Skydiving: An amazing adventure!

What makes someone jump from a plane at 13,000 ft? Are they out of their mind? Don't they think about the risks involved?

Because it can be done!

I guess that's what seperates the people who do it from the people who don't. If you recall two of my resolutions for 2011 was Bungee Jump and skydiving. I did the world's highest bungee in Macau in Jan and today I did skydiving. What an experience! What a rush!

When I got to know that I will be coming to San Francisco, I started to do my web research for skydiving. I knew that the best place to do skydiving is in US, given the safety standards and processes that they will follow. I narrowed it down to some and decided that I will do it on the weekend prior to my conference. But the joy of meeting my friend after 10 years was enough for the weekend. I had all but given up hope to do skydiving on my current trip. Then I was mentioning this to my boss - Sanjay Deshmukh - and he said why not?

So across 25th May we called some spots around the area, finalised on one and booked our slot for 9am next morning at Skydance Skydiving in Davis, CA. Sanjay went on to hire a car and we left at 6.30am on a bright sunny morning on 26th May from our hotel. Sanjay drove and I accompanied him, as the sweet voice on the Garmin GPS gave us directions from Hilton Hotel in SFO to Yolo County in Davis, CA. We got there by 8am even before the place had opened. There were two young guys in line before us for the 8am slot and then it was us. So what happens now?

Well let me switch the narration style here. Skydance Skydiving is a cute little place in the middle of a picturesque county in CA surrounded by hills and beautiful plains. You first sign up for the package that you wish to take. You have a choice of 9000 ft, 13000 ft and 18000ft - the last one being with oxygen. The 9000ft jump gives you a free fall of 30 seconds, the 13000 one of 60 seconds and the 18000 one - well we didn't look at that. You pay extra if you want photos and video. We decided on the 13000ft with photos and videos package and it cost us US$ 305. The interesting part is that you pay the amount to the center, she then takes two small envelopes, places some money in it and marks one to be given to the tandem instructor and one to the video guy. So we asked why? Apparently the instructors and the video guy are freelance consultants and for the process to be followed they have to be paid by us. So the small cute little envelopes with money in them. Anyway you are also given a small coupon to redeem for your free T-Shirt.

You are then taken to a small room with lots of chairs and clip boards with forms and pen stuck on them. You are shown a video of skydiving and explained all the horrible things that can happen and that you are signing up for all possibilities. Wow, they show you this after you have paid the money, smart! Anyway you sign the forms and give it to the instructor. He then tells you what the next process will be.

You are explained that you will be given a jump suit and a harness to wear. When you are in the plane you will sit on your instructor's lap as he harnesses himself to you so that both of you are tightly clasped. You are harnessed at the shoulder and hip level with multiple harnesses and clasps. When you reach the altitude your instructor will slide along the plane to the door. Your feet will be dangling down the door and your hands will be holding your harness at the shoulder. You then place your head back on your instructor's shoulder, turn right and give a big smile to the video guy. And then you are off. As you fall off the door you must arch your back as much as possible and turn you legs back on to your instructor's ass. This is the position you keep through the free fall. The instructor also deploys a small parachute to slow the speed of fall. Once stabilised the instructor will tap you on your shoulder and you can then move your hands around. At 7500 ft he will show you the altimeter and guide your hand to the orange ball that holds the main chute. At 6500 ft you yank on it to deploy the main parachute. Then you just glide to the ground and enjoy the view. Remember all this is being explained to you on the ground in a small room before you have even worn your harness. So you smile and show that you are excited.

Then you wait till your name gets called. They had only two intructors when we got there and the two guys before us went first. We were now committed and there was no backing out. Sanjay and me watched as the plane took off with the first batch and then followed the descent to the ground. And then our names were called.

We met the first guys in the hanger and they were pumped with excitement. We, on the other hand, were wondering what we got ourselves into. We got introduced to our instructors or tandem guy - Garon for me. We wore the blue suit and the harness and practiced the procedure one more time. The video guy was there and he took my video before the airplane. We then got in with fake bravado smiles and we were off. As we reached 6000 ft, Sanjay and me looked at each other and exchanged a glance that we were only half way up and already we could see nothing down. Sanjay went first and then it was my turn.

Garon slid along the length of the small aircraft and before we knew it we were at the door with my feet dangling down. At that time my thinking and processing brain shut down. I was in the zone and was not thinking about what I was about to do or the associated risks. I placed my head on Garon's shoulder, turned right, smiled for the camera and with a sway or two we JUMPED! What the......!!

The first five seconds your brain does not process what has happened. Then it kicks in and you enjoy the rush. What a fantastic feeling. You are falling to the earth, the wind rushing to your face, twisting your cheeks, gravity pulling you down, the cold air numbing your fingers but the adrenaline rush is overpowering. As the video guy comes around you are smiling, waving, making signs and having a hell of a lot of fun. Its an experience that cannot be described. Each person will have their own twist to it. For me it was a serene, out-of-body experience. The earth was far far below, the clouds were around me and I was actually doing this! I looked around taking in the perspective from this height. But just as you start to enjoy the ride, its time to pull the chute. One moment you are falling and the next you have been pulled back and are in a standing posture. Frankly at that time it seems to you that it ended too soon. I wanted more of the free fall. I want more!

