Skydiving, anyone? An adrenaline junkie's delight!

I glanced quickly in the "other sports" thread here and only saw one other person that has jumped (I didn't read past page three, admittedly). Skydiving is an awesome sport. It's been on my list of "Things To Do Before I Croak" for literally years now. (Yes, Jobob....I really AM insane....aak!!) :D :p

Well, I took the - er - plunge and went for my first jump Saturday (pun intended :p ). Actually, it was a birthday present from my husband, a surprise one! And may I with all honesty, that was THE BEST present he or anyone has ever given me for my birthday, other than my actual day of birth (which of course, I don't remember! :D ).

It was a tandem jump out of the Madera Parachute Center in California's Central Valley, and may I say, it's a first-class operation. Dave, the owner, is professional and very knowledgeable with the experience of approximately 9000 jumps under his belt, and the staff is WAY friendly. An awesome group, even the pilot, who's hat I reached over and rescued from blowing out the door upon takeoff. ;) If anyone is thinking of jumping and is looking for a good place in California, PM me for contact info.

My husband had enlisted the help of my best friend Joni, with whom we've been saying ALL these years that we wanted to do this. So getting me there was easy for her -- all she had to do was call me up and invite me to a "scouting trip", to check out the center, prices, and "see a jump", which turned out to be MY OWN, scheduled at noon. Little did I know there was a clan of family members awaiting us at the hangar...my mother (you shoulda seen the look on her face when I landed!!), my husband's mother, and my three children, whom I made sure I kissed before I got into the plane.

First of all, I love flying....I discovered that last year on my trip to Maine. So the plane ride in that itsy bitsy little Cessna was sooooo fun, and the view from above at 10,000 feet elevation was truly awesome. My ears kept popping from the high altitude, as we circled and circled the airfield, up, up, up....

My only moment of what I guess was fear came after I was completely strapped and clipped in to the instructor's harness and we were waiting for the right altitude to jump. Upon the instructor's comment "It'll be any moment now" my stomach tightened and I thought to myself something to the effect of "What the fxxx am I doing???!".....but thankfully that was quickly replaced by "Ok, you're here, you said you want to do this, now just go for it!"...so that's what I did. It also helped to think that I no longer had a choice in the matter, as I was already attached to the guy who was gonna jump out whether I liked it or not! hehe :p

Freefalling....they stressed that I needed to concentrate on breathing. Sounds easy, but it wasn't. The air rushing by your face at that speed (we opened the chute at approximately 120mph) made breathing out a chore, and I found I really had to concentrate on an even in and out pattern (stick your head out the window of a car doing 80mph down the freeway and you'll see what I mean). But, I was rescued by the tap on my shoulder from Dave that meant I was supposed to hold on to my harness in preparation for the chute opening.

Wow....floating down to earth was sooooooo awesome....and the turns were even more so. My family down on the ground could hear me whooping with glee each time we made a hard swoop. It's sortof like a rollercoaster on a corkscrew turn. You've got forward momentum, but you're dipping down and swinging out at the same time. So fun....I loved it. He even let me make my own turn or two.

Midway down, we practiced a braking maneuver that we'd use upon landing so that I'd know what to expect. Pulling down on both lines almost literally halts the downward movement, and it was a neat sensation to feel us hovering in the completely quiet air. It was a perfect landing (in my book), although I think we probably could have slowed a bit more.

And the whole thing was videotaped!!! I have proof! :p

All in all, a wonderful, exciting, adrenaline-filled experience that I'd recommend to all adrenaline junkies and those looking for a one-of-a-kind, insane thrill. Way cool. :cool: :D

On solid ground...but maybe not for long....:D
~BikeMomma

Very cool! This is something I'm considering doing for my 50th birthday. Would you mind PMing the contact info?

wheeeeeeee !!!

And a very happy birthday indeed, K2!

BikeMomma,

Congratulations! I would have to say that skydiving is the most exhilarating thing I ever did. I was more alive in those moments.

I did my jumps over 20 years ago when the chutes were military style :eek:
Personal ones were nicer but the rentals were half-spheres. Another difference is that I did static-line jumps (solo with 5 second automatic openings). I still remember the euphoria when the chute opened. ;) Also, I had to swing over to grab the wing until I was over the landing spot. For me this was the hardest part. I had/have acrophobia and my hands were sweating profusely. Once I let go, I figured it was out of my control, which strangely was comforting.

We spent a fair amount of time learning how to land correctly: with eyes on the horizon and legs together with knees bent so one would roll on impact.

I was so happy on the first jump that I was able to hold my position that I returned for a second jump. However, #2 jump left me in a precarious situation in that I was about to land on a barbed wire fence. There was little control in those chutes :o I chose to watch where I landed so I would (hopefully) land away from the fence (which I did) but I risked breaking my legs if I stiffened on landing. Since I was able to walk away unscathed, I decided not to temp fate anymore.

I can't imagine free-falling. That must have been the most incredible feeling.

Quillfred

That is something I have always wanted to do. In fact, I had arranged as a surprise BD present for an ex that we would go, but then he wouldn't do it, because he didn't know the instructor's qualifications blah blah blah. Missed my chance.

I've got a girlfriend, though, who is addicted to flying in wind tunnels.

Nanci

Happy birthday! You are freaking CRAZY, but happy birthday! :p

MP is a-scared of heights....

MP, you made me laugh! Yea, I guess I am crazy. And then last weekend I hiked up to Half Dome. I didn't summit though -- not much left in the ol' tank as I didn't eat real well the day before. Beautiful hike if you ever get the chance (you may have already!). That was another item on my "To Do" list. Check off two in a matter of a week.

Nanci -- do it! No better time like now!

Wheeeeee is right Jobob! I think I'm hooked.....

Snap - I'm attaching the flyer....free advertising for the school, if nothing else.

Quillfred -- freefalling was WAY awesome. Really strange and rather terrifying at first...that lasted about 5 seconds, and then I started to enjoy it, and at the same time trying to breathe....THAT'S hard!! The silence after the chute opened was really neat, though.

I'm considering another jump before the end of summer. :D Veeerrry crazy! hehe
~BikeMomma

Will you do it alone next time or tandem again? The freefall is the big plus of going tandem I think.

I bought Erik a tandem jump with video for his 55th birthday last year and he LOVED it. He wants to do it again and he really wants me to go but I'm just too chicken. I think I could actually do it but the waiting time would kill me. If I was just up in the plane with them and they were all jumping and they said, hey do you want to go too? - I'd go in an instant. But the planning and thinking about it - that would kill me.

Anyway, WTG for checking off two things on your 'to-do" list! I don't even have a list - guess I should get on it...

Yea, I suspect that if I did plan for it, I'd be a bit more nervous than I was. But I think I still would have went through with it.

Not sure what's next on the list....probably another jump! :D :D :rolleyes:

What "saved" me was being first to jump. It helps not having to stress watching everyone go before you do.

Funny, I just unearthed my dive photo. I looked liked I was smiling but it was more of a grimace :D . Hardest part was having to hang on to the strut and wait for the ok to let go.

Have a great second jump Bikemomma!