The Skydiving Therapist

20/09/2026

How can a good skydiver end up flying the wrong way?

SENSORY OVERLOAD.

Your brain is trying to process too much information at the same time:

• Jumping at a new dropzone
• Constant changes in the wind
• A bad jump
• Previous bad landings
• Problems at home or work
• Drugs
• Lack of canopy flight planning — did you check the windsock and think about your landing direction before

TUNNEL VISION.

You become focused on one thing and start missing other important information around you.

HOW TO AVOID IT? Be the pilot, not the passenger.

Your skydive doesn’t finish when you have a good canopy over your head.

Be aware throughout the entire canopy descent.

When I’m flying my canopy, I’m always looking for someone trying to kill me! 😂

Remember: TAP — Traffic / Altitude / Position

If you are not sure what to do, go into brakes. Slow everything down, give yourself time, and check what the other canopies are doing.

WHAT IF YOU REALIZE YOU ARE FLYING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION?

If you realize it early and have enough altitude, make a controlled decision based on the traffic around you.

But if you suddenly realize you are going the wrong direction do not make a sudden turn.

If you are below 300 ft, stick to it.

Be predictable so the other skydivers can see you and avoid you.

You are already under stress and may end up flying towards another skydiver. A 180º turn to go back in the correct direction can be your worst decision — and possibly the last decision you ever make.

In case of an imminent head-on collision: make a slight turn to the right.

Canopy awareness is part of the skydive until you are safely back on the ground.

In this specific situation, the two skydivers coming in the correct direction could help by:

• One moving slightly left
• One moving slightly right

Be predictable. Be aware. Be the pilot.

Feel free to share your own experiences, stories, and thoughts.

Always seek your instructor’s advice.

Contact me for skydiving coaching, advice, AFF courses, or if you need to get current again!

Proudly sponsored and supported by:

     

23/08/2026

Skysurfers — They Still Exist!

Skysurfing was born in the late 1980s when daring French skydivers strapped boards to their feet. They took freefall to another level, using the wind as a canvas to replicate the feeling of surfing ocean waves.

Following the first jumps by French pioneers Dominique Jacquet and Jean-Pascal Oron in 1980, Patrick de Gayardon popularized and revolutionized skysurfing in the early 1990s. By inventing the first safe emergency release systems to cutaway the board, de Gayardon pushed the limits of the sport, transforming it into an incredible mix of freefall, acrobatics, and board control.

In the 1990s, Skysurfing exploded. It became one of the most spectacular disciplines in skydiving and even reached the X Games, bringing the sport to a much bigger audience.

But then things changed.

Despite its massive success in the 1990s—even featuring in global commercials for brands like Coca-Cola—skysurfing saw a decline in the 2000s. The sport requires an extreme level of experience (usually around 1,000 standard jumps before even trying a board) due to the high risk of a "flat spin" (uncontrolled spinning that can cause blackout or prevent parachute deployment). With the rise of wingsuit flying and freeflying, skysurfing has become a rare, niche discipline today.

Sky Surfing slowly disappeared from the mainstream.

Today, you rarely see a Skysurfer at a dropzone.

But they are still out there.

In this video, you can see the famous Red Bull athlete Sebastian Alvarez performing two sky surfing exits.

Curious about his next project? Me too!

“Always seek your instructor’s advice before trying anything new.”

Contact me for skydiving coaching, advice, AFF courses, or if you need to get current again!

 

Proudly sponsored and supported by:

     

16/08/2026

Are you ready for an aggressive cutaway?

I have 8,300+ jumps, and this was only my 3rd cutaway. Jump 8373.
There was a gap of more than 5,000 jumps between my 2nd and 3rd cutaway.

My first instinct was to try to fix the problem or at least get the canopy flying straight before cutting away.

In the blink of an eye, a manageable spin turned into a violent spin.
That was my mistake.

Sometimes, a prompt cutaway is better than trying to fix a problem that could turn into a much worse situation.

You burn precious altitude, have less time to deal with problems, and may end up in a much less stable position before deploying your reserve.

The problem? A tension knot on the A1 line.

Was it my mistake or just bad luck?
Maybe both.

Lesson learned: Don't delay. Cutaway.

