the neighboring packing mat, I was asked the same question most of my belly flyer friends have asked lately: “what made you turn to freeflying?”

Funny thing is, my answer has changed over the last couple weeks. Initially, I started dabbling in freefly just to see what it was about, for some variety between big-ways, for a different type of body control practice. All with the goal of becoming what I consider a “well-rounded skydiver.”

But on Sunday, I found myself answering this question quite concisely: “it just makes sense.”

*Photo courtesy of Skydive Orange. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m by no means a full-time member of the freeflyers, but it’s a discipline I’ve begun gravitating toward more and more. I’m still available for RW jumps, so don’t forget about me belly flyers.

But to me, freefly just makes sense. Exit the plane head down, got it. Break off the hybrid into a sit, no problem. I can’t explain why it seems so simple, but from the moment I was instructed on how to sit in freefall – and actually doing it quite easily on my first attempt – I’ve gravitated toward this discipline. 

Upon hearing this answer, my belly flyer friend responded in an incredibly encouraging manner. He even recommended some of the best freeflyers around to hook up with for mentoring.

Not that I expected anything less. As much crap as skydivers like to give each other, we’re a very supportive bunch.

For some, belly flying comes natural, they get a thrill out of connecting up in big-ways, making points in smaller groups, and dirt diving every jump along the way. I’ve heard a number of natural belly flyers say they stick to RW for the challenge it brings, and because “they can’t sit to save their lives,” or some version of that phrase.

Others find sitting, standing, and head-down positions to make the most sense. Like me, a lot of these skydivers find big-ways to be stressful and making points just isn’t necessary for a successful jump.

Then of course there’s the people who are in the sport for canopy work – the swoopers and CRW (canopy relative work) groups. I’m a freefall junkie, so I’m definitely not the best source of information here.

(These are some talented CRW jumpers if I’ve ever seen them!)

Regardless of the discipline, at the end of the day, we’re all skydivers. We all love to sit around, talk about our jumps, brag about the good one’s, laugh at the funneled formations and tumbling freeflyers.

This is what makes the sport so great. There’s so much to do, so much to learn, and so much to talk about. Thankfully – after all, that’s why you keep coming back here, right?

In your time as a skydiver, what have you encountered that “just makes sense?” What are some of your favorite parts of the sport?

Blue skies!

Ashley