Not as much as most people expect!
Contrary to popular belief, freefall, parachute deployment, and landing don’t require any special physical strength or fitness – but there are a few things to keep in mind.
🪂 Freefall:
This part of the jump feels more like floating than falling.
You’ll experience strong air resistance (around 200 km/h) – mostly on your face and body – but it’s not physically strenuous. Think of it as high-speed wind pressing around you.
🎧 Parachute opening:
The deployment of the parachute is smooth and progressive thanks to modern air-cell canopy designs.
There’s no sudden jolt or violent pull. You may feel your ears pop slightly, especially if you’re sensitive to pressure changes, but this can be stopped quickly using a simple method we’ll show you on-site.
🪑 Landing:
Landing is mainly the responsibility of your tandem instructor.
As the passenger, your job is to lift your legs up during the final approach – and only put them down after the parachute has fully stopped.
This does require a bit of core strength and coordination, so being in decent physical condition and having some abdominal muscle control is helpful.
💡 Overall, while skydiving doesn’t require athletic ability, you should be able to follow instructions, lift your legs when asked, and feel comfortable with a bit of wind and motion.
