Sarah WallockI had the opportunity to go skydiving in Glenorchy, New Zealand, recently, and for some strange reason, I went.
Before jumping out of the plane, a wave of calm ran over me and it felt like I was mindlessly grocery shopping or driving a route I know really well. Nothing was going through my mind. It was the most strange and calming sensation. Most people would get nervous jumping out of a plane at 15,000 ft, but I jumped out smiling and waving.
When people would ask me, “are you the type of person to go skydiving?” I answered that I was never even remotely interested. Parasailing, hang-gliding, or the like, I am completely comfortable with. But with the idea of jumping out of a plane and gaining massive amounts of speed didn’t intrigue me. I’ve always been the type to get motion-sickness on a rollercoaster and couldn’t imagine this as being too different. Recently, I had a bit of a change in heart. It all started when I took Nick on a surprise skydive for his Christmas present last week.
Surprise Skydive
Nick had said he wanted to skydive for the entire 2 years I’ve known him. This would be the perfect way: and he couldn’t back out! He was petrified when I surprised him. Like virtually so nervous for the first 30 minutes he didn’t know how to react. On the way to the aerodome, he was counting his blessings and actually contemplating whether or not he would make it out alive.
Once we got to the Glenorchy Aerodome with Skydive Southern Alps, he was much more excited than nervous. Watching everyone coming down smiling and laughing or even somewhat refreshed, peeked my interest. Logically, I thought about how all of these people were SO EXCITED over this opportunity and some came from around the world to do it, so it must be something worth doing! When I worked at a retail store in Queenstown, 4-5 separate times couples came in after skydiving. I was shook that they could just skydive in the morning and shop in the afternoon. Queenstown: Where you can skydive and buy overpriced leggings all in one day!
It fascinates me that people perceive skydiving as a high risk activity. At Skydive Southern Alps, I had seen 20 or more people land unscathed when Nick was preparing for his first jump. Someone would harness up, get super excited, board a plane and come back 20 minutes later floating in a parachute and life went on. Boom- just like that!
Before visiting the aerodome, to me, it seemed so dramatic to go “skydiving,” but my perception totally changed after witnessing people do it firsthand. In the most logical way, I assessed whether it would be worth it and it seemed like an opportunity I couldn’t pass up! Immediately, I was walking to the counter to ask about any availability. Nick loved his first skydive and was buzzing about it for days. He enjoyed the flying sensation and was so keen to go for another one. So that we did.
Two Jumps in Two Weeks
Nine days later, Nick and I headed back to the aerodome and went for my first skydive and he went for his second. A wave of calm was with me from the moment I woke up to the moment I was dangling my legs out of the plane at 15,000 ft smiling and waving goodbye to the other skydivers. It was pretty weird. I have no idea why or how, but I was completely in a zen state and couldn’t be bothered to scream or get nervous. It’s as though the thought of being afraid didn’t cross my mind. I was filled with excited and I was present, but not a single part of me was afraid. My zen state shocked the skydive instructors. “Sarah, how are you doing?” my instructor kept asking and waiting for me to have a high-altitude FREAK OUT pre-jump. Nahhhhh, it just didn’t happen.
I loved the view and the experience. It was unlike anything I have experienced before. The actual sensation I was craving was the free falling bit. This was much more high-speed and cold than I imagined. I didn’t realize how fast I would be falling and how out-of-control I felt. I did end up feeling a bit sick towards the end of the fall and the parachute ride, and I was very thankful to get back to Earth.
Overall, Queenstown has provided me with so many epic experiences in short two months. In one week, I will have gone skydiving, canyoning, rock climbing, trail-running (and this week didn’t have the best weather). I cannot wait to see what kinds of insane activities I get up to in this outdoorsy and active town. It seems like some of the most awesome adventures are completely unexpected.
