« Day of the Jump | Main | The Jump - more pictures »
August 28, 2005
Free-fall
Wow. Figuring out how to describe my impressions from the jump is really hard. We arrived at the dropzone at about 13:30 but due to the good weather, a different plane being used and some other organizational problems I didn't get on a lift until about 17:30. This gave us plenty of time to see lots of other jumps.
After some instructions and being handed to my "tandem-master" we boarded the plane. It was a small plane and only about 10 people fit on board for each lift. After takeoff, the plane climbed to 4000 meters and during that, I was attached to the guy who was to become the most important person in my life for the next 10 minutes. We were the first pair out of the plane and this meant we had to slide forward to the door, then I was hanging outside the plane while my companion was still sitting on the ledge (interesting feeling). Then it was remember the instructions - legs under the plane, head back and off we fell. About 40 seconds of free-fall (loud, windy and remembering to look really cool into the camera of the guy filming me) and then the parachute opened. And a completely different sensation. You just hang there and it's really quiet. Excellent view and chatting with my best friend (for a few minutes more, anyway). And then the landing (remember to pull your legs up). And back I was. Landed.
I wasn't really scared at any time during the whole thing but at the same time so many different sensations surge through you that you feel quite exhausted and exhilarated. And boy do you feel cool once you are on mother earth again. Yeah - been there, done that. Hah.
I'm the one in red hanging on in front. More pictures here.
Posted by Matthew at August 28, 2005 12:30 AM