I in the sky

Whenever I watch the X-Games on ESPN I get thrilled and amazed at the different extreme sports like skateboarding, BMX-riding, wall-climbing, street-luge, in-line skating, wakeboarding and especially skydiving, which looks like a very dangerous and thrilling sport. Just watching the skydivers jump off the plane on TV already makes me tremble.

One Friday morning in San Francisco, I had the chance to fulfill my dream of flying. I enrolled at the Bay Area Skydiving in San Francisco, California. The very first thing they asked me was to sign tons of waiver forms: if something wrong happens along the skydiving jump, Bay Area Skydiving wouldn’t be responsible and liable for any accidents.

After signing all those waivers, I couldn’t help but worry. I asked Randy Frazier who was my skydiving instructor what are the statistics regarding accidents and fatalities. He assured me, "There is one fatality out of 66,000 skydiving jumps in the States." Mr. Frazier added that 40 percent of the accidents are caused by aggressive skydivers. They perform turns that are too sharp and aggressive which lead to accidents. But he mentioned that modern parachutes now have a microchip installed in the parachute called the Cybernautic Parachute Release System or Cypress System for short. This safety system automatically activates the reserve parachute when the main parachute doesn’t open at 2,000 feet.

He then showed me a video from the United States Parachute Association (USPA). It’s a compilation of all the different accidents that can occur during a jump. It bothered me a bit, making me think twice about jumping off a plane.

But I gathered enough strength to suit up for my first skydiving jump. As I boarded the plane, I prayed that I’d make it back alive. I knew there was no turning back once the plane took off. As the plane hit an altitude of 10,000 feet, my skydiving instructor signaled me to get ready. Just when we were about to jump, I got extremely nervous. The first step off the plane was really nerve wracking. That’s when it seriously hit me that what I’m about to do could be fatal. Nevertheless, I jumped off the plane with my instructor.

I was flying; I felt like Superman as I experienced the incredible rush of free-fall for 30 to 45 seconds at awesome speeds of up to 200 kph. I was traveling at terminal velocity. I was having an awesome time flying. However, in less than a minute we had to deploy our canopy. And as we were gliding in the wind, I had the best view of San Francisco and San Jose. The view was breathtaking. It felt so silent and peaceful in the sky. It was surreal!

The canopy ride took around four to five minutes before we touched the ground. The adrenalin rushed into my body. I couldn’t believe I made it without a scratch. The accuracy and measurability of modern parachutes ensure landings that are soft and easy. The speed, the sensation, the sheer excitement make skydiving an experience that is hard to equal. I had the most exhilirating time of my life. I wouldn’t think twice of trying it again.

Maybe, I’ll try sky surfing next.