If you had told me a few years ago that I would willingly spend time being pushed around by hurricane-strength wind, I would have laughed. And yet, indoor skydiving has become one of the most joyfully freeing sports I’ve ever tried as an above-knee amputee. It looks like a stunt. It feels like flying. And surprisingly, it can be one of the most inclusive adventure activities available right now.

I’m writing this while I’m packing my bag, because tomorrow morning I’m catching a train to Leipzig for OTWorld, the world’s largest O&P trade fair. If you’re coming too, you already know Leipzig is worth more than just conference halls and business cards: some people will chase the classic tourist highlights and landmarks, others will be hungry for a new kind of experience. Either way, the new indoor skydiving tunnel just outside the city is an amazing experience and a real treat — especially if you’re mainly in town for the trade fair but still want to do something special. I recently shared tourist tips for Leipzig, and today I’m adding another: go fly in the wind tunnel.

Indoor skydiving is bodyflight in a vertical wind tunnel that lets you experience the sensation of freefall, without needing to jump out of a plane. If you have ever wanted to skydive but the “plane part” felt like a barrier, this is your door opening.

Let’s be honest: many sports still treat disability as an afterthought. Indoor skydiving can be different, because the main force doing the work is the airflow, not your legs.

• You are coached one-to-one. Beginners usually fly with instructors right next to them, always with grips at the suit.
• You can adapt gear and technique. Some flyers use prosthetics, some remove them. Some use different footwear. Many find their own modifications to better adjust body position, mobility limitations, or missing limbs.
• It scales from “first-time fun” to serious skill. You can try it once for the experience or train like an athlete.

Most importantly, it offers something many of us are constantly looking for: A space where your body is not judged first — it’s supported first.

In many cases: yes. Every body is different, and every tunnel might have its own safety rules and other regulations. But indoor skydiving has a strong track record of welcoming para-athletes and people with limb differences.

Leipzig now has an Indoor Skydiving location right by the NOVA Shoppingcenter in Günthersdorf. If you’re in town for OTWorld, consider freeing up a few hours and turning your trip into something you’ll remember for years.

The Leipzig tunnel is run by Boris Nebe, one of the pioneers of indoor skydiving in Germany and beyond and someone who has supported efforts to bring people with disabilities into this sport. That support matters. And it matters a lot.

Because inclusion is not just a ramp at the entrance. Inclusion is instructors who are curious instead of cautious, staff who plan instead of improvise, and leadership that actively says, “Yes, you belong here.” instead of greeting you with a lukewarm “We can try, maybe!” And here Boris and his team make an immense difference.

In recent years, wind tunnels have moved from niche curiosity to mainstream bucket-list activity. And that shift is powerful for our community. When more non-disabled people try indoor skydiving, the sport grows. When the sport grows, coaching improves, facilities invest, and visibility rises. That makes it easier for para-athletes and beginners with disabilities to find a place where they are not “the first one they’ve ever seen.”

Disability becomes normal — not because anyone is inspirational, but because we are simply part of the sport.

If you want to see what’s possible, these accounts are worth your time:

• Niko Johann – a legend in para indoor skydiving: https://www.instagram.com/niko.johann/
• Juliette Janssen – skydiver and indoor skydiver: https://www.instagram.com/juliettedeijkersjanssen/
• Boris Nebe – tunnel pioneer and supporter: https://www.instagram.com/borisnebe/
• Indoor Para Skydiving Team Germany: https://www.instagram.com/indoorparaskydivingteamgermany/

Watching skilled flyers is not just entertainment. It’s education. You start recognizing body position, small corrections, and the patience behind progression.

There are moments after limb loss where the world can feel smaller. Indoor skydiving does the opposite. For a few seconds at a time, it makes the world feel wide, light, and possible.

If you’re coming to Leipzig for OTWorld, consider this your extra invitation: stay an afternoon longer, and go fly.