A Skydive: The Last 60 Minutes Before 60 Seconds of Eternity! – Part 1

Note to the reader: This blog article will be published in two parts.

Estimated reading time: 10 mins

Based on an original text by Manon Corbeil, written when she was a novice skydiver. Eleven years later, she now has 650 jumps. Today, she takes you through the hour leading up to your tandem jump and shares how your experiences are similar!

Manon: About two weeks ago, my very good friend Lizanne and I were exchanging emails… We were chatting about my skydives, and she told me she couldn’t understand how I manage to do it. For her, the idea of jumping out of a plane, 13,500 feet above the ground, is completely unthinkable!

That’s when I asked myself the question: “But indeed, how do I manage to skydive?”

How do all these people who come to experience their very first skydive every day at Voltige do it?

When you think about it seriously, there’s nothing crazier than jumping out of a plane! Basically, everyone knows that humans weren’t designed for that!

Then, I had the idea to explain to her, in my own words, how I experience a jump! Maybe I’ll find the answer?

Arrival at the Skydiving School

The first jump of the day… Ouff… It’s not easy to do! In terms of excitement, it’s exactly like my first tandem jump!

Once I arrive at the site, the very first thing I have to do, before even greeting my friends? I have to visit the restroom… I swear!!! Skydiving is the most effective laxative there is! And it’s natural too!

Then, I greet my friends, put away my bag, take out my clothes, my shoes, and look at the sky, undecided. In short, I take my time… I don’t really want to go anymore! I wander around and chat with everyone. I talk about my fears while trying not to give them too much energy!

The more experienced skydivers reassure me and end up “pumping me up.” I gather my courage and go “manifest” (this is the term used when signing up for a flight).

Preparation for a Skydive

Around the same time, I notice a group of tandem passengers being called for training. They will soon watch a video explaining the course of a skydive, the necessary safety elements, and they will practice the freefall position. I look at their faces; they are nervous and excited… just like me!

I ask an instructor about the landing pattern in place today. Then, I put on a jumpsuit, request a parachute, a helmet, and an altimeter. I proceed with the equipment check: there is a mandatory procedure to follow for checking the parachute, the altimeter, and the audible altimeter…

And then, I take a moment to relax and review everything in my head. I visualize my jump step by step. First, there will be the exit from the plane, then the freefall, the parachute opening, the time under the canopy, and finally the landing… Everything is thought out, everything is visualized.

When I open my eyes, I see that the group of tandem passengers is now gearing up. They now wear jumpsuits too, and their instructors are adjusting their harnesses. Meanwhile, the cameramen capture this unique moment for each passenger. It’s an opportunity for each one to build a trust relationship with their tandem instructor before going to visit their office: the sky!

The plane ascent, it’s also the rise of emotions!

It’s now time for my flight; I head to the boarding area… There, everyone who will be on the same plane as me is gathered. There is always someone qualified to double-check a novice skydiver (commonly called: baby bird) like me… My equipment is checked a second time by this person.

Meanwhile, I check my handles (first the main parachute handle, then the cutaway handle, and finally, the reserve handle). Obviously, I tell myself that I only want to use the first one!!! Amidst all this, I feel lots of butterflies in my stomach and often need to take deep breaths…

Then, the plane arrives… It’s time to board, the engines roar and blow a strong wind. The tandem instructors guide their passengers to the aircraft, and I see them disappear inside the fuselage one by one. I board last because I will be one of the first to jump. I shake hands with André, the boarding manager.

This really nice little ritual is still quite new to me! I take my seat in the plane and fasten my seatbelt. The plane roll to the end of the runway, someone closes the door, and the engines are revved up… It’s takeoff!

At that moment, there are 50,000 things running through my head. My heart starts to beat very fast. I feel a mix of fear and excitement. I can’t wait, but at the same time, I don’t want it to happen. My thoughts are conflicting!

Want to know what happens next?! Read the part 2: When A Skydiving Experience Become Very Real!