Euphoria at 120 Mph

I decided not to make it a late night even though I was in the company of two lovely Italian ladies at one of the bars in Byron Bay. I had to be fresh, awake, sharp. Still the alarm came as a shock. I looked at my phone, 6.15 am, time to get up. It gave me just enough time to snooze and a quick shower and some breakfast.

The van, plastered with stickers shouting Skydiving Byron Bay, pulled up at 7.15 am. The driver introduced himself as Rob, he was a short fellow that reminded me of my friend Adriaan back on Curacao and he was in very good spirits. Apparently I was the first one on his list since the van was empty. It could hold about 11 people, which turned out to be the amount of people joining me for this early morning adventure.

We drove for about ten minutes after the last pick up to the drop zone. This is where www.australiaskydiving.com.au has their Byron Bay facility. After doing some necessary paperwork, were you sign your life away and such, it was time to gear up.

The operation worked as a well-oiled machine. Six of us got called forward. Crewmembers were waiting to hoist us in a harness after we putt on some real skydiving pants, which were very similar to ski pants I must say.

A lovely girl from Spain helped me into my harness. “Squat a little when I tighten this”, she said with her cute accent whilst tightening the straps at my groin. “It needs to be comfortable on the way down”. I assumed that she would be my instructor too, but as they say: assume makes an ass of u and me. Turned out my instructor was a big guy called Stu.

As a group we got introduced to the finer arts of leaving an airplane not using the accustomed methods. “Cling your feet to the bottom of the plane. Tilt your head up and hold on to the harness with both hands. Arch your back like a banana. When you feel a tap on the shoulder spread your arms, smile and enjoy”, another instructor explained to us. We practiced it on the floor, but only once. The plane had been fired up and it was time to take to the skies.

We sat, in front of our designated instructors, on foam pillows like they were saddles. It was quite cramped, but that gave it a cozy feel and the reassuring feeling that you weren’t by yourself. The view was amazing as we climbed to 14.000 ft/4267 mtrs. The Great Dividing Range in the distance with its sharp summits. Green rolling hills between the mountains and the ocean. Covered in patches like a quilt in different shades of green and brown. Hundreds of small streams and creeks snaking through the landscape. Below was the beautiful clear blue ocean lined with golden beaches with white fringes as the waves broke on the shore. Stu told me it was too early to spot whales as that would have been the cherry on top this already incredible cake.

An orange flashing light jerked me back into reality. The sign below it read: ½ mile. Stu ran the exit strategy by me once more. He told me to relax a couple of times. I’m not sure if I gave of a nervous vibe, but I could definitely feel a healthy tension in my body. I mean, I was about to jump out of an airplane for the first time on my life.

I was caught up with the view and the inevitable jump I had forgotten that the plane was moving forward at quite a high speed. I got reminded as my predecessors jumped out and were gone just like that. Like a cigarette bud you flick out the window of a moving car. One moment it is there, the next moment it is gone.

It want so fast. Stu and I moved to the door. I ‘bananashaped’ myself as best I could and we were of. We tumbled for a few seconds and them we were horizontal. Stu tapped me on the shoulder and I spread my arms. I was shouting like a mad man and smiling at the same time. Never would have thought that falling towards the earth at a 120 mph would be such a great experience. Stu did some spins which gave me a beautiful 360 view of the area. I don’t remember taking in much of the view, the adrenaline racing through every fiber of my body didn’t allow for a relaxing intake of the scenery. Although the free fall lasted for only 60 seconds it surprised me how long it took for this particular minute to pass.

It was over just like that. The parachute opened and the violent fall turned into a gentle glide in seconds. Stu passed me the handles, “you’re flying now”, he said. I pulled down on the left rope and we turned sharply. We were almost horizontal with the shute and I got look into it. “whoa, easy”, Stu said. I couldn’t get enough pulled the right side and we spun to the other side. It was a very smooth ride back down and a very smooth landing. Once on the ground I wanted to go back up right away, I didn’t want it to be over so soon.

It was good to be able to talk with my fellow skydive virgins, who just popped their proverbial cherry. We all wanted to talk, but no one was able to really grasp what just happened to us. Everyone was smiling ear to ear, me included and that smile wasn’t going anywhere soon. We waited for our videos and pictures while we watched with envy as other skydivers came gliding in. it was an amazing experience and Australia Skydive gave me a safe and thrilling ride.

It is hard to describe the feeling. I liked the free fall part better than the glide down. Just the wind rushing past your face and the adrenaline rushing through your body. At that moment there is absolutely nothing on your mind but a sense freedom. It was pure euphoria at 120 mph.