The Competitive Sport of Indoor Skydiving

The Competitive Sport of Indoor Skydiving

By Sean Cunningham
Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber of Australia practices indoor skydiving in a vertical wind tunnel. (Victor Fraile/Corbis via Getty Images)
Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber of Australia practices indoor skydiving in a vertical wind tunnel. (Victor Fraile/Corbis via Getty Images)
Corbis via Getty Images

 

Like skydiving and generally being competitive, but can’t stand heights? Enter indoor skydiving. Indoor skydiving occurs in a vertical wind tunnel, which suspends you in the air and, yes, mimics the feeling of skydiving. Only in many ways it’s better than skydiving, because you can focus on perfecting tricks and not have to worry about plummeting to your death.

Indeed, some practitioners have developed skills that demand to be showed off, which is why competitions are breaking out all over the world, including the 2nd FAI World Cup of Indoor Skydiving from October 11 to 16 at the Flyspot in Warsaw, Poland. The Flyspot boasts a 14′ tunnel with a 50′ high flight chamber; it’s capable of speeds up to 192 mph.

 

To get more details about the World Cup, click here. Above, the first video provides an intro to the sport (as well as some highlights from the 2015 Championship). And below, watch an indoor skydiver perform a freestyle routine.

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