"I got three "Goes!" before I released"



Kamloops - October 16, 1998
by: Michael Townsend
Sunday morning the weather was perfect, slightly overcast with a slight breeze. We did the ground school from 9:00 am to 11:30 am and then 12:30 to 1:45 pm. This school was to acquaint us with all the hazards and instruct us on the method of exit, so that we might exit without thinking, instructions that follow army training principles. This proved to be
invaluable for if I had been allowed to think prior to exiting, I would have been incapable of doing so.

Upon reaching 3000 feet the pilot reached over and opened the door. I took one last look at the ground and then I went into training mode, " Grip door frame, Right Foot, Left Hand, Right Hand, Left Foot, Slide, Slide, Slide, Look at Instructor!!!" At this point you are hanging from the wing support waiting for "Go! Go!" from the instructor. I got three "Goes!" before I released. Then "0ne 1000, Two 1000, Three 1000, Four 1000, Five 1000, Check 1000!" The parachute should now be out and you count the nine pockets and the slider should be all the way down to just above your head. If the lines are tangled, you untangle them and then enjoy the rest of the ride. The tug of the harness as the chute deployed was the most wonderful feeling you can possibly imagine. You then do a flight check, right hand pull turn right, left hand pull, turn left, and then off you go.

We had radios so turning instructions and landing flairs were given from the ground. Landing is done in three stages. First flair slows you down, second flair slows you that much more and final flair brings you to a stop. Those that watched from the ground thought I was coming in way too fast. Landing speed or forward speed is about 25 mph. First flair, (pulling the guides simultaneously to your chest) happens about 25 feet from the ground. Second flair, (pulling the guides simultaneously to your waist), happens about 10 feet from the ground. Final flair, (pulling the guides simultaneously towards your crotch) three feet from the ground and you just step away. And this is how it worked for me, a perfect landing to be matched by only one other person.

Only one ride was problematic. The girl froze early into the flight and could not respond to her radio commands. When asked to turn she would not and as a result headed straight for some power lines. Whether she finally heard the command to turn or did so on her own, she finally headed for the landing field. But she only flaired part way to her waist so the landing sent her tumbling to the ground. She got up however, none the worse for ware.

But what a rush!! Nothing like it! I have never experienced fear quite like this before; even being perched on a cliff with no obvious way down or jumping from a bridge with a piece of elastic attached you your ankles.(Nanimo BungeJump of '93)
Editor's Note: Michael was pretty busy with this project, both hands full, so we don't have any pictures of the event but the Internet abounds with great sites with skydiving pictures. I borrowed the one above, but below are list of sites you might want to check out and find out more about this fast growing sport.
http://gandalf.unian.it/~montanar/alimarche/englinks.html
  • - HOME PAGE PRESENTATION SERVICES SCHOOL SPECIALITY PHOTO NEWS Pepperell Skydiving Center -- Pepperell, MA, USA Napoleon Skydiving Center Page Briefings on AFF Levels, Graduate Dives, Water Training and more.
    -- #49 from Excite
Air Adventures Skydiving Clewiston Florida
Andy's Ultra Great Skydiving Home Page
  • http://goedde.com/
    - Skydiving theme, stories and pictures, WWII Novel, funny short story, get-away destinations
    -- #43 from Excite
Columbus School of Skydiving
  • http://www.skydivecolumbus.com/
    - The Columbus School of Skydiving 2587 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio43202 (614) 784-7799, (614) 267-1357 (Fax) email us at: bartac@infinet.com The best skydiving sites feature in the Skydive Ring Want to join ?
Crestview Skydiving Center
  • http://www.jumpcsc.com/
    - Welcome to the Crestview Skydiving Center page! Centrally located in the Florida Panhandle, Crestview Skydiving Center offers a wide variety of services designed for all skill levels. For those interested in learning more about this exciting sport, professional USPA certified instructors provide tandem skydives and AFF (accelerated free fall) training.
Edmonton Skydiving Zone
In the Air: Skydiving
Jerry's Skydiving Circus & LOL Video
Kier's Home & Skydiving Page
  • http://users.penn.com/~johnw/index.html
    - Hi! By now you already know my name is Kier. I am 25 and work for the Sealy Mattress Company. I live in Clarion, PA. I love the sky(can't you tell)!! Skydiving is wonderful! I jump in Petersburg, OH, at SKYDIVE RICK'S, home of the Alliance Sport Parachute Club.
Nikki's Skydive Page
RICE COLLEGIATE SKYDIVING CLUB
SCSU Skydiving Club
  • http://condor.stcloudstate.edu/~skydive/index.html
    - There are three programs that a new student can enroll in. The programs can be conducted at Hutchinson, Minnesota or at Baldwin, Wisconsin. Both drop zones are affiliated with the USPA (United States Parachute Association).
Skydive Europe
Skydive the Beach
Skydiving Adventures, Inc.
  • http://www.skydivehemet.com/
    - Skydiving Adventures, Inc. At Skydiving Adventures, we have two of the most important goals a skydiver can have: making safe skydives and having fun. Located centrally between Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and Palm Springs, we operate out of Hemet-Ryan airport in the city of Hemet.
Skydiving Homepage
Skydiving People To See
Skydiving information on Far West Parachute, Inc.
  • http://www.pia.com/farwest/information.htm
    - Far West Parachute, Inc.,Skydiving information, skydiving gear, parachuting ,skydiving, supplies, parachuting accessories, Far West Parachute specializes in custom parachuting gear and equipment . You have our guarantee that we will give you expert advice and superior service.
Snake River Skydiving, Inc.
  • http://members.aol.com/idskydvrs/index.html
    - IT'S TIME TO FLY! SNAKE RIVER SKYDIVING, INC. located in Star, Idaho, is Idaho's premiere Skydiving Center. We operate from a private facility in the country side only 16 miles from down town Boise.
USPA 2000
  • http://www.uspa.org/
    - The United States Parachute Association (USPA) is dedicated to the safe enjoyment of skydiving.USPA represents 33,000 skydivers and more than 300 Drop Zones worldwide. Hot Issues Discussions New Issue Posted 9/98
skydive.net
  • http://www.skydive.net/
    - All you want to know about competition formation skydiving! Rules, judging, events, training,... These pages are maintained and updated by top-level competitors and judges from everywhere! Don't miss it, and... do it sequentially! (Sorry, no skysurf, no accuracy, no chute assis, no CReW, no freefly,... just real points! ;-)