Did the skydiving thing...

[Alphawolf]

Well, whilst in Orlando (I leave Wed ) I went tandem skydiving with these guys:

http://www.skydivecity.com/html/students/tandems.html

It was very cool. Just wish they woulda prep'd me on the fact it would be like really hard to breath during freefall.

That made me a bit tense and I kept my arms in instead of letting them go to the sides which made us unstable.

Therefore, we did a few rolls and tumbles during freefall.

Then I realized shit was OK and the dude was pulling my arms a lot...so I realized- oh..yeah. Then we stabilized.

There wasn't really a sensation of seeing the ground coming up quick during freefall....

It goes from being VERY violent to being VERY calm as soon as the chute is deplaoyed.

I mean...JUST FUCKING BEAUTIFUL dangling in the sky like that.

Perfect day weather wise....light wind, bright sun.

I was on an adrenaline rush for a *good* 1hr+ after the jump. My heart rate was UP there all that time.

What is neat is that I can recalll the experience and get a little rush from it- or at least it takes me out of the world for a bit.

Didn't get any video or pics. Will get some when I move here and get certified and jump on my own.

There was some other cool shit to do at the little airport too. Parasailing, glider planes.

Only bad thing is that the excitement level was raised. So, any theme park rides are a few nothces lower- I notice.

I hope rockin' roller coaster still gives me some reaction later today. I can sleep during Test Drive now.

[cd34]

Years ago, I did my 5 static line jumps (none of that tandem stuff back then). My girlfriend at the time said, if you do freefall next, I'll leave you.

Damn was I dumb. I shoulda jumped.

[Torn Rose]

Congrats! That is something that has been on my "to do list" for a while. But I'm at 220 now, so I would have to lose a few lbs to make sure I weigh in at the limit, which is what I am working on anyway.

I was wanting to do one I saw in Key West for the first one, the scene was just incredible on the pictures I saw.

How long from the jump to the landing?

[Jim]

I had to do it when I was in the Military. When I joined as an Aircraft Electrician I was never told, I also had to parachute for the job. Surprise for me

But of course, when my knee blew on on our first night jump, surprise for them They will pay me for the rest of my life for that surprise.

[Torn Rose]

You showed them!

[Jim]

I sure did, the bastards
To date, they have paid me over $400,000 in cash and services. And to think, they tried to buy me off about 15 years ago for $50k

[SirMoby]

Alphawolf, you just experienced an amazing event. I've done the free fall thing twice and there's nothing like it. I will never consider doing it again but it's a blast.

Torn, they will allow you to spend a day training, then let you jump with 2 instructors holding on to you. No tandem so you're on your own. That's what I did both times and it's some scary stuff.

Alphawolf, you're right about it being totally violent and then complete calm. Kind of like wild passionate sex when you blow but the adrenaline rush from the sky dive stays with you for most of the day.

[ngb1959]

Now let me ask you boys something...

Why would you jump out of a PERFECTLY GOOD AIRPLANE??

[Torn Rose]

SirMoby, what do you mean? I could have 2 guys holding my hands as I jump? Won’t I need a free hand somewhere during this time?

And it almost sounds like you are saying "I would never do it again, but here is how you can do it Torn!"

Makes me wonder if I should watch my back around you.....

[digifan]

Wow Alphawolf,

you are one cool dude

[SirMoby]

Originally posted by Torn
SirMoby, what do you mean? I could have 2 guys holding my hands as I jump? Won’t I need a free hand somewhere during this time?

And it almost sounds like you are saying "I would never do it again, but here is how you can do it Torn!"

Makes me wonder if I should watch my back around you.....

Two professional jumpers actually hold on to you to keep you steady. It may look easy to fall flat and stay level when going 120 MPH but it's not. They hang on to you until you pull the cord.

I've done it twice and it's an amazing experience. I wouldn't have gone the 2nd time otherwise. Right now I look at my 9 month old daughter and suddenly I have no desire for bungy jumping, sky diving or sex tours of small Asian countries.

That being said, I'll go sky diving with you if I can be one of the guys holding on to you

[Alphawolf]

Originally posted by Torn
Congrats! That is something that has been on my "to do list" for a while. But I'm at 220 now, so I would have to lose a few lbs to make sure I weigh in at the limit, which is what I am working on anyway.

I was wanting to do one I saw in Key West for the first one, the scene was just incredible on the pictures I saw.

How long from the jump to the landing?

There is no weigh in or anything. They can just pair you up with a smaller person.

From jump till landing is like 5 minutes. Depends on weight, wind, etc...

Do it, man! Life is a journey, not a destination.

(if you have kids and stuff then calculated risks are weighed more heavily- if not sometimes ya just gotta say 'what the fuck'.)

[Alphawolf]

Originally posted by Jim
I had to do it when I was in the Military. When I joined as an Aircraft Electrician I was never told, I also had to parachute for the job. Surprise for me

But of course, when my knee blew on on our first night jump, surprise for them They will pay me for the rest of my life for that surprise.

Shit Jim.

Your injury was due to the jump? The landing perhaps?

We landed by picking up our legs and sliding our ass like landing gear. It was much smoother then I thought.

[Alphawolf]

Originally posted by SirMoby
Alphawolf, you just experienced an amazing event. I've done the free fall thing twice and there's nothing like it. I will never consider doing it again but it's a blast.

Torn, they will allow you to spend a day training, then let you jump with 2 instructors holding on to you. No tandem so you're on your own. That's what I did both times and it's some scary stuff.

Alphawolf, you're right about it being totally violent and then complete calm. Kind of like wild passionate sex when you blow but the adrenaline rush from the sky dive stays with you for most of the day.

Why did you do it twice, but now never do it again? Bad experience?

I dunno...I think it's much better to experience the sensations in tandem 1st then if you dig it, take the day of training or whatever.

I *do* think doing it all on your own would be much cooler. Well, unless you kill yourself- that is.

[Alphawolf]

Originally posted by ngb1959
Now let me ask you boys something...

Why would you jump out of a PERFECTLY GOOD AIRPLANE??

Honestly, very few things get reactions out of me and I had cancer when I was 22. I know for me, it's better to do things and maybe regret doing them than never doing them and always wondering 'what if I had done that'.

[Alphawolf]

Originally posted by digifan
Wow Alphawolf,

you are one cool dude

[Alphawolf]

Originally posted by SirMoby
Two professional jumpers actually hold on to you to keep you steady. It may look easy to fall flat and stay level when going 120 MPH but it's not. They hang on to you until you pull the cord.

I've done it twice and it's an amazing experience. I wouldn't have gone the 2nd time otherwise. Right now I look at my 9 month old daughter and suddenly I have no desire for bungy jumping, sky diving or sex tours of small Asian countries.

That being said, I'll go sky diving with you if I can be one of the guys holding on to you

Ah. I understand. I'd probably be the same way.

[anteyes]

wow, pretty awesome. I really want to do that soon as well. My ex girlfriend's dad in a city near orlando might be able to get me a great discount on my first jump, because he does it professionally and makes the parachutes for a living.

[Pazz]

Congrats Alphawolf.

I did it last year, and it was fantastic. I did however get the video and put it on when ever need to put a smile on my face, the memories of the feelings come flooding back