The first parachute was invented when Jack, tumbling haplessly from his titanium beanstalk, used a purloined pair of giant underpants to slow his fall. Glide to earth safely with today's Groupon to Westside Skydivers in Winsted. Choose between the following options:

• For $899, you get a 24,000-foot high-altitude tandem skydive jump (a $1,799 value).
• For $117, you get a regular tandem skydive jump (up to a $210 value).

The safe and thrilling tutelage of Westside Skydivers assuages the worries of nervous nose divers as they take a scenic leap over Winsted Lake with sterling views of Lake Minnetonka whistling past their ears. In a tandem jump, a must for first timers, the novice skydiver is connected via a harness to an instructor for a safe and thrilling diving debut. Before the flight commences, rookies partake in a preflight class where amateur aeronauts are guided through the jump. Exit through free fall, pulling the ripcord, piloting the canopy, and navigating a comfy landing are all well rehearsed before flight. Sky swans are lifted up to 10,000 feet in the air then jovially hurled into a 45-second, 120-mph free fall, with their coach harnessed behind them. At 5,500 feet, just as adrenaline has eaten any leftover acrophobia, the rookie pulls his or her own ripcord, starting the five- to seven-minute soothing descent to earth. Upon a soft, on-target landing, aspiring paratroopers can purchase a DVD of their daring plunge.

More than doubling the altitude of a regular skydive, the extreme high-altitude tandem skydive sends jumpers plummeting from 24,000 feet. From that height, customers free fall for more than two minutes, giving them just enough time to speed-sing "Free Falling." High-altitude jumps require on-board oxygen and take place daily, and appointments must be made in advance, as a limited number of slots are available.

After a decade as safety and training advisor of Skydive Twin Cities, Jumpin' Joe Johnson created Westside Skydivers to share his free-falling addiction with the like-minded free spirits of Minnesota. Located in the beautiful town of Winsted, Westside Skydivers is the closest skydiving drop zone to the Twin Cities and the western suburbs. Prices for the regular tandem jump vary between $210 on weekends and $189 on weekdays, so plan accordingly to get the best value.

Groupon customers who are traveling to this location also receive an additional 30 percent off a hotel stay at the Ramada in Bloomington. Customers who choose to take advantage of this offer must reserve their room by phone directly with the hotel.