I wanted to start off my travel blog with a bang, so why not start with skydiving? My husband, Alan, and I went to Skydive Spaceland in Rosharon, TX. This organization would later set the Guinness World Record for the greatest number of tandem skydives in one day at one location on September 27th, 2014. An interesting point I should note, is that they accomplished this world record title while raising money for the Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation. Their event raised more than $48,000 for CCRF!

Skydiving 101: You sign a legal document acknowledging that said company is not liable or responsible for any possible outcome (including injury or death). So you close your eyes and sign on the dotted line. After a thirty-minute training course, you suit up, jump on a plane, and fall 14,000 ft at 120 mph. At 7,000 ft, monitor your altimeter. At 6,000 ft, pull your chute. That’s right – at Skydive Spaceland, you pull your own chute…no pressure.

For those that are on the fence about taking such a risky venture – it’s nothing like what you would imagine. First off, I would claim that the majority of people have a fear of falling, not a fear of heights. I, myself, didn’t actually feel nervous until the plane door opened, and as I walked to the metallic edge of the doorframe my hands grew clammy. I think my trainer (and tandem jumper), HazzMatt, sensed this because before I could say, “Bob’s your uncle,” we were tumbling out of the plane. Realistically, I didn’t have time to acknowledge or digest the fear that was rising in my gut.

I imagined a stomach-in-throat sensation when I jumped out of that plane – instead there was this state of quiet tranquility.  Also, most people fear the sensation of falling (and that tingly uneasiness that accompanies it). That was not the sensation at all – instead there was this ubiquitous, peaceful silence and then booming elation once I saw the horizon.  It felt like I was floating, hovering over this colorful patchwork of landscape. Again, skydiving is like nothing you can imagine, until you have done it. If you’re uncertain, suit up, and jump out of that plane before that fear in your stomach travels to your head. Please enjoy the view!

For more information about Skydive Spaceland, or search their Facebook page.

Cheers!

NOTE: All blog posts, articles, and photographs are the intellectual and creative property of Melissa J. Koziol. Thank you for reading!