A run down of some of the most popular magazines on the market today for skydivers.
Skydiving is considered by many to be one of the most dangerous and risky of all the extreme sports. But for those who enjoy skydiving as a hobby, or are part of a skydiving club or team, it’s much more than a hobby: it is a way of life. Just like more popular sports such as baseball, hockey, football, and basketball, skydivers have their own publications available to them to catch up on the latest trends, records, and events. Although most do not think of skydiving as a sport but more of a fun risk-taking adventure, enthusiasts look for others who share in their interests, and can often find them within the pages of skydiving magazines.
Skydiving Magazine is the most popular of the publications for this genre. In publication since 1979, the magazine claims to be published “for jumpers by jumpers”. A large part of Skydiving Magazine’s content focuses on safety and the latest equipment. It also features people individually who take part in the sport, and offers its readers the chance to contribute to the magazine as well. The publication is distributed monthly and each month features an exciting full color photo of exciting skydiving moves on the cover. There are also back issues available for purchase.
Another popular publication that has been in print since 1957 is Parachutist Magazine. It is considered to be the most widely read skydiving magazine worldwide. The magazine features great photographs from some of the most renowned skydiving photographers, as well as new and old techniques for skydiving. Parachutist Magazine is published by the United States Parachute Association, so it is considered by many to be the authority in skydiving publications.
Paramag is a skydiving magazine based in France, but it has taken on a lot of popularity among American skydivers as well. Paramag was one of the very first magazines of its kind to publish the magazine on the world wide web in addition to the print version. Paramag is a favorite among cult skydivers, and features classifieds, shopping, columns, and photographs. The web site and magazine are both published in French and in English, and really caters to the younger skydiving set.
For the more extreme and daring set, Blinc Magazine is a great choice. Although not entirely for skydivers, Blinc features just about anything relating to daring sky-high jumps, although it mainly features base jumping. It focuses heavily on parachuting of just about any kind, and has a great online web site in addition to its print counterpart. There are plenty of reviews on gear, locations, and travel (in other words, places to jump from!). In addition, Blinc Magazine encourages a spirit of community within its readership by offering forums and answering questions from its readers.
These are just a few of the magazines available to skydivers today. There are even more publications available internationally. Although considered a taboo sport by many, skydiving is soaring in popularity, and the availability of magazines for its fans is increasing with great momentum.