Coping
with the Cold
Strategies to help you cope with the winter and still
progress
| Let's face it, skydiving is a different sport in the summer. It's warmer,
more enjoyable and more relaxed, so it is easier to progress.
In the winter,
jumps can be disappointing and progression seems to be painstakingly slow.
Here are some strategies to help you cope with the cold. |
Photo by Graham Nightingale |
Lower your expectations
Don't expect to keep whizzing through the system the way you did in the
height of summer. Understand that you are bound to feel less relaxed -
the freefall environment may seem hostile and the cold will probably make
the whole idea of getting in an aircraft uninviting. There are still rewards
to be had - jumps can be invigorating and a most enjoyable change from
hibernating indoors.
Don't set yourself unrealistic targets. You may become disheartened if
you aim, for example, to be cleared to another category without bearing
adverse weather in mind. Be content with maintaining a level of performance
over the bleakest winter months, ready to build upon this foundation in
the Spring. If you do not jump at all over the winter you will find a
marked drop in performance by Easter. Set your goal as staying reasonably
current and you will be pleased with your jumps.
Warm up
In the cold it is even more important to stretch your muscles before skydiving,
for better performance and to reduce the risk of injury. If the first
time you bang on that arch is the second your body hits the icy freefall
blast, your muscles are likely to respond poorly and could easily be strained.
A good warm-up and stretch routine will get your body used to movement
and your mind prepared for the skydive. You may have grown accustomed
to inactivity over the last couple of months, wake your body up gently.
Insulation
Think about warm clothing in advance. You are aiming for garments
which will give:
- thermal insulation
- minimum bulk for freedom of movement
- breathability
- wind resistance in the top layer
- durability
You may be able to achieve these requirements with a mixture of existing
garments or there is plenty of specially designed clothing to choose from.
Thermal underwear may not be the sexiest of attire but you will thank
yourself at the DZ as you feel the inner warmth. Try camping shops for
the cheapest, C & A for the best value and specialist ski shops for superb
quality. Roll-neck long-sleeved vest tops (often used for skiing) provide
an extra layer of insulation without adding bulk. Lots of thin layers
provide better thermal protection than one or two thick ones, as air trapped
between the layers gives additional insulation.
If you don't have any protective clothes for winter jumping, now may
be a good time to invest - every year you will bless yourself for spending
that money as you smugly complain about being too hot in your warmwear!
Warmwear
You could take the easy way and go for warmwear, a manufactured item designed
with the above aims in mind. Warmwear is available from a certain
manufacturer
in Headcorn and there are three basic shapes; one piece, two piece or
competition warmwear. The competition warmwear is a mini suit with no
arms and short legs designed to be worn under tight-fitting jumpsuits
giving maximum mobility. This was the genesis of warmwear as we know it
today, invented by competition jumpers for winter training camps.
By popular demand, skydivers wanted an all round outdoor garment - so
the arms, legs and outer shell material were added to give the one-piece
warmwear suit. Four variations of outer shell fabric combinations are
available, with varying degrees of windproofing, bulk and breathability,
your choice depends on whether your aim is an outer or an under garment.
Warmwear can be used as a jumpsuit in its own right (ie an outer garment)
for chute assis, freeflying or accuracy. However, it may create too much
lift for FS, particularly if worn by small people, as the suit adds both
bulk and drag due to the nature of the outer fabric. For FS it is probably
better to squeeze a jumpsuit on the top, using the warmwear as an inner
item.
Gloves
Warm hands are essential for safety reasons, you may like to add silk
liners to your usual gloves. Beware of using gloves which are too bulky,
they may keep your hands warm but will reduce the ability to feel. In
contrast, thin gloves may give you a better sense of touch on the ground
but if your hands are very cold in the aircraft and in freefall they will
lose sensation when it counts ie at pull time. A good tip is to wear another
pair of gloves or mittens on the ride to altitude, removing and putting
inside your jumpsuit on run-in. Hey Presto! - warm hands which can still
feel whatever they have to. A word of caution to those of you with wrist-mount
altis, if you adopt this practice allow plenty of time to readjust your
equipment.
Headwear
Fridges (full face helmets) seem curiously named as in fact they
are the warmest headwear. Even frappe hats are warmer than Protecs, which
expose the ears. If you are bound by your jump numbers to wear a Protec,
you may wish to wear something over the tops of your ears (check you can
still hear!) such as a neoprene face mask. We lose an enormous amount
of heat from head and neck, so ensure this area stays covered with a scarf
or bandanna. Lip salve is an essential DZ accessory in the winter.
Keep warm
Having dressed in the morning for warmth, keep warm. Don't let yourself
get chilly on the ground and you will have more chance of feeling warm
at 10,000ft. If you are already cold as you get in the aircraft you have
no chance of being comfortable, as the temperature will drop rapidly with
altitude. Stay indoors, keep your skin covered up and if possible, kit
up inside away from the biting wind. Pacing up and down the flight line
for twenty minutes before you go up will instill an inner chill.
Avoid getting too hot, as if you get sweaty inside your warm clothes
it is difficult to get rid of the moisture. You will end up uncomfortably
hot indoors and instantly icy on going outside again. A classic situation
to cause sweat overload is packing in your warmwear in a warm room straight
after the jump, adrenaline still pumping. Give your underarms a break
and remove excess layers from your torso. Even fabrics advertised as 'breathable'
will have trouble in this instance.
Be prepared
Think about any extra items of clothing you may want to wear to protect
you from the cold and try them on beforehand. There is no point in finding
out at the last minute that you can't fit everything under your jumpsuit.
Make sure at home that your extra clothing is comfortable and that you
can still move freely. That super-snug summer jumpsuit for fast fall may
not cope with two sweatshirts and a fleece - it may be time to try thermal
undies or to acquire a looser-fitting jumpsuit.
Try on your kit well before the jump and do some practice pulls and reserve
drills with your winter clothing on. Ask yourself some questions. Can
you still see your reserve handle/cutaway pad or is bulky clothing bulging
out from your harness? Does your balaclava helmet obscure your view as
you turn your head in your fridge? Does the throwaway feel different with
thicker gloves on? Whatever your choice of winter wear, make sure you
are familiar with it well in advance of your jump. Now, take your kit
off, have a cup of tea and relax before the skydive knowing you are prepared.
The jump itself
Most aircraft now have in-flight doors which makes life easier than it
used to be. However, it is still worth trying to stay away from the door
and ensuring none of your limbs are directly in a draught from outside
- they will be difficult to move by the time you exit. Have you ever wondered
how come you always seem to have the cold slot whilst the more experienced
jumpers are warm and cosy next to the pilot? Take a tip from their book
and plan where to sit before you get in. It goes without saying not to
run to the aircraft, fight over slots or mess up the exit order just to
get a warm seat. Equally though, don't let the cool 'n' groovies get away
with an illogical arrangement which happens to suit them - speak up if
you have to.
On the ride to altitude, if you haven't jumped for a month or more, take
the time to look out of the windows and remember what 2,000ft looks like.
What does 3,500 ft look like? If you are in charge of your own opening
height, do you want to open 500ft higher than usual?
A ground covering of snow will make it more difficult to judge the height
of your flare, be aware of this before you jump and don't be frightened
to ask someone to be on the ground as a reference for you.
Enjoy your jump - savour the difference in the landscape and the light
quality whilst under canopy. You may be tingling from the cold but it
can be well worth it. If you are lucky enough to be jumping when there
is snow cover, the view is stunning. The buzz from one exhilarating skydive
on a beautiful winter's day can last all week.
Blue Skies and Snowy Scenes!
Article by Lesley Gale
lesley@skydivemag.com
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