University of Wisconsin-Madison's Badger Skydiving Club

FAQ

Are there age requirements?
Yes, you must be 18 or over, want to have fun, and be in good health.

Is there a weight limit?
You must weigh no more than 220 pounds in order to jump with us. This is because our equipment is rated to handle up to a certain weight, so it is a safety issue.

What if I've never jumped before?
No prior experience is necessary. 

What should I wear?
Wear tennis shoes, not sandals and not boots.  Make sure your clothing is comfortable, and when in doubt, bring extra.  If you are making a jump in the cold weather, it is best to wear multiple layers of thinner clothing, instead of one layer of bulky clothing.  Our training room and airplane are heated, but your jump will obviously be outside.  We provide jumpsuits and gloves (gloves are for tandems only), although you may want to bring your own gloves for comfort.  Any other time of year, just dress for what you are comfortable wearing outside for that particular temperature.

What about a deposit?
A non-refundable $75 deposit is required to reserve your spot in a class or an appointment

How many of us can go up in the plane at the same time?
Your jump will be from a Cessna 182 which holds a pilot plus four skydivers.  That means, if you want to go on a tandem with your friend, you can have one tandem master, yourself, the other tandem master, and your friend in the plane at the same time.   You will have the airplane ride together, but you will not be able to see each other in freefall.  The tandem pair who exit first will also be able to see the second pair's landing.  If you want photography on your jump, you will have one tandem master, yourself, a videographer.  That leaves only one slot so there is no room for another tandem pair.  With IAD, the plane can hold 3 jumpers and the instructor.

Does Seven Hills Skydivers take credit cards?
They take MasterCard and Visa. They also welcome cashier's checks, money orders, checks or cash.   If using a credit card to put down a deposit, they need the name as it appears on the card, the card number, the expiration date, the name of the person(s) making the jump, and a phone number.

What happens if the weather is bad the day I am scheduled to jump?
First of all, do NOT believe all the forecasts you hear the day before, a couple days before, or a WEEK before your scheduled jump.  Weather forecasters have been known to be wrong a few times. (Note the sarcasm on the word "few".)  We wait until the day of your jump to make a weather call.   If you wake up the day of your jump and think the weather may not be right, give the dropzone a call before you drive out.  Weather differs greatly even within a distance of 30 miles, so although it may be bad weather where you are, the dropzone may have perfect weather.  We can discuss delaying your jump for later that day, or rescheduling for a different date.  If we reschedule, you will not lose your deposit.  It will be transferred to the next available date of your choice.

I'm afraid I'll get airsick...should I eat before my jump?
Yes!  Not eating can make you feel even more airsick.  Instead, just eat a smaller meal before you jump.

Can I drink alcohol before the jump?
NO!  Absolutely not!  Drinking and skydiving do not mix.  In fact, you must not have had alcohol within 12 hours of your skydive.  You also must not have taken any recreational drugs within 12 hours of your skydive.

Is skydiving safe?
Skydiving is like any other extreme sport: there are inherent risks that require careful training and execution. Failure to follow that training can lead to serious injury. Skydiving is as safe as the individual(s) make it. The equipment has improved considerably over the old-style round parachute and is so reliable that, when used properly, skydiving can be as safe or safer than any other extreme sport.  Statistically, skydiving is much safer than riding on a motorcycle.

What will the skydive feel like?
The sensation of freefall is more like flying than falling, and is intensely exciting and liberating. The canopy flight is peaceful and relaxing.

How fast do you fall?
The average human body falls approximately 120 miles per hour.

What's the landing like?
Most landings are quite soft, with many people doing stand-up landings. Sometimes, especially on calm days, the forward speed of the parachute will provide you with a smooth sit-down sliding landing.

Can I bring my own camera with me on the jump?
No, you are much too busy with your skydive to look after your cameras. It very easily may get lost or broken and we cannot risk dropping it in freefall or under parachute.

Can I bring my friends and family to watch?
Definitely YES!

What if the parachute doesn't open?
Every skydiving rig is equipped with both a main (regular) and a reserve (emergency) parachute. Every rig!

As a Solo student, you are taught how to recognize what a malfunction looks like as well as how to deal with the malfunction in a timely manner. If the malfunction is the type that cannot be dealt with, you are taught how to cut-away your main parachute and deploy your reserve parachute, which is extremely unlikely to have a malfunction.

As a tandem skydiver, you are with a trained professional who knows how to handle a malfunction and deploy the reserve canopy if it's necessary. We take your safety very seriously and have never had a student fatality.

Does it hurt when the parachute opens?
No, it doesn't hurt. The harness is tightened so that there's no real shock from it pulling when the parachute opens.