Been skydiving?

[Principessa21]

Because I'm going!!! **YEA** Last night I won a tandem jump at a live auction. I go up 12,500 feet (over 2 miles), free fall 60 seconds (120mph!), and then float for another 6 minutes. During the float, I'll be steering and getting to do all kinds of turns and loops.

 

The package also includes a video, which will show everything from the training, the plane ride up, and my 7 minutes coming back to Earth. I thought the camera would be stapped to me or my partner, but it turns out that there's another jumper that keeps it on me.

 

Anyway, I'm so excited!!! My parents and my boyfriend, not so much. It's out of Fort Atkinson. I'm not familiar with the area, actually the only parts of WI I'm familiar with are Madison, Oconomowoc, and Miller Park. I've always wanted to go, and have done most of the bungee-type activities.

 

So, anyone have any experience? Any tips? And please, no horror stories. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[bullox]

No, but I would love to. What a rush that must be!

 

Bungee jumping I won't do, but I'll jump out of a plane.

 

Have a blast and make sure to tell us all about it!

[BraunsBoyfriend]

Something doesn't add up here. If you're falling at a rate of 120 MPH for 2 miles over 60 seconds...you'd open your chute....well, lets say your chute would never open!

 

J/K, as you're up a couple thousand feet more than that.

 

Should be fun. I've never gone but it sounds like a good time. But I just can't deal with the fact that I'd be jumping out of a plane.

 

I mean, I'm pretty excited we even have planes! I'm perfectly happy we can fly. Why would I want to jump out?! I can't feel sympathy for anyone that gets hurt skydiving. I mean, you jumped out of a plane, 2 miles high.

[EsoxLazer]

You are going to have an absolute blast. I'm deathly afraid of heights but did it anyway hoping that it might do something to alleviate the fear. Although it didn't do anything in that regard, it is definitely one of the coolest things that I have ever done. The best feeling is the second you leave the plane....you never feel like you are falling. You feel like the wind is pushing you up further into the air. I went through SkyKnights in East Troy. It was already pretty pricey or else I would have gotten it filmed...looking back I really wish I had payed the extra for the camera man. Have fun and make sure to bring a disposable camera with you...you can tuck it into the inside of your jacket and bring it out while you are under the parachute...it makes for some great pictures. Another thing that I would recommend is that if you have a choice of what time you get to go, go as late in the day as they will allow. We went just before sunset on the last jump of the day and the view was nothing short of breathtaking. Have fun and let us know how it goes.

[UndraftedFA]

I did a tandem jump from 11,500 in March. I'd say your freefall will probably be closer to 40 seconds. It goes by so fast, even when the shoot is open. At a 120 mph it is so loud, then they pop the chute and it's perfect silence. I had to pay for mine and my girlfriends, but it was worth every penny for the jump, video, and pictures.

 

I'm not sure every place will let you bring a disposable camera. Where I went they didn't want you to have anything in your pockets at all. I suppose it depends where you jump over. We just corkscrewed up to 11,500 above the sky diving place. If I dropped something I might have killed my girlfriend below. If you are above an empty field, they may not care if you bring a camera.

 

I still laugh every time I watch my video. You start in such a care-free mood on the ground and on the way up, but watching my face when they kicked the door open was priceless!

 

You will have a blast!

[EdgarDiazRocks]

I have always preferred being able to land the plane (which I learned how to do from Dad at age 8 or so).

 

Skydiving is just falling, ANYBODY can fall. Landing in a crosswind? That's a special skill.

[IslandsAC]

I went in Queenstown, New Zealand and it was amazing. My only advice would be to shoot for a clear day (if you have any control over that) otherwise your freefall will all be above the cloud line.

 

The harness gives you a little nudge in the crotch-region and my ears were having some problems popping (although that always happens to me). Still, you will absolutely love it - it was the second most exhilerating experience of my life (you've gotta do bungee jumping! Make Connor do it too)

[RayKingsForemanGrill]

My GF (now wife) took me for my 20th birthday a few (more than a few?) years back.

 

It's one of those things I tell people they should do at least once in there life. I've never been afraid of heights or flying, etc. but it was definitely a rush. Once the guy says "alright, now take your right leg and place it on the metal brace just outside the door" your immediate response is: you want me to do what, now?

 

And then you do it and the realization hits you: I'm going to jump out of a plane at 11,000 feet.

 

Because of the way we were lined up in the plane my girlfriend went first with her tandem partner and that was strange to watch also: hey, that person I like quite a bit just jumped out of a plane!

 

So we jumped and, becaue I'm a tall, gangly-type I couldn't get the arch procedure down right and me an my tandem partner actually "tumbled" for the first 10-15 seconds. He was screaming in my ear and I finally got it right. I can't remember how long the rest of the freefall was but it was amazing.

 

So the chute opens and it is absolutely awesome. That drifting feeling is like nothing you've ever felt before. Very cool. But I start to llok around and don't see my GF's shoot below us anywhere. I ask the guy: uh, where did my girlfriend go?

 

He points up - and there they were. Because we tumbled and it took us longer to get stable he waited longer before he told me to pull the shoot. So we actually rocketted past my girlfriend and her instructor... and I landed first...

 

It was an unbelievable experience and I recommend everyone do it once.

 

HERE'S WHERE YOU SHOULD STOP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT A BUZZKILL:

 

I moved to Rhode Island about two weeks after the jump. Stayed there for 10 months while she finished up school. Her dad sent us a clipping a few weeks later: The place that we jumped from was shut down a few weeks later because they had three deaths within the span of about two weeks.

 

So if someone wants to take you skydiving in Ottawa, Illinois - don't do it.

[Pioneers3]

It is a blast went a few years ago and my tandeem partner, we were doing flips and spins in our free fall...I want to go again...but man he needs to let me know he was pulling the cord to open the chute...dang did that hurt!

[sgtcluels]

I really want to.. but I don't know if my back can handle it.

 

How jarring to your lower back is the parachute deployment? I've had lower back surgery, as well as still have some bulging discs, don't want to pop one, but want to skydive.

[UndraftedFA]

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I really want to.. but I don't know if my back can handle it.

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You probably should call a few places and ask them or a doctor. They probably have been asked that question before.

 

I don't remember it being too bad. They definitely strap you in tight, and I remember it being uncomfortable in certain areas. I remember that more than any jarring feeling from the 'chute opening.

[IslandsAC]

Yeah I would say it was more of a steady "tightness" in the groin than a snap. It felt pretty smooth to me. Even smoother was the bungee jumping, even though it looks like you snap back up, it was smooth as a dream.

[hawing]

And please, no horror stories.

 

How many people with horror stories about skydiving live to tell them? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Principessa21]

I made the appointment - Sunday, July 15th 9am. Unfortunately I couldn't get a late jump, but I had to get it in before my boyfriend and I leave town this month.

 

I'm soooooooo excited. Thanks for all the stories and tips. I'll call back and ask about a camera. I'll post about my experience, but I'm sure I'll be geeking out and post before that.

 

And hawing, I wish that was the case. There's a semi-horror story in this thread! But most people are really nice. I'm not really nervous though, it's more for my boyfriend's sake. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[RayKingsForemanGrill]

Sorry Principessa 21 - I glazed over the "horror story" part - didn't throw it in there to be a jerk.

 

You'll have a great time...

[Principessa21]

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Sorry Principessa 21 - I glazed over the "horror story" part - didn't throw it in there to be a jerk.

 

You'll have a great time...

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Oh no, don't worry. It's cool. It's actually for my boyfriend's benefit.