Pulling the Rip Cord: Skydiving: Skydiving

This title introduces readers to the adventurous sport of skydiving. Readers will discover the sport's unique, must-have equipment, from the rig, main and reserve parachutes, pilot chutes, and harnesses to altimeters, automatic activation devices, clothing, helmets, goggles, proper clothing, and even airplanes. Important safety practices are also covered. Chapters highlight skydiving history, types of skydiving, such as tandem, static-line, and accelerated free-fall jumps, as well as skydiving competitions, such as formation skydiving, canopy formation, accuracy landing, free fall events, freestyle, and skysurfing. They also cover training, the United States Parachute Association, and how to earn a license, as well as famous athletes, including Don Kellner, Cheryl Stearns, and Holly Budge. Sidebars on the rules of packing parachutes, the kid-friendly Team Future, and skydiving lingo will put readers in the know. Readers can also find out how to get started in this exhilarating sport, from age requirements and physical and mental requirements, to where to find drop zones and indoor skydiving. Striking, colorful photos will put readers right in the middle of this action-packed sport. They'll have a blast getting ready for an Adrenaline Adventure Checkerboard Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.