First Jump --Lengthy

[countingthedays 0]

I'm sure its been said before; words cannot describe yesterdays activities.

I've been meaning to try skydiving for a while now. Kind of a adrenaline junkie, so it seemed like something I just had to try. So, I did some cajoling, made some reservations, and brought 3 friends out to jump with me.

We had made our reservations for 10AM. Well, that didn't happen. The sky was filled with low hanging clouds. We completed the paperwork and watched the requisite video before 10AM rolled around. The girl at the manifest told us it could be a while, so we headed to town.

Back by 11:30, we were told we might be able to jump around 2. That was fine by me, If I took one thing out of the couple private pilot lessons, it was that you can't control the weather.

By 2, we had covered all the surrounding towns and found not much of interest. One particularly surly friend of mine had nothing to say but, "Screw it all. Lets go home."

A couple more hours and several "Sucker Holes"(Is that the term they used? I think so...) later, the sky broke to a beautiful blue. We paid, and instructors helped us put on harnesses. Then the clouds came back. I have never hated clouds so much before.

Another couple hours, and we're at about 6o'clock. Two hours in that harness is not the most comfortable thing. And I got stung by a bee(What the hell bee? I was just sitting there.) Even I'm starting to give up hope.

I knew as soon as I left, the clouds would depart and I'd have missed the opportunity. So, I stay. Skydivers are very patient people it seems.

Around 6:30, when we were reaching about the 9 hour mark of waiting, the instructors started gearing up. We were going! We had given up all hope, but here it was. It was hard not to sprint to the plane. The ride up was fun. Chris, my instructor pointed out lots of scenery on the ground. That was my first ride to 10k feet, my PP lessons were usually around 3-5k. Good stuff. Kind of pissed when I saw that the clouds were forming a ring around the airport. The whole rest of the island was clear.

I was second tandem out of the plane. Seeing my friend Eric go out before me made me giggle a bit, when he sat the edge and looked back with a look that could only say one thing... "I hate you, Roy". It was hilarious .

I was next. We went out standing up, and though I didn't pay for the videos, the guy flying the camera came out with us. Totally surreal. I didn't get his name, but camera-guy can fly. Just watching him move about was cool. I've seen it in videos, but seeing some one move from 50 feet from you to 2 feet in seconds was a trip. Just as quick, he was gone. He beat us to the ground.

The parachute opening was gentler then I imagined. Being under canopy lead me to a revelation, which ultimately changed the way the sport looks to me. You're not falling with a parachute at all. You're flying it. Seriously cool.

Big smiles back on the ground from my friends. Even the one who wanted to kill me on his way out.

Sorry for the length guys, cross-posted a blog entry(And seriously, every time I look at it I find more to add) in hopes that anyone out there who was lurking the forum like I did before I went makes sure to get out there and do it. You won't regret it.

Also, a big thanks to Skydive Long Island and my tandem partner, Chris(AKA C-Dizzle?)

[dragon2 2]

So when are you going to do the course and jump by yourself?

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[countingthedays 0]

Actually, I meant to put that in there. Hopefully spring. I'm rather broke(college). So finishing it up before everyone packs it in for the winter isn't going to happen. I'd love to take a couple weeks of my vacation time and do it in a few days, but its all up to the finances at that time.

Even if I do it, I can't afford the equipment. I'm not sure that matters as much, though.

[skybytch 273]

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You're not falling with a parachute at all.

We're not falling in freefall either - we're flying. Relative to each other, of course, but we're still flying....

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Even if I do it, I can't afford the equipment.

If you want to do it bad enough, you'll find a way to afford what is needed. The smarter course would be to finish school and get a good job before learning to skydive though... it's way more fun when you can afford to do it as much as you want to.

[countingthedays 0]

I'm sure I can find some way to afford it. /buys lotto.

You're right though. I'm not that far from graduating I guess.

[ntrprnr 0]

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(What the hell bee? I was just sitting there.)

Made me spit soda through my nose. Well done. And welcome to the sky.

_______________
"Why'd you track away at 7,000 feet?"
"Even in freefall, I have commitment issues."