Why Norway is a paradise for skydivers
Overview of skydiving in Norway.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn more about the history and rules of the sport of cricket.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.You can't bend it like Beckham without a little help from physics.Media Editor: Lee Goldstein
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.The fantasy tabletop role-playing game has given players the ability to write their own stories since it was first published in 1974.
-
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Wafuefotodesign/Dreamstime.com; © Bahdan Zhorau/Dreamstime.comOverview of a steelworks in Mo i Rana, Norway.
-
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Jldelawter/Dreamstime.comRemembering the Pearl Harbor attack, with a discussion of the USS Arizona Memorial.
-
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn about the Potsdam Conference, attended by Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, and Joseph Stalin, to decide the future of Germany and Europe after World War II.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn more about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, by the United States during World War II.
Transcript
NARRATOR: We're making our way to Norway's dizzying heights. Norway is a skydiver's paradise. We thought we'd put it to the test. Our reporter is trying his hand at a tandem jump. He'll be sampling skydiving for himself with the help of his instructor Malcolm. This thrilling experience has set us back about €200. Following a harness check and a short introductory talk, there's no turning back. The aircraft climbs to an altitude of 4,000 meters within a matter of minutes. The instructors try to calm people's nerves with a few jokes. But everyone knows this is serious business.
SKYDIVER: "It's cold and we're really high up. Oh my feet are outside!"
NARRATOR: The first few seconds of that very first jump are terrifying. But once the skydivers have assumed a stable position, most of them can relax a little and enjoy hurtling toward the earth. Everything goes off without a hitch. It's a good job it all went so quickly, otherwise our reporter may have reconsidered and never got to experience such a thrilling adventure for himself. Just as we are about to leave, we meet two Danes, Martin and Nils. They come to Norway as often as possible to practice their skydiving skills.
NILS: "There's definitely not so many people. It makes it easier for us to get the permit to fly. We have so much space and we can just use it for ourselves. Especially up there."
REPORTER: "How many jumps did you do together?"
NILS: "Oh, we have been jumping together for five years now. We have maybe 3,000 jumps together.
REPORTER: "So you don't count anymore."
NILS: "Yeah, we still count, sure."
NARRATOR: The pros use every chance they get to train for the upcoming Skydiving World Cup. Norway is the ideal place with its many small airfields, where they can perfect their jump without having to join a waiting list. And with enough training, maybe you too could manage a performance like these two adrenaline junkies from Denmark.
SKYDIVER: "It's cold and we're really high up. Oh my feet are outside!"
NARRATOR: The first few seconds of that very first jump are terrifying. But once the skydivers have assumed a stable position, most of them can relax a little and enjoy hurtling toward the earth. Everything goes off without a hitch. It's a good job it all went so quickly, otherwise our reporter may have reconsidered and never got to experience such a thrilling adventure for himself. Just as we are about to leave, we meet two Danes, Martin and Nils. They come to Norway as often as possible to practice their skydiving skills.
NILS: "There's definitely not so many people. It makes it easier for us to get the permit to fly. We have so much space and we can just use it for ourselves. Especially up there."
REPORTER: "How many jumps did you do together?"
NILS: "Oh, we have been jumping together for five years now. We have maybe 3,000 jumps together.
REPORTER: "So you don't count anymore."
NILS: "Yeah, we still count, sure."
NARRATOR: The pros use every chance they get to train for the upcoming Skydiving World Cup. Norway is the ideal place with its many small airfields, where they can perfect their jump without having to join a waiting list. And with enough training, maybe you too could manage a performance like these two adrenaline junkies from Denmark.