“Always seek instructor’s advice.”

Want to start your own skydiving journey or take your flying to the next level? Get in touch and let's make it happen.

External video 📽:

Proudly sponsored and supported by:

        

 

09/08/2026

Every new skill starts on the ground.

A good briefing isn’t just about talking or watching videos. It’s where everyone understands the plan, practices the movements until they become automatic, visualizes the sequence, works through potential problems, and builds confidence before boarding the aircraft.

The more familiar the movements become on the ground, the less you have to think about them during exit and freefall.

Don’t use the jump to figure things out.
Use the jump to perform what you’ve already practiced.

Practice first. Fly better.

“Always seek your instructor’s advice before trying anything new.”

Want to start your own skydiving journey or take your flying to the next level? Get in touch and let's make it happen.

 
Proudly sponsored and supported by:

        

 

28/07/2026

Let's show how strong our skydiving community really is.
I know Ilya personally, and I had the pleasure of coaching him.
He's not only a talented athlete but also a great person.
Every donation, no matter how small, can make a difference.
If you can help, please consider supporting him. Together, we can give something back to one of our own.

Life can change in an instant. For our friend Ilya Biryukov, it has in the most heartbre… Darragh Geoghegan needs your support for Support for Ilya and family

25/07/2026

Congratulations, Ayush, on earning your USPA A License! 👏

Earning your USPA A License is a huge milestone, and you should be proud of what you've achieved.

It was a real pleasure to be part of your journey.

In just a couple of jumps, we managed to neutralize your twisted body position. From there, step by step, you built solid flying skills, both in freefall and under canopy.

You put in the work, trusted the process, and the results speak for themselves.

Keep learning, stay humble, and enjoy every jump. Blue skies!

Want to start your own skydiving journey or take your flying to the next level? Get in touch and let's make it happen.

“Always seek your instructor’s advice before trying anything new.”

Proudly sponsored and supported by:

  LB Altimeters  Vigil AAD  Fly Cookie - Official Aerodyne Research  Skydive Spain

 

19/07/2026

When the student forgets the coach is even there...

🎵 Student's brain: Flying peacefully and singing [In the arms of an angel, fly away…]

There are days when freefall feels like a peaceful, cinematic dream. You are absolutely nailing it, so focused on your posture that you completely forget your coach is flying right there with you... until you finally make eye contact! Surprise…

Would you have reacted the same way or kept your cool? Let me know in the comments! 👇

“Always seek your instructor’s advice before trying anything new.”

Contact me for skydiving coaching, advice, AFF courses, or if you need to get current again!

 

Proudly sponsored and supported by:

        

12/07/2026

Never stop chasing the life you dream of.

There will be days when it feels impossible.
Days when you question yourself.
Days when you want to give up.

Keep going.

One day, you'll stop asking,

"Am I dreaming?"

Because you'll be living your dream.

“Always seek your instructor’s advice before trying anything new.”

Contact me for skydiving coaching, advice, AFF courses, or if you need to get current again!

Proudly sponsored and supported by:

        

05/07/2026

Still spinning no matter how much you arch? This might be why…

One of the most common mistakes I see in AFF students is too much tension.

When you're tense, your body often becomes uneven, usually forming a "C" shape. That asymmetry makes you turn, even when you're trying to stop the turn.

If you're turning right and create a "C" shape to the left, you'll usually increase the spin instead of stopping it.

When you start to spin, instead of trying only to arch harder or even stopping the turn, try resetting your body:

✅ Shake your hands.

✅ Relax your shoulders.

✅ Keep your arms even at 90°.

✅ Smile.

✅ Chin Up.

✅ Get a reference on the horizon.

 
A relaxed body is easier to control.

Have you experienced this during your AFF? Let me know in the comments.

“Always seek your instructor’s advice before trying anything new.”

Contact me for skydiving coaching, advice, AFF courses, or if you need to get current again!

Proudly sponsored and supported by:

        

29/06/2026

Just sending with

Good people. Good jumps. Good days in the sky.

This is why we fly.

“Always seek your instructor’s advice before trying anything new.”

Contact me for skydiving coaching, advice, AFF courses, or if you need to get current again!

 

Proudly sponsored and supported by: