The sensation of skydiving is unbeatable

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A while ago I wrote about making and taking opportunities and how life is what you make of it.

I have an amazing follow-up example of that. On Friday, April 25, I went out to the Gloster Aerodome to do a story about Westside Skydivers Houston. They’ve been in business here for a year and a half, but apparently few people outside the skydiving community knows about them.

When Westside Skydivers owner Joe Johnson graciously offered me a tandem jump, I jumped at it. How often do you get an opportunity to literally take a flying leap out the back of an airplane?

I was paired up with tandem master Anthony “Pinky” Gelleny, a 24-year-old native of Canada who has more than 1,500 jumps to his credit. He was very professional and enthusiastic. He got me strapped in to my harness and fully explained the procedure to me.

As we jump, I must hold my head to the side, arch my back, bend my legs at the knees and hold onto my harness straps until he gives me a signal. After we fall from 14,000 feet to 6,000 feet, I am to reach back with my right hand and pull the cable more commonly known as a ripcord.

Attached to his left hand was a small video camera. Attached to mine was an altimeter, so I would know when the crucial moment arrived to do my important task. When the big moment arrived and we perched on the back door of the plane, he gave a gentle push and my mind went blank.

I was so in awe of the multitude of sensations that went through me that I couldn’t tell you if I remembered to cock my head, arch my back, bend my knees or anything else. The view, the speed, the breathtaking wind (literally), seized my senses and drew me into a place I could only imagine.

Then Pinky flipped us over and I was watching the plane we just left shrink away into the wild, blue yonder. When Pinky flipped us back over, I came to my senses, arched my back, bent my legs and all that stuff. I also recalled his second order of the day – have fun.

With his camera rolling, I made faces and flashed the only “gang” sign I felt comfortable with – the Vulcan hand sign. I didn’t know at that point if I would Live Long and Prosper, but I was living large for the moment.

When the time came, Pinky gave me the sign and I reached back and let ’er rip with the ripcord. There is a slight jerk as the parachute opens and your speed suddenly drops from about 60 mph to 20 and your legs kick out. Within a second or two you go from a blinding and deafening wind-whipped environment to the most peaceful and serene feelings I’ve ever known.

Floating under the canopy, it is incredibly quiet and the view spectacular. It’s how I imagine astronauts in zero-G must feel, because you really don’t feel the pull of gravity, or at least notice it as much. It’s ironic because gravity should be foremost on your mind!

The sensation of the whole experience is something I’ll never for get. It’s something I never want to forget. I may not be athletic or have an A-type personality, but I am a thrill seeker. I’ve experienced a lot of wild things in my life. None, however, compare to what we did up there.

Whenever I share my tale, I usually get one of two responses from people. “I’d love to do that” or “You could never get me to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.” To those who have even the remotest inclination to try skydiving, I highly recommend it.

After all, you only live once. You can’t go back and take a try again if you’ve missed your opportunity. Life is what you make of it. Make the most of it!