Spanish Immigration and Life in Spain: In the past two years, skydiving has started to enter the lives of Chinese living in Spain and has gradually become popular.
Ms. Li, a Chinese expatriate, learned about skydiving through a local group-buying website in Spain. "I am a teacher, and while my work pressure is not very high, life can be too monotonous, and I need a shot of adrenaline to spice things up. I also want to challenge my courage," she said.
It is understood that skydiving has slowly become popular in the Chinese community since last year.
Skydiving is becoming increasingly popular
Reportedly, skydiving has been conducted in the Chinese community in Spain for over a year, and people continue to inquire and sign up. They organize skydiving activities 2 to 3 times a month on average. Recently, with the warming weather, the number of inquiries has also increased. Previously, most participants were young people, including a portion of students who are more open to new experiences. Another group consists of Chinese businesspeople or ordinary office workers in Spain, who often experience significant work pressure and need a way to completely release stress. "Since last year, we have hosted over 40 Chinese individuals for skydiving, including three 'youngsters' who have just turned 14, and some guests have returned to sign up again after their first jump," Ms. Wu said.
What does skydiving feel like?
The reporter interviewed a Chinese expatriate, Xiao Wang, who recently experienced skydiving. She said: "The day before the jump, I started to feel nervous and anxious. That morning, I was extremely tense, my heart raced with excitement; when I stepped onto the plane, I suddenly felt calm, anticipating what it would be like to jump. At the moment the cabin door opened, I didn’t even have time to say anything before I had already jumped out; floating in the sky, it wasn’t fear but rather a complete enjoyment of the experience."
When the reporter asked how scary skydiving is, Xiao Wang explained, "The thrill of skydiving is less than one-thousandth of bungee jumping. When you are at high altitude, the plane is traveling at about 140 km/h, and during the skydive, you fall freely at around 200 km/h. The difference isn’t significant, meaning you are already in motion; it’s just that after you jump, your speed increases. In contrast, bungee jumping goes from a static state to free fall, accelerating from 0 km/h to 200 km/h in an instant, which is why people often describe the sensation as weightlessness."
Still a niche sport
Although skydiving, a top extreme sport, is gradually becoming more accessible, those who wish to try it are still influenced by some practical factors. Firstly, the cost: skydiving differs from other extreme sports in that its basic operational costs and safety technology are higher compared to other outdoor activities, making even a single experience not particularly affordable. Additionally, skydiving is affected by psychological factors, personal health conditions, and age restrictions. Overall, despite more people being exposed to this sport, it still cannot become a widely participated activity overnight.
