When it comes to physical sensations, skydiving is about as far away from a roller coaster ride as it is possible to get. When many first-time tandem jumpers get on the platform, they anticipate the stomach-dropping sensation they get when they reach the crest of a roller coaster ride and start plummeting down the tracks. A good friend of mine once described skydiving as “a roller coaster of emotions.” I agree. When many first-time tandem jumpers get on the platform, they anticipate the stomach-dropping sensation they get when they reach the crest of a roller coaster ride and start plummeting down the tracks. 

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Aro... Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around

Skydiving and roller coaster

When you jump out of the plane and into the freefall portion of your skydive, you will not experience a stomach drop as you might expect. The dropping sensation does not exist in skydiving because the roller coaster is starting from a complete stop, unlike in other sports. When the coaster car goes over the edge, the speed of the car increases rapidly, causing you to feel dizzy and tense as the adrenaline rushes through your body. When you exit a plane during a skydive, on the other hand, you are already moving at the speed of the plane.

The forward speed of the plane is included in the relative speed you feel as you fall away, making the sensation significantly gentler and more magical as your body approaches terminal velocity as you fall away from the plane. You can expect your adrenaline to be racing around in circles in your bloodstream at a breakneck pace; however, the sensation will be much more — shall we say — delicious. Both provide a satisfying thud to the nervous system, but skydiving is simply more pleasant. Riding a roller coaster is more frightening than skydiving. Even though it may seem strange, it is true. 

Conclusion

The sensation of skydiving is vastly different from that of riding a roller coaster — extremely different. The most noticeable difference is that there is no “dropping” sensation when you get off a plane.