Should You Eat Before Skydiving?

In over 50 years of skydiving, we’ve learned what our customers fear the most, and believe it or not, it has nothing to do with death! The two concerns we hear most often is “Will my stomach launch into my throat like on a roller coaster?” and “Will I get sick?” We’ve got good news – you won’t feel that roller coaster stomach drop sensation and you won’t get sick depending on what you eat (or don’t eat)! More importantly, people should be asking about eating before skydiving. Let us explain.

Can You and Should you Eat Before Skydiving?

Absolutely yes, you should definitely eat before skydiving. The number one cause for feeling nauseated or vomiting is when first-time skydivers eat nothing at all or eat entirely too much.

It seems counter-intuitive that not eating would cause projectile vomiting, but ask any instructor who has been puked on and they’ll confirm that this fact is indeed true! Making a skydive is an activity that will make your heart race and your adrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine levels SOAR THROUGH THE ROOF! If you’ve got nothing there to support it, you’ll feel depleted and nauseated which could lead to some unpleasant vomiting (ain’t nobody got time for that!). What should be a life-changing adventure becomes a memorable day for all the wrong reasons.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, eating two Coney Island Specials (combination hot dog and loose ground beef smothered with chili, mustard, and onions) from Mark’s Midtown before your jump may leave you with some regret. We love the food, but reserve this for post-jump celebrations!

So, don’t not eat (yep, we used a double negative) but don’t be extravagant. A measured and nutritious breakfast or lunch that doesn’t give you the unpleasant burpies is the way to go!

Drink Water Before Skydiving to Stay Hydrated!

While we’re on the topic, people also wonder if you can drink before skydving. Eating is important but so is hydration, especially during the summer! By hydration, we mean drinking lots of water and not slamming down three Red Bulls prior to your jump – you won’t need your heart rate to be spiking on all that taurine – the adrenaline will handle that for you! 

If you are prone to motion sickness already, it’s especially important that you stay hydrated and it may not be a terrible idea to bring a motion sickness medicine if the slightest bit of rocking on a flat lake makes you feel a bit green.

Eating Before Skydiving – Facts To Know

If you happen to be reading this blog post in the car while driving to the dropzone on an empty stomach then fear not, we’ve got you covered. Skydive Tecumseh sells snacks and beverages to make sure your stomach is well equipped to handle your impending adventure. There are also several local restaurants we love that you can pit stop at on your way to the dropzone. 

Another interesting point worth mentioning is that should you feel nauseated at all, it’s usually when soaring under parachute – it never happens during free fall. The ultimate takeaway from this piece is that feeling sick when making a skydive seldom happens as it’s not an activity that feels anything as dramatic as a roller coaster. To reiterate, having the proper fuel to sustain the adrenaline rush is what’s key. 

We hope you’ve enjoyed our attempt at humor with this blog post (we like to keep it lite) to illustrate the need to eat a balanced meal and be hydrated to ensure you have the best experience possible. Should you have questions, please review our FAQs page or contact us – we’d be happy to answer any of your questions!