A tandem student points out his altitude as he makes his first skydive with instructor Jeff Whitt at Skydive Spaceland–Houston in Rosharon, Texas.

Oil and water, Red Bull and milk, brass grommets and rubber bands: all things that don’t mix together well.

My first year here at USPA as director of safety and training has gone by so quickly.

Brought to you by three-time British Freefly Champion Joel Strickland. Strickland is a full-time freefly coach and tunnel-flying professional and a Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Artistic Events Judge. Jumpers can read more of his writing or contact him for tunnel camps in Europe at joelstrickland.net.

You pull one handle and, magically, there is an open parachute over your head. And if that doesn’t work, you just cut away, pull the reserve handle and later buy your rigger their bottle of choice. Voilà! Seems simple enough.