SKYDIVING_ An EXTREME SPORT
Skydiving, also called parachuting, is a sport in which athletes jump out of an airplane at a certain altitude and perform acrobatic movements in free fall. Then they open their parachutes to slow down and return safely to Earth. Skydiving is considered to be an extreme sport which takes a lot of courage but also gives you an adrenalin kick.
Skydiving is a sport that is not as young as it may seem. At the end of the 18th century, a Frenchman, Andre Garnerin, jumped from a hot air balloon and was thought to be the first real parachutist.
Later on skydiving became important for the army and air force. Pilots could jump out of a plane and land on earth safely if something went wrong. In wars soldiers were dropped off in war zones, often behind enemy lines. Skydivers are also used when it comes to fighting off disasters like bush fires.
Competitions in skydiving are held regularly. Events include landing close to a target and performing acrobatic movements in the air, as well as flying in formation. In the last few years another event, sky surfing, in which a surfboard is attached to a jumper, has become popular. Group skydiving requires a group of parachutists to perform figures while in free fall.
A skydiver must always check their gear to see if everything is OK. They always carry a backup parachute with them, just in case the main chute does not open. Steering lines are attached to a backpack. With them parachutists can control their direction.
Before you jump alone you normally do tandem jumps with an instructor or an experienced jumper. Through such jumps you get used to free fall, wind directions and how to steer. Skydivers must also learn a lot of theory. Wind speed and other weather elements are important.
Airplanes climb to an altitude of 7,000 to 15,000 feet (2000 to 4,600 meters) before letting out the jumpers. The free-fall stage lasts between 45 and 80 seconds. Jumpers reach a speed of up to 130 miles an hour (210 km/h). Skydiving requires excellent weather. Jumping in rainy weather or during strong winds can be very dangerous.
Even though skydiving may not seem like a sport, jumpers must be physically fit before they can jump. Despite the fact that it may seem dangerous, there are only a few accidents that happen every year.
One of the world’s most famous skydivers is the Austrian, Felix Baumgartner. In 2012 he set a world record, when a helium-filled balloon brought him to a height of 39 kilometers. When he jumped he became the first person to break the sound barrier in free fall. He safely returned to earth about 10 minutes after leaving the capsule
Hello Ms. Sevan. :)
ReplyDeleteI like this type of sport but I'm very fright. Two years ago my daughter Zina jumped with parachutes over 800 meter. She was very happy because she likes to do extreme things.
Lamara
I have seen her photos. It's well done.
DeleteThank you my dear, :), do you know Zina?
DeleteHi everyone!
ReplyDeleteI'm affraid of height, but I want to became strong.That's why I want to try skydiving.
About this article : there are a lot of words I didn't know. It'll help me with my speaking.
Miss Sevan, are we going to discuss this article during our classes or not?
Hi
DeleteI think it`s very dangerous.I never want to jamp with parachutes,because i affraid of height.... The article is easy and interesing i learn new wards and get new information.
Thanks Ms Sevan
Regards Hermine
Skydiving is an extreme sport and very dangerous. Not many can deal with it. I think it is more important for the army and for emergency situation. It's right who want to deal with skydiving must be in great physically fit and also know theory. But many cases the accident unpredictable. I saw parachutist in TV lately with whom was an accident. he became disabled. But in spite of all was jumping again. I guess their thinking is different from us and they want to do something incredible.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ms. Sevan it was an interesting article and there was many interesting words.
Hi to all !
ReplyDeleteI like this article, it's very interesting. I agree with the article, that skydiving takes a lot of courage but also gives you an adrenalin kick. I like height very much, and I hope that someday I will have enough courage to jump with a parachute. I will be really enjoying that jump!!!
Jumping is fun! Skydiving is not just falling, it is flying.
ReplyDeleteI liked this article. I knew a lot of new information about skydiving and learnt new words. For me it is very dangerous kind of sport, but at the same time it is so exciting. I like to see how do that others, but not me. I have never tried it, because I'm afraid of height and I think it is very risky. I remember, when Lamara's daughter prepared to jump with parachut, and she worried about her, but everything was OK. During learning this type of sport I knew that the first world parachuting championships were held in Yugoslavia in 1951.
Thank you Ms. Sevan for interesting article.
If you are in the sky and see the world haughtily, it seems, that all is in your hand. The problems disappear, you are not afraid, you are not thinking about anything, you are just flying and feeling each second. You're feeling life. It is a freedom.
ReplyDeleteI am going to do it in the future.
Hi everyone! I like this article, it's very interesting and easy. I have learnt a lot of new words. When I was in Tbilisi I wanted to jump from a high place but my husband didn't let me do it. Certainly skydiving is an extreme sport and you must be brave enough to go in for such kind of sport. But I think you must take a risk and you will get an adrenalin kick. And so I hope that someday I shall try to jump out of a plane. And It will be a great pleasure for me.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone. Finaliy I am your blogs member and I can write my opinion. I liked this article a lot, because parachuting is my dream. Of cours it’s a dangerous kind of sports, but I think that the feelings are great. I thing you can feel you free in the air. Sometimes I jealous of the birds, becouse they seems so free. I hope that what ever I can jump with a parachute and my dream become a reality.
ReplyDelete