Photo by Laszlo Andacs.
On Monday morning, everyone becomes an expert. “The quarterback should have gone long instead of handing off the ball. That receiver? Way overpaid for missing such an easy catch. And really, why attempt a two-point conversion instead of just kicking the extra point? Oh, and while we’re at it—why didn’t you address that spinning malfunction before you cut away?” However, this isn’t football. The stakes are far higher than a missed Super Bowl bid.
Skydiving has a culture problem, and too often we see Monday-morning quarterbacking among skydivers—both in person and online—who scrutinize those forced to cut away, providing a play-by-play of what they “should have done” to rectify the malfunction before executing emergency procedures. While many of these comments are made in jest, they frequently carry a dangerous undertone.
Criticism of a jumper who could not resolve a malfunction and chose to cut away implies that solving a problem is more important than landing safely. Mocking a friend’s response to an emergency does not help them develop new skills. In fact, it may discourage them from seeking guidance in the future. Most dangerously, it increases the risk that they may hesitate the next time they face an emergency, fearing backlash for cutting away a problem others consider solvable. Taking time to contemplate all problem-solving techniques during an emergency consumes valuable seconds. And every second spent trying to fix an issue is altitude lost—altitude better used getting a reserve overhead and preparing to land safely.
However, when done correctly, sharing techniques and debriefing the effectiveness of actions in an emergency can be invaluable. One of the first considerations must be timing. The best words immediately after a cutaway are, “Good job!” This reinforces the idea that the most important thing is that they acted to ensure a good parachute and landed safely. Learning rarely occurs while adrenaline is still flowing, so any critique or debrief should be delayed until the jumper has had time to take care of their gear and return to an emotional baseline.
Another consideration is determining who should offer critiques. Debriefing should ideally come from someone experienced and with a good rapport with the jumper. Additionally, while group discussions can be excellent for learning, receiving unsolicited advice from everyone with an opinion is seldom helpful. It can be contradictory and leaves the jumper feeling even less confident about handling things in the future. You may be the right person to debrief your friend, but reflecting on that before offering advice can be valuable.
Rather than teasing or mocking, ensure that your discussion is solutions-focused and avoids judgment. Perhaps you would have handled that diving line twist differently, but you can offer a technique without disparaging their decision to cut away. After all, it wasn’t you deciding while spinning and diving.
Finally, be mindful of the unintended audience. While discussing the event around the bonfire, ensure that newer jumpers listening aren’t confused by information better suited to highly experienced skydivers. As a community, we need to take accountability and foster a culture that supports the decision to cut away. After all, a repack is cheaper than a funeral, and any jump you walk away from is a success. Instead of criticizing our friends, let’s celebrate their clear thinking and decisive action in an emergency.
Mel Schock, M.Ed. D-37540
AFF Instructor and Coach Examiner