Understanding the Skydive

Understanding the Skydive strips the skydive to its raw nakedness, explaining method, equipment, competition, limitations, culture, and much more in easy to understand language.

A newcomer to the sport will find valuable advice and guidance that will shorten the path from "whuffo" to novice to intermediate. The general public that is looking to gain an understanding what skydiving is about---and it's more than jumping out of airplanes---will be equally served.

The author, who is a well-known figure in the skydiving community in the Southeastern USA, has succeeded in painting (and printing) a thorough introduction to the sport and thereby fills a void. For that he has to be recommended.


Perfect for the student skydiver or friends/family   May 21, 2002
 12 out of 14 found this review helpful

There's a new book on the market geared toward skydiving students as well as those who haven't jumped or may never jump. I received a copy of "Understanding the Skydive" from the author, Erik Johnson, a few weeks ago and am almost finished reading it. More than anything else, I have found the book to give a thorough introduction into a sport not many people understand except those who actively partake in it. This is a perfect book for that friend or family member always asking "Why do you jump out of a perfectly good airplane?" Johnson thoroughly and accurately describes all of the elements of sport skydiving that can easily be understood by any whuffo. Topics include levels of skydivers, operations of a drop zone, role of instructors, riggers and pilots, types of aircraft and how they modified for skydiving use, training methods, types of competitions, the weather's role in skydiving and basics on the equipment used. All of these topics will give your family or friends a better idea on why you skydive and what you get out of it. The book may further inspire those friends or family members to take the plunge themselves. On top of all of this information, Johnson also delves into the basics of emergency procedures, canopy control, risks of skydiving and the different types of skydiving disciplines available. While some of these topics may be too much information for your typical whuffo, this is what also makes the book an ideal reference for student skydivers. I know when I was a student skydiver, I was hungry for any book whatsoever on the sport. This book is a great supplement to Dan Poynter's "The Skydiver's Handbook." Johnson is an AFF Instructor, Tandem Instructor, Parachute Rigger and Military Parachutist who made his first jump 14 years ago. He also walked me through my first reserve inspection and repack as well as taught me many skills as a student skydiver.