My First Skydive Part II, My First Exit

Now came my turn to experience my very first skydive.  I was tightened up to my tandem master “hippie” and with a big grin we moved quickly towards the open door.  My heart races, even now, thinking about that feeling moving towards an open door for the first time.  I fondly remember Hippie asking me if I was ready, then the look on his face as he glanced down to see that my feet were already hanging out the door.  I was ready and eager to go.  He said Go and that was that.  That very first sensation was like diving into the water.  I wanted to catch my breath, but couldn’t the wind was so fast and so cold that I found myself ducking my head to brace the wind so I could breath.  Yet inexplicably I was smiling uncontrollably.  There was absolutely no fear. 

We were falling so fast and yet it felt so much longer.  That rush, the ride, the view of the world spinning almost out of control and yet inexplicably peaceful and controlled.  Just as I began to get my bearings we waved off from our amazing videographer, and I felt like was being bungeed through the air from the opening of canopy.  I looked up to see that there was a big beautiful canopy above our heads.  It was such an experience. Hippie was amazing and did a bunch of spirals in the air, and even let me do some turns myself.  The exhilaration of having that unique vantage high above the ground with nothing to hold on to, is something I will always cherish.  Feet dangling below, 3000 or so ft above the ground, just eagerly waiting for the landing, the next new experience in a day filled with so many. 

I was told to put my feet up, as the ground rushed towards us.  And just like that I was back on firm soil.  The two, who skydived with me eagerly asked me if I would do that again.  And without even thinking, I said yes.  It was like being on a rollercoaster with absolutely no bars, or rails.  I was on an adrenaline high that had me grinning like a fool.  And if it was free, I would have absolutely gone right back up in that plane there and then. 

That rush was amazing and the feeling of jumping out of a plane is almost un-explainable.  I have Emerson to thank for making this the first jump of what I know will be a much longer career.  He has a passion for flight, and sharing his journey is a task I love being invited on even though I do not share his ultimate goal of wingsuit flight. I love the adventure, and I am lucky enough to be granted permission to share his adventures of a wannabe sugar glider with you. 

My First Skydive Part I, Emerson’s Exit

Labour day weekend, 2010, I found myself in a car heading to Edmonton to skydive with Emerson.  It would be my first time setting foot on a dropzone.  He had not jumped since October of 2009, so we both felt butterflies in our stomach while driving the now familiar dirt road for the first time.  We approached the dropzone at Eden North  with excitement and nervousness.  In truth, I was more excited than nervous.  In the previous weeks leading up to our first adventure together, I had made a rule that I could be told nothing about skydiving.  He tried to get me to watch video clip after video clip, partly to fuel his own excitement but I would have none of it.  I wanted the first time I fell out of a plane to be a pure as possible if that makes any sense. 

I sat beside Emerson filling out waivers, wondering if I was really about to jump out of a plane.  He went off to get re certified prior to making his near 30^th jump while I was getting geared up by my tandem master.  I went for the whole package, video and pictures for what I thought at the time was going to be my only ever skydive, I mean who actually skydives more than once?   It was a cloudy fall day, and I remember shivering a bit from the cold while having my pre-skydive interview.  People kept asking me if I knew what I was to expect and if I was excited.  All I could answer, was that I had no idea what was about to happen, but that I was ready for it. 

The next few moments were a bit of blur.  I recall Emerson excitedly telling me that he was going to be on the same load as me (I will be completely honest, at that point I had no idea what a load was), and that he might be jumping out first.  He also mentioned that there was another guy who would be right beside him, with a similar skill level.   I could not honestly tell if Emerson was nervous or excited at that point.  Here I was climbing into a plane, about to be harnessed to a complete stranger, in a plane with a man I barely knew.  Also I was trying to remember if I had accidentally just called Emerson my boyfriend or not in the video that was just filmed. 

I got into the plane first, and Emerson was the last man in, which meant that he would in fact be the first man out of the plane.  As I looked around I saw the guy sitting beside Emerson, which I knew had to be the guy who had not jumped for a while, also the owner of the dropzone Lyal was on the packed plane all geared up and ready to jump with us.  Now by this point I was getting pretty excited.  I love plane rides, and I knew that I had absolutely nothing to do but enjoy the ride.  I was grinning from ear to ear, and there was Emerson, right across the plane, smiling from ear to ear as well.  The thought of “was this really happening” crossed my mind a couple of times during our climb to 12000 ft.

A few minutes later, that same thought crossed my mind but for a completely different reason.   When the door opened I vaguely knew that Emerson was to exit first.  Having never seen anyone jump out of a plane before I was watching with fascination.  And true to his style, he made a grand exit, well memorable at any rate.  As he went to step out of the plane he grabbed the bar overhead.  When he did so however, he quickly realized that he had grabbed the bar on the wrong side and actually caught his altimeter.  Yup, Emerson got caught up exiting the plane, my very first time skydiving and the guy that I was with gets caught.  I watched the guy next in line to him go white as a ghost.  Then as quickly as it had started Emerson just let go and fell off into the distance.  I barely had time to process before a few skydivers exited and the door to the plane closed.  I later learned that the plane was re-circling to get back into position prior the tandems exiting the plane.  At the time, I was just relieved that the air could warm up a little.  

