A skydiver reflects on early mistakes and why canopy coaching became one of the best investments in the sport
Learning the Hard Way
When I started skydiving, formal canopy coaching wasn’t widely available the way it is now. We learned from each other. We figured things out. Sometimes we figured them out the hard way. I had several injuries early in my career, serious enough to keep me grounded for months. None were equipment failures. They were skill and judgment gaps.
At around 2,000 jumps, I finally did something I should have done much earlier. I got humble and took my first real canopy course. It was arguably one of the best investments I’ve made in this sport. That course didn’t just teach me how to land better. It changed how I thought under canopy.
Photo by David Sands
Pattern Recognition in the Air
Think of it this way. When you first learn to drive, it takes all of your attention. You’re thinking about steering, mirrors, pedals, and speed. Everything is conscious.
After years of driving, something changes. You see brake lights flicker far ahead and your foot is already moving to the brake before you consciously think, I need to slow down. Your brain is recognizing patterns faster than you’re narrating them. That’s experience and pattern recognition kicking in.
Canopy flight is the same. New jumpers often think experienced canopy pilots are just naturally quick when they avoid traffic conflicts or surges. They’re not. They simply recognize developing situations early and adjust before things become urgent. Ideally, under canopy, you want your foot on the brake, metaphorically speaking, before you ever have to make a drastic correction to avoid traffic, a surge, or a bad approach.
Photo by David Sands
What Canopy Coaching Actually Teaches
Canopy coaching accelerates this pattern recognition. It teaches you:
• What to look for
• How to think ahead in the pattern
• How to avoid building yourself into a corner
• How to recover if you, or circumstances, put you there
Freefall is impressive, but canopy flight is where longevity lives.
The Investment That Pays Back
Looking back, most of my early injuries were preventable. I simply didn’t know what I didn’t know. Today there are excellent canopy programs available and many reputable coaches around the country.
If you’re newer and deciding where to invest, canopy coaching will pay you back in confidence, consistency, and time in the sport. All that being said, humility at 200 jumps is cheaper than humility at 2,000.
