My Ups & Downs Of Skydiving

My Ups & Downs Of Skydiving

by Carla Coombs

Publication Date: September 1999

Exhilaration, excitement and exhaustion are the first words that come to mind when I think back to my skydiving experience. My first skydive took place a month ago, and I am ready to go again.

Recently, my neighbor approached me regarding a skydiving adventure - the thought immanently intrigued me. Once we decided when and where to do the jump, the adrenaline started to pump (or so I thought). We chose Skydive Sebastian in Sebastian, Florida (located just south of the Kennedy Space Center) as our jump site because they have an outstanding record. We wanted to feel as safe as one can when jumping out of a plane.

Once we arrived at our destination, we were whisked away to pay for the jump and watch a ten minute video. The video instructed us on what to do before, during and after the jump. Following the video, the instructors took us through training on the proper way to arch and how to hold our head during the free-fall.

We were given the opportunity to purchase pictures and a video of our jump. I decided that this might be my first and last jump, so I had better get it on tape. I did not realize how much of my experience was going to be on that tape. What I mean is, I was not that nervous before the jump, or at least that is what I thought. On the tape it shows that while they were strapping on the harness, my eyes were extremely large and my voice was shaky. Also, when I was walking to the plane, I had the stride of a cowboy.

The plane ride up to the 13,500 feet altitude for our jump was very smooth and the instructors were excellent. When we arrived at 12,000 feet, we were told to sit on our instructor's lap so they could attach their harness to ours. At this point my neighbor leaned over and said, "Just think, they did't even buy us dinner."

The comment made all of us laugh and helped to ease the tension, or at least my tension. My instructor and I were the last ones to jump; the closer we got to the door, the more I began to shake. As we approached the door, I thought, "I can not mentally move any closer to that door." Just then he said, "One, two, arch." That was my signal to arch my back and keep my head up. The cameraman captured the fall out of the airplane and the entire free-fall.

The free-fall was the most exhilarating rush of my life. I absolutely loved the feeling of the wind whipping past me at 123 mph, but the physical sensation felt foreign. Once I got used to the feeling of the air and learned to keep my mouth shut, I was ready for some maneuvers. We did a few spins, and then it was time to pull the ripcord. I was doing fine until the parachute opened. Right after it opened, I heard a few clicks and the instructor say, "I am just loosening the harness to make it more comfortable." I was thinking, "No I am just fine flying spread eagle as long as the harness is tight!" However, after I became lose in my harness, I started to feel more comfortable and looked around. The view was breathtaking!

While we were floating down I experienced a wave of weakness. I was so happy when he said to pull my legs up and run when my feet hit the ground. I did muster up the strength to pull my legs up, but when my feet hit the ground, I could not stand up and we fell to our knees. Even though it took me a few minutes to stand, I was so happy to be on the ground.

I realized later that the weakness I experienced was due to the adrenaline rush and my nerves. I was sore for days because every muscle in my body was tense during the jump.

Even though my experience had its "ups and downs," I will definitely jump again. I will also encourage everyone who wants to skydive to jump. It is an experience that one can truly be proud of and can enjoy for the rest of their lives.

Carla Coombs is a native Kentuckian from Pleasureville, Kentucky. Carla has lived in Davie, Florida for the past seven years.