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Can You Skydive With Friends?

Skydiving Tips

Wisconsin Skydiving Center Posted by: Wisconsin Skydiving Center 2 years ago

If a friend were to ask if you want to go skydiving, your first reaction might be something like “maybe… if we can go together!” Scary things become less scary when people you love are around. You might picture freefalling through the sky with your pal, big smiles, holding hands, like in one of those ’90s movies. And while that is not exactly how it goes, you can absolutely share your skydiving experience with friends in the plane and on the ground (we encourage it!). You will not be able to actually jump out into the big blue sky at precisely the same moment, but you will be reunited in short order!

First time skydiving family excited about skydiving at Wisconsin Skydiving Center near Chicago

Keeping a Friendly Distance

For practical and safety reasons, tandem skydivers need to maintain a good amount of distance during freefall and while under the parachute, which is why you will not be flying right next to your friends. Experienced skydivers who don’t have people strapped to them are able to move around during freefall and make formations with other experienced skydivers, but maneuvering around while attached to someone else would be too difficult. When the parachute is deployed, your instructor might be able to get close enough to see your friend’s parachute, but you’ll still need to maintain an adequate distance in order to minimize risk.

A tandem instructor and his student arch as they leave the plane.

You’ve Got a Friend in Your Tandem Instructor

Rest assured, you will not be alone in freefall (as long as you’re doing a tandem jump, that is)! On a tandem skydive, which we require that you do first, you will be with an instructor the entire time. They will guide you through the process, and will be with you for the duration of the skydive – they’ll literally be on your back, so they’re not going anywhere! Your tandem instructor will make sure you know everything that you need to know before your jump, and you’ll be able to talk to them a little bit on the plane.

During freefall, you will be falling at about 120mph, which means that you and your instructor probably won’t be able to hear each other. If you feel like screaming, let it out! Not only will they not hear you, but you’ll also have to take a big ol’ breath before you scream – a great way to override your natural inclination to hold it. You will be able to speak to each other easily once the parachute opens.

clarepfeil and a friend smiling after finishing a skydive at Wisconsin Skydiving Center near Milwaukee

Friends Who Fly Together

While we absolutely think that you should skydive whether you have friends with you or not, most people do feel better when they bring a pal. Even though you can not freefall right next to your friends, we encourage you to bring your whole crew out to the dropzone. You can hang out together before and after your jump, and you might even be on the same plane. Jumping with your friends is more fun and also cheaper. We offer discounted prices for groups of 4 to 20+ people. 

If some of your friends want to come but do not want to jump, they can hang out in our spectator area. We have a shaded terrace, grills, and picnic tables that they can watch you from. We’ve even hosted big parties and events at our facility, like company outings, birthday parties, and family reunions. Can you say dream location for a bachelor/bachelorette party? Swoon!

Parties and special events with friends at Wisconsin Skydiving Center near Milwaukee

Emotional Support Skydivers

Skydiving can be an overwhelming experience – everything is new, and potentially way outside of your comfort zone. It can be helpful to have someone you know and trust at your side to calm your pre-jump jitters on your drive to the dropzone; be your hype squad when you need a little pep talk; and celebrate your “I can do anything” energy after the jump. It’s a journey that’s made all the richer by sharing it. Plus, you’ll have someone who’ll talk with you about skydiving for weeks (and weeks!) afterward. For many people, skydiving is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and it is incredibly special to be experience it with a loved one.

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