Skydiving

Right after Christmas, my sister and I went skydiving in Queenstown. Up to 15,000 feet which meant about a full minute freefall before the shute came out. The weather wasn't good the day we wanted, so we went early the next morning on a perfect day, with nary a cloud in sight. after getting all suited up in a jumpsuit, cap, gloves and goggles, we hopped in the small plane to take us and another jumper up. Crammed into the plane, we rose higher and higher, with the view getting better. In the distance we could see Mt Cook, the highest peak in NZ. We kept climbing higher and higher, then the other jumper jumped at 12,000 which already seemed pretty high and the brain started those second thoughts, but then we kept rising up to 15,000.

When you reach the height, the plane levels out and the door opens and you know it's time. I went first, leaning out of the plane with my instructor hooked on behind me, and a photographer holding on outside the plane. To be honest, the first 5 seconds sucked. It was basically the nightmare you have about falling. But then you get used to it and get to enjoy it, checking out the amazing scenary and making faces for the camera. We fell for just under a minute before the parachut popped out and we floated down slowly. Quite an amazing experience and in one of the most beautiful places around so I was quite happy. Enjoy the photos.