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After World War I and II parachutes were used for different purposes. Pushing the limits of extreme sports, new variants of parachuting was created. The origin of skydiving in uncertain but its popularity later on led to different sports and events around the world.

Others engage in this activity for thrills, while serious skydivers join competitions around the world. parachuting sports are also included in the Olympics which made it not just another recreational activity for adrenaline junkies. Parachute skydiving comes in different variants.

Most of these variants are still related to skydiving with certain modifications. parachutes come in different designs which make them accessible for different uses. There are many Parachuting organizations that hold events for their members.

Parachute skydiving

There are many sports that are related to parachuting. Most people are aware of skydiving as a recreational activity an extreme sport. However there are also other variants that parachute enthusiast engage in. Most of theses sports involve a lot of skill and requires proper training. They test the ability of the pilot to control their parachutes at different levels.

One of the variants is the Accuracy landing. The main objective is to land as close as possible to a target. Teams are composed of 5 members that compete in 8 rounds. The members of the team jump together from 2,700 feet to 3,300 feet. Each member should land as close as possible or exactly dead center of the target. The score is measured from the dead center in meters. Scores are added each round. They considered as individual and team scores.

Blade running involves participants flying down a mountain and making their way through slalom courses using their parachutes. Pilots use a different kind of parachute that gives them more speed. These parachutes have smaller surface areas. This requires a lot of ability in canopy control. It’s a winter sport which is a cross between slalom skiing and skydiving. Its inventor is hoping that it will get featured in the winter X games.

Canopy formation is another variant wherein participants built formations. This is done by flying their own parachutes close to each other and docking on their teammate’s parachutes. This may sound easy but it takes a lot of coordination and timing to be able to complete a formation.

If one of the team makes a mistake, the formation will break. Free falling is does not offer much time too and members should be

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Parachuting is, as they say, not for the weak-hearted. That is why it is considered as an extreme sport. While only a handful would actually try it, there are quite many enthusiasts who enjoy it just by watching skydiving shows and exhibitions. But exactly what does parachuting and skydiving entail? Where did it originate and why is it popular even up to this day?

Parachuting has been around far longer than we thought. It traces its roots back in 852 A.D., when Arman Firman, wearing a large cloak, crashed and landed after jumping from a tower in Spain. Most did not consider this as the first parachute jump ever made, since he was only wearing a cloak. While many tried to do the first jump, the first recorded jump was in 1797, when Andre Jacques Garnerin used a silk chute after jumping off a hot-air balloon.

As airplanes have become more popular, so has the parachute. During World War II, it was used by soldiers and airplane pilots during emergencies and to transport supplies and equipment in war areas.

Since then parachutes are popularly used in shows and exhibitions. Skydivers jump out of an aircraft flying at an altitude of about 4000 meters. They free fall for a short period until a specific altitude when they activate the parachute and cause their speed to decelerate as they land. Cords are used to control direction and speed, so they are able to land at a specific spot.

Together with the rise of its popularity is the invention of its many designs, all to make the parachute stronger and safer to use. The key is to slow down the opening of the chute and minimize oscillations and sudden jerk that parachutists often feel during descend. To allow more control, holes and slots are added to the canopies. Also, with the many different uses come different designs as well. There are designs for high speed and high altitudes, cargo and sport jumping. Parafoils are also added to provide ease in "flying."

Usually, first-time skydivers are strapped together with a professional or experienced skydiver, who activates and controls the parachute. But after experiencing a few jumps and mastering one’s flying skills, you’ll have the courage to jump on your own until you are hooked with the sport.

The sport may seem dangerous, but surprisingly, there are lesser fatalities now. With innovations and safety measures adopted in the US and in most parts of the world, fewer deaths and accidents have occurred in the past years. Among the safety measures is