Anybody gone skydiving?

[overst33r]

I might go in a couple of weeks.

Tell me about your experience...

 

[Full Monty]

I went skydiving for the first time last November, and I have to say it was one of the coolest and most exhilarating experiences of my life.

I was pretty nervous on my way there, but the combination of the staff being laid back and courteous as well as being the only first-timer on the plane helped a lot. Training took all of five minutes (I had to go tandem, so all they had to show me was how to position my body during the freefall and where to put my legs when we landed). Butterflies started a little when the plane took off, but like I said, I was the only first-timer, so no one around me was nervous in the least, and that helped to ease the tension, plus the guy jumping with me was pretty cool.

When it came time to jump, there really wasn't much time to get nervous, so we just slid over to the door, briefly sat on the edge with feet dangling over the edge, then he pushed us out. The freefall was AWESOME!!! The only downfalls were the temperature (it was a gorgeous, sunny day, but being November I was told it was approx. 10 degrees up there, so the lips got rather cold) and the lack of oxygen. I found it rather hard to breathe for the 59 seconds we fell, but not so much that it detracted from the experience. It's absolutely one of the most freeing and exciting conditions the body can be in. It was a jolt once the parachute was pulled (left the buttcheeks feeling a little bruised), but from there cruising down to earth for a few minutes was quite serene. I biffed the landing, but all-in-all I would recommend it to anyone who has the slightest interest in it (and can afford it!).

I am going to do it again with my 80-year-old grandmother this summer and am looking forward to it.

Hope that helps.

 

[Gothgar]

I went a few years back, it was fucking awesome, nothing can prepare you for that first few seconds out of the plane.

Funny thing was, I was never really that nervous, maybe a little but nothing bad. Even stepping out was easy, as they have this whole program on how you are supposed to do it.

It is totally worth it though.

 

[BoomerD]

It's been over 35 years ago, but I went through 2 military jump schools. One courtesy of the USMC, the other, courtesy of the US Army. (both while I was a Marine.)

IMO, it makes ZERO sense to jump out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft...(but it WAS fun as hell to do!)

 

[HardcoreRobot]

highly recommend

 

[scorp00]

Make sure you get to freefall, which requires tandem for a beginner. Do it, it's a great experience.

 

[jfall]

I'm going July 1st

 

[sutahz]

It was ok just not the blast it is for everyone else it seems. You dont feel like you're falling fast until your what.. like 500' from the ground. Im sure solo is a lot more fun then tandem but I'm sure i'll never know.

Good to hear you're going, I'm sure it'll be a blast.

 

[Godsend1]

I strongly reccomend aff, accelerated free fall. It costs more but you get to jump from 11k and have about 45 seconds of free-fall. Airgasms ftw.

 

[KeithTalent]

I did it several years back and it was a tonne of fun. Ended up twisting my ankle on the landing, but that was just me being an idiot.

Couple of threads on skydiving here:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...y=y&keyword1=skydiving

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...y=y&keyword1=skydiving

KT

 

[ajskydiver]

If you're really interested, go to a better source (no offense, but this is a computer forum):

Dropzone.com

A ton of info and advice from experienced skydivers.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

I went a couple years ago. It was a blast. And I'm not really into Extreme sport type things.

Best moment were when the tandem instructor dangles you out of the plane and the first 10 seconds of the fall. It's just unreal. Luckily I got it all on video.

 

[overst33r]

Thanks for the responses, im really looking forward to it.

 

[TraumaRN]

Originally posted by: mariok2006
Thanks for the responses, im really looking forward to it.

YGPM



And just re-watched the video of my tandem skydive in Surfer's Paradise Australia...we landed on a deserted beach, best $425 dollars I've EVER spent

 

[KillerCharlie]

Originally posted by: onlyCOpunk
I went a couple years ago. It was a blast. And I'm not really into Extreme sport type things.

Best moment were when the tandem instructor dangles you out of the plane and the first 10 seconds of the fall. It's just unreal. Luckily I got it all on video.

Yeah, the first several seconds were incredible. I even volunteered to be the first one out. I remember them telling me that I'd be sitting on the edge of the door with my feet dangling out the airplane. In reality, my entire body was dangling outside the airplane while the tandem guy behind me stood in the door! When we jumped those first 10 seconds were awesome. Once you hit terminal velocity and the wind's beating your face it's not as fun (though still extremely cool). Once the parachute was open it was a long, quiet, peaceful ride down.

 

[Cuda1447]

I'd never fucking do it. Just me.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
I'd never fucking do it. Just me.

Me niether. I'll haul your ass up there and wave goodbye from the pilot seat, but I get my thrills behind the yoke.

 

[HN]

you know how on a roller coaster you get the sucking sensation in your stomach on that first drop? in skydiving, you don't feel that at all.

it's basically one second you're in the plane and the next, all this air is rushing past you. i was just like "whooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahhahahahahahaaaaaaaaahhahah" for about 30 seconds or so and it wasn't until after the chute deployed that i finally took in the feeling that i just jumped out of a plane and now had a fairly large view of the planet that i could take in.

it was great.