I did a tandem down Queenstown a couple years back, awesome experience - I was just on the limit for it 101kgs...they asked the guy who would take me .. and to my relief he said "no prob". I went for the whole kit and kaboodle ... 15,000ft, cameraman and photos blah blah blah (yeah, it's a bit of coin, but figgered it would be cool to have my first parachute documented!)

What can I say? The plane ride was a blast, just hooning it up in circles and watching all my fellow tandems going out at the lower altitudes, then it was just a bit of oxygen for me. Plane gunning it and then ... a final check of the equipment and bingo bongo bango...we were out freefalling, awesome! Funny thing was, I didn't have any anxiety or nerves, just expectations - I guess doing the canyon swing several times already had silenced the buterflies!

Well, out pops the chute and we're dangling there in space. The view was amazing and brought a pang to the heart ... God's own green and beautiful bounty laid out before my appreciative sense. I could see the little dandelion-like images of the previous jumpers pulled to earth, gravity curtailing their brief sojourn of freedom... circling around like my own private cherubim was the photographer getting video of my blown out face and drool

After a little while, my tandem instructor asked "You are loving this! Would you care for a spiral in?"
Did he even have to ask?
"Go for it!"
With the barest nudge, we went into a wide, slow circle ala Matrix effects and I got to see a 360 panorama of the countryside...little cows and sheeps looking like ants, cars and trucks reminding me of little play toys from my childhood...and above all, the stunning scenery gliding by.

All too soon, we are preparing to land - he brings us in to the landing zone, I can see the upturned heads of those who have landed already and see the ground slowly rush up - with a few steps we are on the ground. Magic. Grin from ear to ear.

Has got me inspired to go for my own cert in skydiving...oh yeah! So ... you won't ever regret doing it! The experience is intense, and the feeling electrifying ... so on ya for doing it.

I drifted merrily along a breeze
Feeling, fun and fancy free!