Sixteen GC&SU students got the chance to skydive

You gaze at the ground longingly, as one looks at a place that they never expect to see again.
You step into the Super Otter, an airplane specially designed for this mission.
Upon entering the plane, you slip through a tiny door, and you back into position. There are two benches running parallel to each other, and you straddle one and face the door you entered.
Strapped to your back, is your tandem instructor. He will be in charge of your life for the next twenty minutes.
The plane ride lasts for an uncomfortable and stressful 12 minutes. The pilot flies the plane in a funnel shape, spiralling smaller until he reaches 14,500 feet.
You attempt small talk with your instructor and the girl across from you. You remember nothing they say.
Someone slides open the door, and the wind whips in, interested in who has dared to explore its realm.
The first group jumps, and you look out the window to see gravity take and hurdle them downward.
The second group jumps.
Your instructor yells last minute instructions into your ear. You try to remember everything he says. In less than thirty seconds it will become the most important piece of information you know.
The girl in front of you jumps, and you can faintly hear her screams.
When you step up to the edge of the plane, you ask your instructor: “Are we really going to do this?”
As way of answer, he thrusts both of you into the open abyss.
You are now freefalling.
You are now skydiving.

For 16 Georgia College & State University students, freefalling became a reality when Venture Out hosted a skydiving trip on April 4.
Skydiving is considered a dangerous sport and because of this, the Adventure Skydiving Center (ASC) helped ensure students of their safety.
“We went through ASC in Cedartown, Ga.,” said Mike Pletsch, graduate assistant for Venture Out.
Cedartown is located roughly 3 hours northwest of Milledgeville and ASC has been in business there for thirteen years. They currently have 50 full time staff members, many of whom live at the center in bunks or outside in trailers.
All first time skydivers are required to watch a video and sit through a period of instruction. They are then paired with a tandem instructor. ASC recommends that all first time skydivers should do a tandem jump, which is the safest method of skydiving. The instructor is attached to the skydiver’s back and is in charge of guiding the parachute to the ground once it has opened.
The tandem instructors are adventurous and full of life. They crack jokes and make one feel comfortable all through the skydiving process.
“I loved my tandem instructor, he was friendly and quite a character, which made my jump more relaxing and enjoyable,” said freshman Erin Hicks. “He was a blast to go down with, and he easily took my mind off the fact that I was jumping out of an airplane 14,500 feet in the air.”
Sophomore Mollie Nesmith echoed Hicks’ comments.
“The people that went with us were great!” said Nesmith. “They answered all my questions and made the trip better.”

After the instruction period, the time comes to gear up. The gear for the jumper is a harness that fits like a backpack and runs between the legs.
Then, groups of up to 12 board the Super Otter for the ascent.
The ascent, 14,500 feet upwards, lasts roughly 12 minutes.
Once the plane reaches 14,500 feet, the door swings open and people prepare to jump.
For many first time skydivers this moment is the most nerve racking.
“I was a little scared, but not as much as I though I would be,” said Hicks. “The scariest part to me was when I watched the girl in front of me jump out and plunge to the ground, but other than that I was surprisingly calm.”
Most people that went on the trip agreed that the 60-second freefall was the best part. During the fall students reached speeds of up to 120 miles per hour. “It was so exciting,” said Nesmith. “During the freefall I got this huge rush when I was able to look up at the plane flying above me. I also liked watching the ground below. It was so beautiful!”
Hicks agrees with Nesmith.
“The freefall was the most amazing experience,” said Hicks. “Though you are somewhat frightened that you are falling in mid-air with nothing but ground underneath, the air in your face is exhilarating. It’s basically indescribable; it was beautiful being able to look at the earth from so far up and to think that air was the only thing holding you up at this point. Though it only lasted for a few seconds it felt like minutes because you were so far up.”
Landing with the parachute can prove to be tricky, but touching the ground is a relief.
Why would anyone want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane and hope that the parachute opens? Pletsch, even after jumping, is not so sure.
“Don’t know honestly. I have heard about it and seen it everywhere my entire life, in stories from my father, in TV, in movies, in posters, its just everywhere,” said Pletsch. “So why not try it?”
Hicks also had the “why not” attitude when it comes to skydiving.
“Well, I wanted to go skydiving because it is something that I have always dreamed of doing. Who wouldn’t want to jump out of a plane?” said Hicks.
Pletsch was the facilitator for the trip, a position he enjoyed, but the students’ safety was of the utmost concern to him.
“I have the best job in the world. There are obvious concerns for the safety of the students, so it can be somewhat stressful at times,” said Pletsch. “Being a facilitator is great though, I get to meet new students all of the time.”
The trip ran smoothly. There was one incident of a student injuring her ankle during the landing, and there was also a period of delay caused by high winds forcing the center to temporarily halt all jumps.
“The only things that didn’t go well were due to stuff that was out of our control,” Pletsch said. “The wind got really bad, so the dive center delayed us until it died down some.”
The delay lasted roughly three hours, so students spent their time kicking a bowling ball back and forth and attempting hand stands.
Nevertheless, Pletsch believes the trip went well.
“I would say the trip was a success,” said Pletsch. “We all got to jump, and I received positive feedback from each of the students. It was great seeing everyone smiling so big once they landed.”
Students are unanimous in recommending all to conquer their fears and to give skydiving a try.
“I would most definitely recommend skydiving to anyone; it was an experience that I will never forget and only hope that I can do it many more times; when it’s all over you know that it was truly worth the time and money. It was one or probably the most amazing things I have ever done in my life!”
For more information, ASC can be reached at 1-800-505-JUMP or online at www.ASCSkydiving.com. The cost varies with the type of jump, but first time jumps cost in the area of $150.00. Discounts are available for groups, military personnel and students.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 16 2004. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry