The Best Experience Ever

7-4-2014

     Skydiving! The best thing we've done in New Zealand, I think. It was incredible! I can't decide if it's better than skiing or not, it may be a close call. I love to go fast. I can go fast when I ski, but this was something else. Surprisingly similar in the floating sensation and the cold wind in the face, but still a lot different. Maybe it was the uncomfortable knowledge that there was a chance the chute wouldn't open. But then again, when I go skiing there's a chance I'll hit a tree, or the chair will swing too much and fall off the lift, or I'll get run over by someone totally out of control. But then, those are survivable. Dropping from 15,000 feet...not so much. But I have to say, if my shoot hadn't deployed, that would be a heck of a good way to die. It was so peaceful, yet it was thrilling too. It was thrilling when we jumped out of the plane and it felt like I was being sucked down. We fell so fast that we were up to our terminal velocity, about 200km/hr (about 125mph), in a few short seconds. 

     It was thrilling when we flipped just after we jumped out of the plane. (I say "we" here because I jumped tandem, but I know Luke's experience was very much the same as mine.) I wasn't sure we wouldn't just keep flipping, but we didn't. Unbeknownst to me there was a small chute that was pulled just after we jumped out of the plane.  I think it helped keep us horizontal to the ground. It also slowed us down enough for the camera lady to be able to catch up to us for the video. I couldn't tell there were any extra chutes until we saw the pictures, though. 

     It was also thrilling once we reached terminal velocity and were just flying through the air. It wasn't really like flying, though, at least not how I imagine it. It wasn't like falling, either. Falling is scary because  you know the ground is very quickly coming at you. The ground does not seem to come at you quickly when you skydive. It feels more like driving fast, or skiing fast...only not.  You're going really, really fast but there's nothing to hit. It's not scary in the least. It's fun. The ground is so far below that it's not even worrysome. Well, at least not for a good long while. 

     The drop fall only lasts for one minute from 15,000 feet, but that one minute feels like ten. Think about all the things you've done really, really fast and think about how long you dared to keep your speed up. One minute actually is a long time.

     There were other factors, too, that made that one minute seem like ten. Slightly unpleasant things like a cold, dry mouth because my smile was being blasted by air traveling at 200kph, and my ears were hurting and aching all the way down my neck until I managed to equalize them. Little things, though, compared to how awesome the view is, and the sensation of fearless speed.

     Soon enough the chute was pulled. My legs swung up from the jolt, but nothing hurt. I watched the camera lady wave as she kept falling and I waved back, but I don't think she saw me. We soared over her and I lost her from view behind us. I looked around for her chute but I never saw it. I have no idea where she landed, or even that she did for sure. I only saw Luke's chute, far below me. (He jumped out before I did.)

     Gliding around with the chute pulled is the part that felt like flying. That was the peaceful part. It was beautiful. We soared and banked corners, spinning in circles both large and small. The smaller ones were fun. I imagined we were like a hawk, circling in the air. I bet hawks get that same soaring feeling, they just also have the feeling of being attached to their wings from shoulder to fingertip, as opposed to the hips, shoulders, and back. Eh, but what do I know. 

     I watched Luke land below me. The parachute laid down behind them like a living creature that knew what it was supposed to do. Meanwhile, me and my jump-buddy spun and circled the landing area, lazily making our own way down. A few minutes later I was told to hold my legs up as we came in for our landing. I held them up high as we glided to the ground. Just like a bird, we slowed down a lot just before hitting the ground and we landed smoothly. When we came to a stop I quickly put my legs on the ground and stood up. My jump-buddy and I wobbled a little bit as we balanced ourselves out, and then I was unclipped and free to walk around. Walking even felt a little strange after flying. 

     Of course we took one last picture, and then that was it. We thanked our jump-buddies, walked back inside, and returned our jump suits. Then we got our pictures, videos, and free t-shirts and left. We went and had a beer to celebrate, but it didn't feel like we were celebrating being alive, although that's what we joked. I think we were celebrating such an awesome experience. 

     I highly recommend skydiving to everyone, even if you're afraid of heights. You don't get the chance to be afraid, you just do it. There is no standing at the door looking down, waiting to jump. You just slide up to it and go. The most nerve-racking part is getting on the plane to go. And I'll tell ya', it's worth it.