Skydiving
Trip Start
Oct 13, 2007
1
49
84
Trip End
Ongoing
Taupo, New Zealand
Sunday, February 17, 2008
I arrived in Taupo with the stary bus, and met up with Rochelle, Renske and Lauren again, when it was announced that they had booked a skydive for the next day (Renske's birthday)....and they'd booked for me too. eeeeeeeee!! Talking about jumping out of a plane is one thign, but to actually do it - quite another. But it was booked, so there was no backing out (just as well really!). We were picked up from the hostel in the morning, by Taupo Tamdem Skydive (really lovely company, nice people, fun atmosphere, cool plane....and hey the parachute worked, can't ask more than that!!) and got the airport and all kitted out in our gear - looking stunning in our hats and overalls.
My jump master was Benny, who was really great. Had a laugh - told me his life really wasn't going that great at the moment - I asked him to remember to pull the ''chute!
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! but was also really comforting too and told me that it was all good and would be great fun! Was one of the last in the plane, meaning I'd be one of the first out...scary but that was what I wanted too, I think too long waiting and I'd have been trying to back out (not that you can once you're strapped to a guy that defiantly stronger than you and who is going to jump out whether you want to or not!). I had decided to jump from 12,000ft, and get a DVD of the jump. The flight was really great. Once I was in I knew there would be no turning back, so I think I actually relaxed abit, although the adrenalin was definatly pumping! From the plane you could see Mt. Tongariro and Mt Ruapehu, which were both beautiful, and the gorgeous lakes of the area, although to tell the truth, at that stage I didn't give a stuff about the view, all that ws on my mind was the fact that we were getting higher and higher!At about 10,000ft it was time to get even cosier with my jumpmaster as the harness was finally tightened up (must admit I was getting abit worried, I had hastling benny that I was going to fall out since we took off!)
Benny showed me his altitude meter watch so for the count down...or count up for the last 1000ft.......eeeeeeee!!! That means its time to go!! My video guy opened the door, and it was probably at that point that I suddenly realised that I was definatly about to jump out of a plane
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! Gives me goosepimples just thinking about it as I write this!We shuffled forward until I was sitting on the edge of the plane.....the edge of a plane at 12,000ft.....holy geeeeees that was a cool feeling. Benny had to physically turn my head to look at the camera for my exit shot and then.......................can't even describe it! They say alot of people will lose a few seconds of the due to sensory overload, and I was so determined to remember everysecond I was focusing so hard. I remember that sudden shock feeling, like losing your stomach as you go over a hill, and losing you breath when you dive into a freezing cold pool. The rush of air is extreme and as you're so high up there no real sense of falling, its more like you're still and the sky is rushing past you, everything both speeding up and slowing down at the same time. The most natural process of breathing is something you actually have to think about!
After the initial 5 seconds of shock though, the adrenalin kicks in a full blast, which for me resulted in swearing, then a combination of laughing and screaming. The video guy came over and shook my hand, and even gave me his foot to hold on to. All this as I attemped to take in the amazing view which surrounded me too.
Then after not long enough, the video guy waved goodbye and we flew up
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. A quick thank you to whoever packed the parachute and to whoever is in charge 'upabove' and I could enjoy the rest of the peaceful descent. Everything is so quiet up there, and its pretty comfortable to float over everything.....until Benny started doing acrobatics. SO much fun...but definatly stomach losing! One of my favourites though was when we'd spin round, and then we'd fly up....and then drop...oh please keep working dear parachute!Was a great experience even down to the landing....although I definatly didn't execute that part as stylishly as Lauren, who landed nice and sdoftly and kept standing up....whereas I thought we were sitting down....so didn't stand up....so hummmmmm, ended up kind of falling on the floor with Benny attempting to stay standing as I dragged him down. Oh well, why do things well, when you can cause chaos!!
Me and Lauren then watch Renske and Rochelle land, screaming happy birthday to Renske as she hit the ground. With legs still wobbling we went for our free breakfast (an early bird deal, us backpackers are suckers for free food!).
All I can say is the smiled stayed permanently fixed to our faces for the rest of the day!