The Dream Takes Life

Emerson purchased his first skydiving rig on Friday February 8^th 2013, and now it is really sinking in that his dreams of flying a wingsuit are becoming a reality.  I am writing this as a biography for him, starting at the pivotal point where all the years of planning and hard work come into fruition.  His first real 5 year plan is at its end and the next 5 year plan is being created and amended in his head to make room for his career and his passion, specifically to pay for his lifestyle and to fund his dream of flight.  In the 2 plus years that I have dated him, I have watched him immerse himself in every possible aspect of flying.  For his 30^th birthday, he flew himself to Perris Valley and in two weeks achieved his A license in skydiving.  The goal has never been to become a professional skydiver, rather to feel that rush of adrenaline while flying a wingsuit, becoming that flying squirrel that encompasses much of his imagination. But as with all things Emerson, the end goal will grow and change with each new adventure he experiences.

I want to tell his story, but I am sharing the experience through my eyes so I will begin where I entered the picture to ensure that the resulting blog is as factual and accurate as I can possibly make it, so that he has the best record of the events that will lead to him taking his first proximity flight and possibly beyond.  From the first day that I met him we were talking about airplanes and flying.  I even off handed mentioned that I would try skydiving if the opportunity presented itself.  I had no idea how much impact that little remark would have on my life from that moment on and more importantly how huge a role flight was in his life.

In the first two weeks getting to know Emerson we had very typical conversations that one would expect while dating.  Laughing, hanging out, going bowling and visiting plant stores, but as I soon found out his aspirations were anything but normal.  Three weeks after meeting Emerson, my phone rang, and the conversation went something like this.  “Hey Krystal, do you remember how when we met you said that you would try skydiving? Well I just found a great drop zone in Edmonton called Eden North and the weather next weekend looks pretty good.  How would you feel about driving up to Edmonton and jumping out of a plane with me?”  To my surprise I answered with an only slightly hesitant OK, and my small part in this journey began.  

Visualize

It’s scorching hot as I cross the tarmac.  I reluctantly slide my helmet over my face in a futile attempt to shield the hot exhaust of the turboprop.  Loading onto the twin otter, 23 people cram side by side into the tiny fuselage for a one way trip to 12,500ft.  I pull my helmet off to stay as cool as I can before we taxi.  The door closes and I slide my helmet back on for take off.  Its a sweatbox in here.  After far too long my Pro Dytter beeps in my ear letting me know it’s active and we are finally at 1000ft.  In unison everyone pulls off their full face helmets before releasing their seatbelts.  500 more feet and I slide the four foot jump door open, cool air rushes in and we all breath a sigh of relief.  It’s the only escape from the heat. That and freefall.

This is my meditation.  I’m blank, just staring out of the open door as we steadily climb.  California is beautiful.  I close my eyes and try to get some rest.  I’m exhausted.  Six jumps yesterday, five today.  The adrenalin shocks, the short bursts of intense concentration, the constant adjustment of every muscle to fly in formation with other humans... The packing. This is a bizarre sport.  One jump, one thousand.  It doesn't matter.  The best skydivers in the world are on the plane with me and once we exit we are all in the same boat.  There is no easing into this sport.  Once you let go of that plane, everyone, professional or student, will impact in 70 seconds, save for the rig strapped to your back.  I reach down and touch my deployment handle.   It’s the skydivers safety blanket.  You need to touch it.  You need to know it’s still there.  8000 ft, time to close the door.  It can get chilly this high up.

I realise I’m about to jump with seven other people and for a moment, I can't remember the plan.  I close my eyes and picture what we practiced minutes ago in the mock up.  I visualize the exit order and start to get nervous.  Leaving the plane doesn't bother me, but THINKING about exiting gets my heart rate up.  I’m worried about falling out of the airplane.  A completely legitimate fear, except I’m planning on jumping out.  I visualize our group lining up at the door, two people will climb out, one hand holding onto the bar, the other holding a friend.  Christian and I almost push our friends off their perch as we crowd the small four foot door and grab their harness.  Three more friends crouch behind us poised, muscles ready to sprint.  They will dive out of the aircraft and chase us through the sky.  We are half hanging out in an awkward crammed mess, but there is order.

Ready, a leg swings out of the door, Set, it swings back in and my leg muscles fire, Go!  The leg swings out and seven people explode out of the door.  That mess makes sense now. Four of us form the base.  We arch and hold wrists in a circle, matching each others fall rate with minute adjustments of hip, shoulder, leg... every muscle is needed to fly together.  I can see three friends diving like bullets.  500 pounds hurtling towards us, they open their body decelerating, and gracefully slide into position.

We stabilize and the skydive can now begin.  The coach is our conductor, head nods are all we need, we break, fly to our new position and dock, break, new position and dock. We have three points to make, then repeat until 4500 ft when my dytter beeps.  Everyone immediately drops all grips.  I spin 180 from the center, extend my legs and pull my arms back.  I can feel the acceleration as I rocket across the sky tracking away from the group, trying to get as far away from them as I can before the next BEEP, 3500 ft 19 seconds till impact.  Wave, look left, wave, look right, all clear.  I reach back find my safety blanket and throw it out into the wind.  One one thousand, two one thousand...  I am pulled upright, like being pulled from a dream.  I look up and watch my canopy slowly inflate as my dytter starts screaming in my ear.  That’s my WTF alarm.  It's set to 2500 ft.  That gives me 8 seconds to cut the shit away and pull my reserve if something goes wrong, but I have a big beautiful canopy over my head.  I look everywhere, spotting all the canopies as I release my steering toggles, flair, turn left, turn right, all is good.  I spot the wind socks, set up for my landing pattern, and flair to a soft landing.  Someone taps me on the shoulder.  I open my eyes, watch two of my friends climb outside the Otter, and I huddle into the door.  Lets hope it all goes as planned.  - Emerson