Coolest Things I've Done (2 of 3)

On this second part of the journey down memory lane, I travel back a few years to when I went to
 SkyVenture Arizona to do an indoor skydive.  At the time I was part of a singles group and I remember the day I came across this particular activity. I remember signing up for the event and feeling the flutters in my gut as I filled out my information. My friend, Charlotte, was super excited to join me on this particular experience. Some of you may be reading this and thinking, indoor skydiving isn't that adventurous, but for me, this was a big deal. This was me just starting to learn to spread my wings and learn how wonderful it could be to have an adventure outside of my comfort zone. Besides, even though I've grown quite a bit since then, a regular skydive, still not on my list of things to do.

Charlotte and I left Phoenix early that day to head south toward the location where we would meet up with the others in our group who would also be doing the indoor skydive. She was fairly buzzing with excitement on the upcoming indoor skydive. Me? Not so much. I felt slightly sick as the butterflies in my tummy gave way to bats who decided to have a full on party in my stomach. We flew down the freeway and followed the directions to find SkyVenture Arizona. Before I knew it I pulled into a gravel parking lot. The tires of my car crunched on the dirt as I slowly pulled into a spot. As soon as the car was off Charlotte popped out of the car, ready to go. I moved a little slower than her. I was nervous. She laughed and put an arm around my shoulders assuring me that I would be fine, after all, we weren't jumping out of plane. I smiled and we set off on the hunt to find the building where we needed to meet the rest of the group.


We studied the map of the grounds and quickly determined where we needed to go and off we went. As we walked it quickly became apparent which building we were to head toward. The round  building towered high above, long narrow tube shaped structures speared up from the top of the building. Stairs and a long ramp wrapped the building that stood on pillars, raising it from the ground. As we approached I heard a distance buzzing noise and next to me Charlotte gasped. I looked at her to see her pointing up at the sky. I could see in the distance a plane, the source of the buzzing noise, crossing the sky. Just below the plane a few colorful parachutes popped open, bright points of color against the blue sky behind. I couldn't believe that those people were doing an actual skydive. I watched transfixed watching those brave souls drift toward the earth and then come to a graceful landing in the grassy area next to our path.

We eventually moved past the skydivers and headed toward the indoor skydive building. Nerves began to give way to excitement as reality hit of what I was about to do. Yes, I was nervous but this was an adventure, something new and something I was so proud I would be able to tell others I would do. We paused on the stairs of the building to take pictures before heading inside. Once inside we waited for the others to arrive and then we would start our safety class. As we waited we watched a group that was ahead of us in the air tunnel. An instructor stood in the tunnel working with an individual student, making corrections to their position. Then the instructor would grab a piece of fabric on leg and arm of the student's jumpsuit and get into position. The pair both caught the air and would float up in the air, up into the tunnel that shot up above. After a bit the instructor would guide the student out of the tunnel and back to the platform where others waited their turns. The noise was deafening, conversation was impossible but everyone was so enthralled with what was happening in front of us, no one really needed to talk.

The noise of the fans stopped and the room was engulfed in silence. The group ahead of us was done. Our instructor came out and started our lesson. We went through dive positions and then learned hand signals the instructor would use on us during the dive to correct our positions. After briefly practicing we then donned our jumpsuits, goggles, helmets, and ear plugs. Ready for our turns in the air tunnel we lined up in the waiting platform. The deafening noise of the fans started up again. Our instructor and another employee went up to the entrance. The instructor entered the tunnel and performed a few tricks, demonstrating to us all how he could easily manipulate how high or low he flew based on his body position.

Then suddenly he was standing on the wire mesh that kept those in the tunnel from falling into the powerful fans that blew from below. He signaled for the first student and off they
went. One after another had their turn in the tunnel and suddenly it was my turn. My entire body shook as I entered the tunnel. The push of the air stole my breath as I leaned into it and got into dive position. After a few moments of corrections he grabbed my leg and arm and off we flew. Up and down we went in the tunnel as we rose and fell with the wind. I couldn't believe I was doing it and all traces of nerves disappeared. I was amazed by the feeling of flying in the air. Too soon, my turn was up and I was guided back to the entrance to the tunnel.

Once we finished with our flights we took victory pictures, everyone was exhilarated from their dives. This was an experience I will never forget and easily can be considered one of the coolest adventures I've ever had. If someone were to ask me to go back to do another indoor skydive, I think I would happily agree to go on this adventure again. Who knows, maybe one day, I will get to repeat this experience.