I had been hanging out with friends a couple of years ago and a question was brought up: What is the most adventurous thing you have done? I listened to everyone's stories and racked my brain for something as exciting and scary as others had done and didn't feel that mine were quite up to par. This struck up a lot of conversation over the next few months as I listened to trips and excursions and daring ordeals others had went through. Before I knew it the words "I'm going to go skydiving" were coming out of my mouth and there it was out there and a statement that I now needed to follow through on. I was then determined to do this and had to find a willing partner to join me. No one could believe that I was really going to go skydiving since I don't fly well and go through so much anxiety before each flight. My cousin Ashley said she was on board and would join me (apparently she can take my crazy). It took 2 years for her to book her ticket to Colorado for our adventure, but she finally made the trip out. I booked our jump and we were all set to go.
Pre-Jump
What was I thinking? I wasn't. I had been walking around for 2 years telling people that I was going to go skydiving and every time I said it, it was no different then saying I'm going swimming at the pool to me. I don't know that I even put thought behind what terror I was really going to put myself through until 2 days before it was go time. I had started to prepare myself, but the only piece that I could prepare for was getting on a little airplane and that was going to take everything I had. I was starting to become a slight wreck a day before my cousin flew out. We booked the jump for the following morning after her arrival to do it as soon as possible. I don't think I made any sense to anyone I talked to that day, it was probably a good thing I worked from home. I picked up Ashley from the airport and then we came home and had a few beers to do some catching up and calm some nerves for the morning. The next morning I was shaking something fierce and could hardly control it. It was cloudy and drizzly out and I kept thinking they would postpone the jump, yet I couldn't decide if this was a good or a bad thing to string out the anxiety, but I knew if it was raining I wasn't getting on that little itty bitty plane. We didn't receive a phone call canceling our jump so we headed to Longmont to the airport. We got there and they said there was a slight delay, but had us start filling out paperwork. It was probably a good that there was a slight delay because it took a lot out of me to sit and fill out the forms and to the right and the left there were 2 small propeller planes that I just kept glancing at - was I really going to get on one of them or would I freeze up?! After awhile it looked like the weather was starting to clear up and we turned in our forms and paid and asked if they thought we would be able to jump and they said yes we think in just a little bit your turn will be up. Ashley's tandem jumper came out to the waiting area and introduced himself to her. I sat there thinking my person would be doing the same then and nobody came and I waited and nobody came - where is my person? This was not helping the anxiety. Then they suited up the couple waiting before us and pulled one of the planes out of the hanger and told us we were up next. Finally my guy comes out and Ashley's guy and hands us our suits to put on. Ashley's guy gave her gloves and goggles and talked to her about what was going to be happening - my guy - I got nothing for awhile. In my head I am thinking - don't they understand that I need more coddling and instruction then she does, I'm a mess over here. I did finally get my 5 minutes of instructions. It was a little crazy to think we were going to jump out an airplane and a few quick sentences of training was all you get before hand - no instructional video, no simulation, nothing, just hang on for your life and trust that the person you are attached to knows what they are doing and your chute opens. I really don't remember all of the things I was chattering about during this waiting period, but I know that I probably sounded insane. We also had the option of purchasing videos of our jump which we both did which meant that another person would be jumping with each of us to video. This is highly recommended, it's a treasure to have later. Part of the video also entails them taking commentary before the jump, in the plane and after the jump. I had no issue telling a quick story of how this jump came about and that my first goal was getting on the plane. Ashley was a bit more apprehensive of this commentary piece, it was hilarious.
The Jump
They said we were ready to go then and we hopped on this wagon type deal that took us out to a field where we were waiting for the little plane to come back from dropping off the last jumpers. I then noticed that both of our tandem jumpers were wearing helmets, but hadn't given us one. Where is my helmet? Does my head not matter? Again, not helping me. We then had the privilege of seeing the previous jumpers coming in for a landing. The first jumper was coming in so fast I about had a heart attack and said - I do not want to come in that fast. Then the plane arrived and they decided that I was getting in the plane first with my tandem partner so we walked over to the plane and I just breathed through it and got in - whew - this was the part I had been prepping for and I was so happy with myself. There are no seats on this little plane except for the pilot who was definitely not a commercial looking pilot in his street clothes, he looked more like a hippy - please, please tell me this guy can fly this plane was going through my head. Then Ashley and her tandem partner got in and then our video people got in. It was cramped in this little plane and everyone figured out quickly that I was a nut job when it comes to flying. I was hanging onto the partial window and then was afraid I would rip it off and hanging on to Ashley's shoulder. The take-off went well and it was actually a smooth ride and I started to relax. There is also no door on this plane, just a flap. I felt so good, yay! So, since the only part I had been prepping for was getting on the plane I had not processed anything else about skydiving - at all. So I ask the guys - so a few minutes and we will be ready right? What, No, it will take us about 20 to 30 minutes to get up to 10,000 to 12,000 feet for us to jump. WHAT?! I have to ride in this little plane for 30 minutes and keep climbing? Nope, not dealing well with this information. Then they did some more commentary in the plane and watching the video I have never seen myself this nervous in my life. Then its time to start hooking us up to our tandem jumper nice and secure. This is a bit awkward or a lot awkward actually. Then all of the sudden we are at the right elevation and they open the flap and things start happening very quickly. As soon as the flap opened and I saw how far up we were the realization that I had to leave the plane this high smacked me right in the face. I started taking deep breaths, in and out, in and out - holy shit, how I am I going to do this? Ashley was up first to jump and they moved her to the open door and they were sitting there and then all of the sudden - SWOOP and she was gone. And I mean just gone, I couldn't see her it was like the plane sucked her out. At this point I pretty much lost my shit and things become a little fuzzy. I remember I was breathing and I remember hearing my tandem jumper say, "Taryn, I need you to take a deep breath", "Taryn, I need you to breathe". I think I said, "I don't think I can do this" at some point in these few seconds. I have no idea how we got from the spot we were sitting to the door, especially since he was sitting behind me. It's also very apparent in my video that I was not having anything to do with this as I am being lurched out the door. I can only imagine the screaming or crazy coming out of my mouth during this short stint in time. I'm pretty sure that screams were escaping with each breath I was attempting to take and I had no control over it. Then he flung us out of the plane and I cut loose on a scream that I do remember which was quickly shut down by the 400 mile per hour winds rushing into my screaming, open mouth making it impossible to breathe and the instant zap of freezing cold air. I felt like I had just been thrown into the middle of a Minnesota blizzard and there was no escape. I was gasping for air. I think I did settle down for part of the free fall and remember thinking about the air rushing threw my gloves and pushing at my hands. I was nervous for the jolt that the parachute would give, but there was hardly any. It was instant relief when the chute was opened and I could breathe again. Then we were just floating down. I know I was still nervous because my guy was talking to me telling me where everything was and he said - look a cloud and I must have tensed up and said something and he said, no we will just go right by it. How the hell could I be scared of going through a cloud?! Then it was time to prepare to land. These instructions come during the jump apparently. So I had a 2 minute talk about how I was about to land on my ass. I was none to happy about that either. The landing though went really well and once I was released from my jumper I crawled over and sprawled out on the ground. Whew! I can't believe I just survived that. Of course then Ashley came over and laughed at me and kicked me. We waited for our videos and then went a got some stiff drinks - this was a necessity to decompress.
I will never ever forget this adventure. And thank you Ashley for being my partner in crime!
Post Jump
