Crews do not coach every body the same way because harnesses, center of mass, and cord energy do not treat every body the same way. That is engineering and fit, not a moral ranking.
If someone sells "one script for all humans," they are marketing, not rigging.
Weight bands are the first coach
Before anyone gives you a pep talk, you are inside or outside a published weight range. Different products list different min/max numbers because cord setup and clearance change with mass.[1][2]
Too light or too heavy is not a dare. It is a no. Decent staff will not "make it work" with a wink.
Harness and attachment coaching
Ankle harnesses and full-body harnesses load people differently. Hip shape, torso length, limb length, and clothing change how straps sit. Crew should adjust, recheck, and explain what you will feel on the catch—not shove you into the next size up because the queue is long.[3]
If something pinches or rides in a way that feels wrong during the check, say it before the countdown. Silent politeness is a bad safety habit.
How cues change at the edge
- Taller / longer limbs: more attention to chin position and arm instructions so you do not fight the harness
- Shorter jumpers: platform stance and step timing can feel different; follow their marks, not your friend’s TikTok
- Higher body mass within limits: clearer brief on the heavier catch sensation; no shame, just physics
- Very nervous jumpers: shorter commands, less crowd noise, more process—not a hyped chant circle
None of this is therapy. It is getting a human through a checklist without improvisation.
What you should ask
- What harness style is used on this product?
- Any clothing that interferes with fit?
- What happens if I freeze on the count?
- Are tandem weight-gap rules published if that is the product?
Kawarau tandem rules, for example, include combined limits and a max weight difference between partners—body pairing is policy, not vibe.[2]
What is not "coaching"
Fat jokes. Gendered bravery lectures. Pushing past a medical no. Filming someone who asked for no cameras. If that is the culture on deck, leave. Another operator exists.
Bottom line: good crews adjust fit and cues to the body in front of them, inside hard weight limits. Bad crews improvise or mock. Pick the first kind.
Sources
- AJ Hackett Bungy NZ — FAQs (weight ranges by activity)
- AJ Hackett — Kawarau Bridge Bungy (solo/tandem weight rules)
- AJ Hackett Bungy NZ — Is bungy jumping safe?
- OpenStax — elasticity / force vs deformation (why mass and stretch couple)
Image credits
- Photo: Franz Schütz / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
- Photo: Christian Ferrer / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)