WHEN YOU THINK THE WORD “SKYDIVER,” WHAT DO YOU PICTURE?

Patrick Swayze, maybe, circa 1992? That guy who jumped from space? Or that other guy who jumped from space? Some of your brain’s stock footage of a lemming-long-line of military parachutists issuing from the rear door of a cargo aircraft? You might be imagining some version of a devil-may-care rule breaker who never calls his mom. And you’re almost certainly picturing a dude.

All of the above mental images are little gifts of movies and the media. They certainly don’t represent the majority. No worries–we’ll catch you up to the modern moment, so you won’t be too shocked when you head out to the dropzone and look around.