Once the chute is pulled it is a more easy glide. I tried my hand at the parachute as well for some time but then gave the controls to the instructor and just sat back and enjoyed the ride. It was absolutely beautiful. At this stage your brain is still processing the free fall that you had just experienced. As you near the earth the instructor asks you to raise your legs and he slides along the ground to a perfect landing. You are unharnessed and you shout and scream at the awesome fantastic thing you just experienced.

For a few moments after that I just stood there and realised that I had jumped from a plane at 13000ft, fallen for 60 seconds and then come back to earth safe and sound. Would I want to do it again? Absolutely! And this was all thanks to Sanjay Deshmukh!

So why did I do it? To push myself. To push the mental blocks. To make my kids realise that you should not fear new experiences. To say that I DID SKYDIVING! In your face, dudes!

World's Highest Bungy Jump

What makes someone jump from a height of 233 mtrs with a cord tied to their ankles? Why would someone put their life in danger and do a bungy jump? Bravery and Courage or Studpidity and Madness?

In my case it was a New Year Resolution and the fact that it can be done. I have always believed in attempting to push the limits of mental abilities. Fear, in my opinion, is a state of mind. It resides in your mind and can be overcome there.

When I got to know a few months back that we would be going to Macau for our Sales Kickoff I decided to do the Skywalk on the Macau Tower. It had been done by a close friend of mine and it seemed exciting. Then I got to know that the Macau Tower has the World's Highest Bungy Jump and I was hooked. This had to be done. I booked my slot and started getting myself psyched for it.

The day dawned gloomy, cold and foggy. I had an apointment at 11 and I had to be back at the hotel for a meeting by 12 noon. It was going to be close. I had a quick breakfast and decided to head out. Two of my colleauges, who were having breakfast with me, on hearing that I was going to do the bungy jump decided to come along for the spectacle. I landed at the Macau Tower by 10.30 in biting 8 degree cold. The tower looked deserted and one of my colleauges commented on whether it was even open. We took the elevator up to the 63rd floor of the tower and it was amazing to watch the ground fall beneath and the various features gets smaller and smaller. Stepping out it was very cold and windy but my mind was set.

In fact in hindsight I seemed to just go through the motions. I was clear that I wanted the package with the photos and video. After all there has to be proof that I did the jump! So this is what follows once you have paid and committed.

First you are asked to empty your pockets and everything else including your watch. You can pay a $20 deposit for a locker but I had my friends so they took the stuff. You are given a AJ Hackett bungy jump T Shirt to wear. You can then decide if you want a warm jacket from them for a security deposit of $100. Believe me I needed that. It was 8 degrees....brr! You are then taken to wear the harness which is tightened around you. You also change your shoes into one that they give you. You are then weighed with the harness et all and your weight is written on your left hand. This is for them to determine the kind of rope that they should use. Apparently each weight category has a different kind of rope to balance and manage the weight.

You then move into a 'jumpers area' and that's when it hits you and you are next in line or in my case first in line. It will really happen. The crew starts preparing the rope et all for the jump as you wait in the area. You are then called into the area where the equipment is being readied for the jump. You sit on a table and hold your legs out for them to tie your ankles together. Once that is done you are interviewed on video with questions ranging from where you are from to leaving a message for your family and friends before you jump. Now you are ready.....or are you? Post this the jump master explains to you what is going to happen. You will move to the edge, spread your arms and just lean over. As you reach the bottom of the jump there is small red cord that you pull. This will make you turn over from an upside down position to a sitting position and you will be lowered down. Really? Just like that? Its that simple?

You move to the ledge and they snap on the various hooks tying the ropes to the contraption. You move closer to the edge as they snap on the last hook. At this stage the question in my mind was what if this one snaps? They all look so fragile! But you have already committed to this jump. You are asked to move right at the edge and thats the balls-in-the-mouth moment. You look down and see the small tiny features on the ground. That's when you realise how high you really are. Are you ready to do this? The jump master asks you to look right and say hi to the camera. Then spread your arms.

When I was asked to do that I decided to look straight ahead. If you look down the mind registers the height and starts playing games in your head. Look straight ahead and the mind does not get time to register the height and the fear. I closed my eyes and when the countdown happened - 5...4...3...2...1.....I just leaned over letting go of all my fears.

The sensation after that is absolutely awesome. Wind in your face, the feel of gravity, the ground coming towards you and absolute exhiliaration. Its really great and you realise that you have conquered your fear and have actually jumped. There really is no way to explain the feeling. You have to experience it yourself.

As I reached the bottom of my jump I just couldn't find the cord to pull. It took me some time but I found it, pulled and my harness made me into a sitting position. I was lowered down and I HAD DONE IT! I had done the World's Highest Bungy Jump! YooHoooooooo! :)

While the mental preparation takes a long time, the jump lasts all of 10 seconds but its an out of this world experience! If you get a chance, do it! Conquer you fear!