My Skydiving Adventure

One of my pre-flight poses

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:09:19 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
One of my pre-flight poses

Me getting some last minute instructions from Ashley. Ashley is one of the regular skydivers that comes out most weekends.

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:19:54 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
Me getting some last minute instructions from Ashley. Ashley is one of the regular skydivers that comes out most weekends.

Me and my Tandem partner, Tom taking "the walk" to the plane.

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:20:26 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
Me and my Tandem partner, Tom taking "the walk" to the plane.

Everyone gathering at the plane, getting ready for take off.

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:09:25 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
Everyone gathering at the plane, getting ready for take off.

Me posing for the Videographer before take off.

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:20:43 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
Me posing for the Videographer before take off.

Everyone laughing and joking as we got ready to load into the plane.

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:08:34 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
Everyone laughing and joking as we got ready to load into the plane.

Tom letting me know it's "game time."

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:20:58 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
Tom letting me know it's "game time."

With the plane running, I was the last jumper in because I was the first jumper going out.

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:10:04 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
With the plane running, I was the last jumper in because I was the first jumper going out.

Here we are as the plane started down the runway.

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:11:22 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
Here we are as the plane started down the runway.

There was five jumpers plus the pilot in the plane. Tom and myself, plus three solo jumpers.

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:12:39 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
There was five jumpers plus the pilot in the plane. Tom and myself, plus three solo jumpers.

It was extremely cramped in the plane. I could barely get my left leg inside the plane. Once we got down the runway for take off, we had to close the door. I was thinking, "Are you kidding m ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:12:02 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
It was extremely cramped in the plane. I could barely get my left leg inside the plane. Once we got down the runway for take off, we had to close the door. I was thinking, "Are you kidding m ...

No turning back now! ;-)

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:13:14 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
No turning back now! ;-)

It was a little odd to be sitting next to the pilot, who was wearing his parachute during the flight. Was he trying to tell us something? ;-)

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:13:50 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
It was a little odd to be sitting next to the pilot, who was wearing his parachute during the flight. Was he trying to tell us something? ;-)

The back of my harness is attached to Tom's harness/chute. There is a small foot peg on the outside of the plane that both of our right feet stands on. At this point we are half in and half ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:23:43 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
The back of my harness is attached to Tom's harness/chute. There is a small foot peg on the outside of the plane that both of our right feet stands on. At this point we are half in and half ...

With the excessive clouds, we were flying around for a long while, waiting for the clouds to pass. Due to the extra time in the air, we climbed to 12,000 feet instead of the standard 10,000 ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:23:46 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
With the excessive clouds, we were flying around for a long while, waiting for the clouds to pass. Due to the extra time in the air, we climbed to 12,000 feet instead of the standard 10,000 ...

Being that Tom was controlling the parachute, I obviously had no idea when we were turning etc. This did cause my stomach to get a little upset. With a breathing technique that Tom suggested ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:21:38 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
Being that Tom was controlling the parachute, I obviously had no idea when we were turning etc. This did cause my stomach to get a little upset. With a breathing technique that Tom suggested ...

Here we are as we just got over the landing area.

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:21:49 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
Here we are as we just got over the landing area.

Now we began descending towards the landing area. At this point, Tom loosens my harness and I actually drop down a couple inches in my harness. This allowed me to be able to grab the straps ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:22:01 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
Now we began descending towards the landing area. At this point, Tom loosens my harness and I actually drop down a couple inches in my harness. This allowed me to be able to grab the straps ...

The videographer was brave trying to get some last second photos as we got ready to land.

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:14:32 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
The videographer was brave trying to get some last second photos as we got ready to land.

FYI- Once the chute opens, your harness gives you one hell of a wedgie. lol... Here you can see the straps that I had to pull down under my thighs towards my knees. It is kind of like a seat ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:04:19 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
FYI- Once the chute opens, your harness gives you one hell of a wedgie. lol... Here you can see the straps that I had to pull down under my thighs towards my knees. It is kind of like a seat ...

I was anticipating somewhat of a hard landing. As shown in this photo, we land on our @sses and slide to a stop.

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:22:21 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
I was anticipating somewhat of a hard landing. As shown in this photo, we land on our @sses and slide to a stop.

The closer to the ground we got, the more I was raising my legs up. I was concerned that my feet were going to get caught on the ground as soon as we touched down and prevent me from sliding ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:15:18 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
The closer to the ground we got, the more I was raising my legs up. I was concerned that my feet were going to get caught on the ground as soon as we touched down and prevent me from sliding ...

Touch down...

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:15:59 -0700

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Touch down...

Safely on the ground...

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:17:18 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
Safely on the ground...

"A picture says a thousand words." I think my expression says it all. lol

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:17:44 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
"A picture says a thousand words." I think my expression says it all. lol

This was right after the parachute hit the ground. This photo was taken by the videographer.

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:10:21 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
This was right after the parachute hit the ground. This photo was taken by the videographer.

My Tandem partner just let me know I was unhooked from his harness. I told him that I could not move my legs. We both laughed. lol

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:22:38 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
My Tandem partner just let me know I was unhooked from his harness. I told him that I could not move my legs. We both laughed. lol

At this point, after I got to my feet, I was still processing the fact that I just got done jumping out of an airplane, 12,000 feet in the air.

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:42:05 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
At this point, after I got to my feet, I was still processing the fact that I just got done jumping out of an airplane, 12,000 feet in the air.

Walking from the landing area, smiling because I lived to tell about it. lol

nobody@smugmug.com (Photographing-Ohio) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:23:14 -0700

Photographing-Ohio
Walking from the landing area, smiling because I lived to tell about it. lol