“What’s the hardest thing about skydiving?”/“The ground.”

A riddle about the sport of skydiving is:
 
Q: What’s the hardest thing about skydiving?
A: The ground
 
The riddle was posted to the newsgroup rec.skydiving on February 23, 1998.
 
     
Google Groups: rec.skydiving
Joke of the day…...
Myers
2/23/98
Question: What’s the hardest thing about skydiving?
Answer: The ground.
 
1 October 1998, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “Laugh Lines; Pint-Sized Punch Lines,” pg. E2, col. 3:
* What is the hardest thing about skydiving? The ground. (Laura Padilla, 9, Los Angeles, Russell Elementary)
   
21 March 2001, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “The Kids’ Reading Room; Reading by 9; Jokes & Riddles,” pg. E8, col. 5:
* What is the hardest thing about skydiving? The ground. (Robert, 8, Kester Avenue Elementary, Van Nuys)
 
Google Groups: alt.humor.puns
Puns of the Weak 10/25/02
Stan Kegel
10/27/02
(...)
What is the hardest part about skydiving?
The ground (Vanessa, 11)
 
Google Groups: alt.humor.puns
Puns of the Weak: 05-02-03
Stan Kegel
5/5/03
(...)
What is the hardest part about skydiving?
The ground (Lee Hogan)
 
Google Books
Goofballs!:
A Book of Sports Jokes
By Mark Ziegler
Illustrated by Anne Haberstroh
Minneapolis, MN: Picture Window Books
2005
Pg. 6:
What’s the hardest thing about skydiving?
The ground.
 
Twitter
Katie
‏@katiebeth
What’s the hardest thing about skydiving? The ground. (hahahahaha!)
1:52 AM - 29 Jul 2009
 
Twitter
Kevin Jackson
‏@chuise
from popsicle stick: “what’s the hardest thing about skydiving?” i’m guessing the ground. answer to follow after i eat this thing.
9:35 PM - 2 Sep 2008
 
Google Books
Horrid Henry’s Joke Book
By Francesca Simon
Illustrated by Tony Ross
Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
2010
Pg. 61:
What is the hardest part about skydiving?
The ground.
 
Google Books
Jokes for Kids:
Jokes, Riddles, & Tongue Twisters That Will Tickle Your Ribs & Make Your Funny Bone Laugh
By Nicole Townsend
Lulu Press, Inc. (Lulu.com)
2014
Pg. ?:
Q: What is the hardest part about skydiving?
A: The ground!
   
Reddit
What’s the hardest part about skydiving?
submitted April 3, 2014 by calvinswagg
The ground.