My First Tandem Skydive

My first tandem skydive.
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Dear Mom, if you are watching this, both the songs (especially the second one) is really a message to you, and to any who disapprove.

Not taking risks has never kept anyone safe; the only way to stay safe is to be aware.

If I ever get a license, then at least up there I will be at the mercy of my own actions, rather than the whims of some nut case at the wheel, like when I am crossing the street.
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Dear Dad, thanks for your comments when I called you after the dive. Growing up, you kept telling me stories about your friend, who was a math major; and I figured the only way to impress you would be to have tremendous prowess at Pure Mathematics. Unfortunately, I chose to major in engineering, so my math (while still very involving) was very different. I've spent so many nights, alone, and with my math major friends, hoping to develop a talent for Pure Mathematics; but every time I did it, I realized, again, and again, that numbers, by themselves, meant nothing to me. Ascribe a physical meaning to those numbers, and to solve those problems, I was in the game. I could use the math in the books to solve engineering problems, but studying the methods for their own sake, that was beyond me. So, every time I tinkered with my Pure Mathematics books, at night, I only became more and more restless, and felt more, and more hopeless.

So, imagine my surprise, when during my call after my first skydive you said you were proud of me! Dad, that meant the world to me! Now, at least, I know I can make you proud, without having to kill myself (no pun intended).
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I had expected tumbling out a 90 mph plane, and accelerating downwards till terminal velocity to be at least as scary as a roller coaster ride (at least, during that initial acceleration period). I had wanted to have gotten scared. Maybe being familiar with the feeling of falling off of 6 feet high (and higher) objects deprived me of that; maybe the feeling of the wind hitting me at 90 mph, the moment I left the plane, deprived me of that feeling that I was going down without any support; maybe the winds increasing by only 30 mph (from 90 mph when I left the plane, to 120 mph when I reached terminal velocity) during the initial acceleration took away from that feeling of falling; or, maybe, the 'roller coaster-like scared witless' feeling of acceleration, from the three or so times that the crew decided to put the plane's nose down -- mid flight -- had gotten me desensitized to the feeling of falling without support. You can see the biggest of those pranks (with the excuse that we had hit an air pocket) and my reaction at 0:40 (0 minutes, 40 seconds).

After that, I think I would have gotten bored, had my cameraperson not held my arms and spun me around, in mid-air. [Note: While I was expecting that treat for maintaining proper body position (they had mentioned this, before the jump), I was delighted for that excitingly fast spin.] If the Hazelton team deliberately desensitized me before the jump, thinking that I would come back to get more excitement out of jumping out without an instructor strapped on, then kudos to them: good job, on spotting a potential return customer!

The scariest part, for me, was when my instructor first put us into what I thought was a hook turn (but wasn't). We spiralled downward in such a tight circle, I was afraid our canopy would collapse. This, of course, taught me that there was a lot more that the canopy would not mind me doing with her, than I had thought; so I had plenty of fun flying the canopy, myself, when my jumpmaster handed me the toggles. The next time I got scared was during the landing; first, when I had thought that we were too low to turn 180 degrees towards where everyone (including my cameraperson) was landing; after the turn I was very scared, because I thought we were headed straight for my cameraperson! You can see us wobbling in the air (at 03:50), as I tried to steer clear, away from her. I was so relaxed after that, it stuck me as odd, when my jumpmaster hurriedly asked me to pull the toggles all the way down. I suppose I was more worried about hitting a person, than I was about slamming into the ground. I think I still managed a reasonably good (although assisted) landing, though.
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The dive was at Hazelton, in the Poconos, in Pennsylvania, USA. My jumpmaster was Frank, and my cameraperson was Jules. The shot of my cameraperson and my tandem exiting the plane was taken by Poki/Puki, who was my friend's cameraperson.
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Music:
Danger Zone -- Kenny Loggins
It's My Life -- Bon Jovi

Slow motion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9wydD49J0U

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• first
• tandem
• skydive

[khalidshafishaikh]

I have same plans in near future. However; I will not tell my mother anything before diving. I hope you will know why will I not tell my mother anything !!!

[faisalhalim]

@khalidshafishaikh Well, to paraphrase Mr. Dedijer, a BASE jumper -- and author of BASE 66, Mothers won't let us die in peace, and Mothers won't let us mutilate ourselves in peace; Haha! Of course, while I do not condone what you are thinking, right now, the fact is, I poured my heart out to my Mom, but until I jumped she did not really believe me.

[khalidshafishaikh]

@faisalhalim "Females' Scary Nature" is the reason why I dont like to say my mom anything ;)

Well I dont mind at all, mothers are right in some point; but what my experience says that unless to not take risk in the life; nothing is achievable. After all, jumping from plane is part of risk (no matter how much faith you have and keep from your instructor).

[faisalhalim]

@khalidshafishaikh "Females' Scary Nature"? That sounds a little dismissive. Don't be so dismissive of your Mother, young man -- there may come a day when you will miss her greatly. A Mom is a Mom, and all the jokes about them not letting their sons live, die, or mutilate themselves in peace aside, they have their concerns for those whom they will always consider their babies. Anyone who has even helped raise a sibling will know something of that concern over the young one's activities. Cheers.

[khalidshafishaikh]

I really appreciated your video Faisal. I am really proud on you; you are such brave , confident and LION HEART man.

You are such Lion Heart; an example for those coward guys who really are dear and puppet to their mothers.

KEEP IT UP FAISAL.

I

[faisalhalim]

@khalidshafishaikh Tell me, what do you know about being brave and courageous? A friend of mine once asked me how I am able to do such 'risky' things as skydiving, but not stick it to my Mom. I told her that I am always a careful person. I know what I want to do, I find out, and acknowledge the risks, and then I go ahead with it. As for Mom, I simply do not wish to hurt her feelings and she may never want to understand why I do what I do. While I hate my Mom's guts, but BY GOD I Love this woman.

[yurihammo]

Fucking hell the description is long

Im qualifying to skydive here in England. Bro, you will love skydiving if you liked your tandem because Ive done one myself.

Blue skies and peace.

[adinda7]

like ur last quote :)

[khalidshafishaikh]

@faisalhalim "Females' Scary Nature" is the reason why I dont like to say my mom anything ;)

Well I dont mind at all, mothers are right in some point; but what my experience says that unless to not take risk in the life; nothing is achievable. After all, jumping from plane is part of risk (no matter how much faith you have and keep from your instructor).

[ARGirdlestone]

I'm doing my first ever tandem skydive tomorrow! Your video has gotten me even more excited! Go you! I hope I have as much fun as you seemed to have had :D