Ground Control Skydiven


Ground Control: France Special

Adventure, connection, freedom.

Ground Control skydiving in Royan: skydiver in a backflip after exit above the Atlantic coast, with sun and sea.
Backflip over the Atlantic coast. Ground Control: quiet mind, sharp focus.

Core idea:
Ground Control skydiving is an optional no-nonsense week special alongside your jumps in France. You train short, practical tools (attention, breath, anchor), apply them immediately in the air, and take them home. Result: less noise, faster learning, calm in the plane, and the same focus for work, sport, and home.

tl;dr:

  • Royan, France (available here only)
  • One week, coaches who actually watch your jumps
  • Short ground blocks → apply in the air → short debrief
  • Focus: breath, attention, anchor + reflection

What Ground Control skydiving is

Ground Control blends intense skydiving with mental calm and focus. You train alongside your jumps: short blocks on the ground, then apply immediately in the air. Straightforward, direct, noticeable results.

Why only in Royan

In Royan we have the coaches, rhythm and planning to keep your learning curve tight. Every exercise links to your next jump, so you quickly feel what works. For general info on the sport and safety frameworks, see the KNVvL Parachutespringen.

Experiential learning: do and reflect

The base is simple: action → experience → reflection → new action. You jump, look back briefly (what helped, what you keep), and apply it right away. With video debriefs you grow faster and more consciously.

Person-centred and in-the-moment

We align coaching to your level and goals. Interventions target what’s happening now: the exact cue that helps you in the plane, at the door, or in freefall.

Mindfulness as a performance skill

Here, mindfulness isn’t a pause but a tool. You learn to regulate tension, keep attention, and return to your anchor (breath, body position, focus). Short tools with big effect, in the air and beyond. Also read: dealing with stress while skydiving.

What a day looks like

  • Short morning check-in: intention, breath, focus.
  • Briefing per level with clear goals per jump.
  • Jumps with one or two targeted mindset and technique accents.
  • Short debrief with progress card and one concrete cue.
  • Mindful reset: breathing, walk, rest.
  • Optional evening session: translate insights to work and home.

What you take home after a week

  • A fixed pre-exit routine for calm and focus.
  • More overview from call to landing.
  • Faster, calmer decision-making in freefall and under canopy.
  • Concrete tools for tension: breath-anchor, focus phrase, simple body cues.
  • Clear transfer to daily life: what you apply on Monday and how.
  • A personal set of next steps that fits your level.

The coaches

Our mix of mindfulness, coaching and skydiving works because technique and mindset come together. Quick intro:

  • Thed van den Berg — Team coach & trainer (psychology, systemic). Strong at spotting patterns and turning them into behaviour that does help; from tense moment to concrete choice or action.
  • Sjon de Jong — Skydive coach & program lead. Simple cues that work immediately (breath, body position, focus), clear goals per jump, short debrief, and one next step you feel on your very next load.

FAQ

Isn’t this a bit “woo-woo”?
No. Ground Control is practical and down-to-earth: short tools you apply right away in the plane, at the door, and in freefall.
Is this suitable for beginners?
Yes. We tailor tools to your level. You’ll learn a simple pre-jump routine that gives you immediate grip on your first jumps.
How do I combine this with AFF or the A-license track?
We plan around your jumps: short ground blocks, apply in the air, short debrief. It accelerates what you’re already learning.
What if the weather turns?
Safety first. We use the time for theory, breath/focus and reflection. As soon as it’s possible, we shift the jumps. The learning line continues.

Practical & booking

Location: Royan, France. Duration: one week. Guidance: experienced coaches who watch your jumps and link them directly to your next flight. Price and current dates are on the Ground Control page.

More Ground Control reading

Calm isn’t random. You train it. In Royan you’ll see it in your jumps.

About Author

Airboss
Sjon de Jong is the founder and owner of Airboss, with years of experience coaching beginner skydivers and organizing skydiving holidays at unique destinations.