Well I finally did it...................SOLO SKYDIVING
After taking the solo skydiving class (accelerated freefall #1) 3 weeks ago with my friend (Chanda) and one of her co-workers (Vien),
we were finally able to do our actual jump yesterday. We arrived in Perris (http://www.skydiveperris.com/) at 10am. Because it had
been several weeks' sense our class we had to go through about 45 minutes of refresher. Even though I studied, it was amazing how
much you forget. During our refresher, the instructor announced that they had switch planes to the flying shoe box. This was an old
plane with a large door at the back where we were to exist. To visualize the door, think of the giant military cargo planes (C-130?)
and the way they open up the back of the plane and the equipment flies out the back on parachutes.
It took up about 15 minutes to get up to altitude at a little over 13,000 feet. Kie and Uli where my instructor and jump master on
this jump. I was NOT nervous at all, until we had to stand up and walk to the back of the plane. Then I said to myself "B@$@#$@ch
you are actually going to do this, what the F@@#$@#$k!!!!". Standing on the lip of the edge of the plane with my back out. I was
suppose to step out and "Stand" straight up, then arch and start my skills. WELL........the best laid plans of mice and men. I
jumped out backwards and I immediacy started to tumble head first. I felt like I did 5-10 tumbles (the video only showed ONE). The
jump out was much more of a rush than I expected. I felt the air ripped from my lungs and the video shows me with a deer in the
headlights look on my face. Thankfully, the two jumpmasters had hold of me. Finally, I was able to get myself in some sort of arched
position and I then started to do my skills. Well, I tried at least. To say my form was rough would be a large
understatement. Finally my instructor had to give me the "Pull" signal several times because I was having "issues". It was a shock
when the parachute engaged. My first thought after I was under canopy was "I am ALONE!". "Ooh Shit!". When I calmed down, I grabbed
the brakes and started to look for the landing area. It felt like I looked forever. I was very glad I found it!. I then proceeded
to do a few left and right turns. Then a thought came across my mind. I NEVER checked my parachute to make sure it was "OK". I looked
up and THANKFULLY it was fine! After a few minutes my instructor came on the radio and directed me to the landing area. I had forgot
ten I was to land in the giant dirt circle and was thinking I needed to land in the small grassy area where all the experienced
people landed. I "landed" in the center of the dirt circle and nothing was broken. When I say "landed", I actually mean crash. I
flared a little two early, so I was a little too high and when my feet hit the ground I did not walk it out.
My feet hit, my stomach was next, and then my face decided it wanted to get into the game also, crunch! :-)
While I am no worse for wear, I did have several ISSUES and brain overload during the jump. After the jump, we watched our
videos and mine looked NOTHING like theirs. I was very rough to say the least and I provided some serious comedy!!!!!!
I had a GREAT time and most likely I will not do it again. I can now check off another item of my personal list of "Things to Do"
I also have about 10 minutes of video footage. If you are local to me, drop by and take a look.
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been several weeks' sense our class we had to go through about 45 minutes of refresher. Even though I studied, it was amazing how
much you forget. During our refresher, the instructor announced that they had switch planes to the flying shoe box. This was an old
plane with a large door at the back where we were to exist. To visualize the door, think of the giant military cargo planes (C-130?)
and the way they open up the back of the plane and the equipment flies out the back on parachutes.
It took up about 15 minutes to get up to altitude at a little over 13,000 feet. Kie and Uli where my instructor and jump master on
this jump. I was NOT nervous at all, until we had to stand up and walk to the back of the plane. Then I said to myself "B@$@#$@ch
you are actually going to do this, what the F@@#$@#$k!!!!". Standing on the lip of the edge of the plane with my back out. I was
suppose to step out and "Stand" straight up, then arch and start my skills. WELL........the best laid plans of mice and men. I
jumped out backwards and I immediacy started to tumble head first. I felt like I did 5-10 tumbles (the video only showed ONE). The
jump out was much more of a rush than I expected. I felt the air ripped from my lungs and the video shows me with a deer in the
headlights look on my face. Thankfully, the two jumpmasters had hold of me. Finally, I was able to get myself in some sort of arched
position and I then started to do my skills. Well, I tried at least. To say my form was rough would be a large
understatement. Finally my instructor had to give me the "Pull" signal several times because I was having "issues". It was a shock
when the parachute engaged. My first thought after I was under canopy was "I am ALONE!". "Ooh Shit!". When I calmed down, I grabbed
the brakes and started to look for the landing area. It felt like I looked forever. I was very glad I found it!. I then proceeded
to do a few left and right turns. Then a thought came across my mind. I NEVER checked my parachute to make sure it was "OK". I looked
up and THANKFULLY it was fine! After a few minutes my instructor came on the radio and directed me to the landing area. I had forgot
ten I was to land in the giant dirt circle and was thinking I needed to land in the small grassy area where all the experienced
people landed. I "landed" in the center of the dirt circle and nothing was broken. When I say "landed", I actually mean crash. I
flared a little two early, so I was a little too high and when my feet hit the ground I did not walk it out.
My feet hit, my stomach was next, and then my face decided it wanted to get into the game also, crunch! :-)
While I am no worse for wear, I did have several ISSUES and brain overload during the jump. After the jump, we watched our
videos and mine looked NOTHING like theirs. I was very rough to say the least and I provided some serious comedy!!!!!!
I had a GREAT time and most likely I will not do it again. I can now check off another item of my personal list of "Things to Do"
I also have about 10 minutes of video footage. If you are local to me, drop by and take a look.