By Lucia Rozborova on October 5, 2007 Verified by Email

Alarm clock rings at 8am. I open my eyes and it hits me instantly ... OH MY GOD!! This is it!! .. this is the day when I am gonna turn 30 ... AAAND I'm going skydiving ... what have i done!!

Panic sets in, heart starts racing, my friend UV bailed on me with lame-ass excuse of not being able to get time off work (chicken - I was visiting him in Vancouver in my delusion he would join me on this adventure) so I am left alone with my panic to get through the day.

Following the instructions from the lady on the phone:
1. I didn't go out drinking the night before so I wouldn't pass out when I jump out of the plane therefore I had no hangover .. that was terrific (but how did she know I had planning on drinking!!)
2. I ordered a nice breakfast meal to have some substance in my stomach - again, so I wouldn’t pass out when I jump out of the plane.

With my clear head & stomach full I get on the buss. Listening to my ipod for distraction & calming purposes - which didn't help - I start texting friends in T.O. I get a few very encouraging messages thanks to which I didn't turn around and run away. 1h on that buss – the most nerve wrecking time of my life – the suspense, the tension, the weird stomach butterflies, the fear – Alfred Hitchcock has nothing on that.

I arrive to the intersection of Harris & Ford streets (!!! Is this a joke? ) and I get picked up at the corner there. The driver was the actual pilot and was so pleasant and nice – like he has seen this kind of panicky face million times. Upon arrival I sign a waiver form –very discouraging – you know … the kind where they claim no responsibility for any human errors like the parachute not opening etc.

Then I go through outfit trying. Now this is a nightmare for me cuz I ordered a photographer & videographer (2in1) to document this event so I need to look good, right? Well … that didn’t happen, so I refused to wear a headgear. I know I know!! But really … if the shoot doesn’t open ... is that uglyass leather helmet really gonna help?!?!

Next I watch some video with instructions, then I practice the jumping out of the plane with the instructor – Vladi – soo cool - soo nice - soo professional - soo calm - soo great everything for me at that moment cuz he was the only thing attached to my back and potentially to grab on in emergency!!

Time to get on the plane!!! GEEZUS … here it comes … bang bang .. no time for hesitation … this is it. Get on the plane in order assigned: first the jumpers, then the camera guy, then Vladi and me.

Engine starts … loud, can’t hear anything … ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta .. little shoebox of a plane starts shaking …. tatatatatata …. tt lifts to the air and we are flying … great … how far are we going? 10,000 feet!! Holy #@&$# ... plan B non existent at this point 5,000 feet up .. camera guy asking me questions … (leave me alone buddy I can’t hear a word you are saying but I still smile through the cramp in my face anyways) .. 8,000 feet .. I look down .. everything seems unreal .. this is not happening to me right? I am watching a movie or something … yes? … no?… NO! this is happening to me … and me is who is getting strapped and attached to Vladi ... in what is now 10,000 feet the doors open .. and the strong wind blows in and its louder than you would like and my heart stops … completely! …
and 1st jumper is out,
2nd jumper is out,
camera dude standing on the wheel outside taping all this …
one foot out on the pole …
knee out the door and

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ……#*$&@#*$ aaaaaaaa

I am flying down 140 miles/hour… facemask/goggles can’t take it and is sliding off of my face, I try to correct it, pigtails are rattling everywhere, I try to smile to camera .. show the damn 2 thumbs up … smile some more through the strong forces that deform my face …and strong wind that dries out my mouth … 40 seconds later comes a tap on my shoulder and wham… my legs get yanked and parachute opens …

instant silence ..

bird’s perspective, I start breathing again. I take off the goggles and tears are running down my face … I am in heaven.

Flying slowly in the skies really high, attached to a parachute with Vladi, we are spinning around, I get to lead the ropes for a bit and then slowly declining I am ready to land. Legs up and tadaaaaa …. Prrrfect landing right in the middle of the circle.

I am shaking and I can’t believe what just happened. Camera dude runs to me and shoves the camera in my face asking some questions I don’t even remember answering. I am overwhelmed, in a shock, or whatever that state of mind is. After 5 min I recuperate and feel instant sadness its all over. So quick. I could go for the second flight right away but I didn’t have another $300. So I just stick around watch other jumpers go through the same thing wishing it was me.

The crew made a bbq lunch and I got invited, which was really great cuz they listened to my every word that I needed to share with them at the time. They felt the nostalgia of the first jump with me. They all had about 1000-2000 jumps on their brag list.

It starts getting late for me so I get my video with the photos, pack my things and say goodbyes to everyone. I really don’t wanna leave but it was my b-day and my friends were waiting for me in Vancouver to go party.

And so that’s how I turned 30. Being it a year later now, the memories are still very vivid in my brain. Adventure I will never forget. You should go ;-)

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By Lucia Rozborova on October 5, 2007 Verified by Email

Alarm clock rings at 8am. I open my eyes and it hits me instantly ... OH MY GOD!! This is it!! .. this is the day when I am gonna turn 30 ... AAAND I'm going skydiving ... what have i done!!

Panic sets in, heart starts racing, my friend UV bailed on me with lame-ass excuse of not being able to get time off work (chicken - I was visiting him in Vancouver in my delusion he would join me on this adventure) so I am left alone with my panic to get through the day.

Following the instructions from the lady on the phone:
1. I didn't go out drinking the night before so I wouldn't pass out when I jump out of the plane therefore I had no hangover .. that was terrific (but how did she know I had planning on drinking!!)
2. I ordered a nice breakfast meal to have some substance in my stomach - again, so I wouldn’t pass out when I jump out of the plane.

With my clear head & stomach full I get on the buss. Listening to my ipod for distraction & calming purposes - which didn't help - I start texting friends in T.O. I get a few very encouraging messages thanks to which I didn't turn around and run away. 1h on that buss – the most nerve wrecking time of my life – the suspense, the tension, the weird stomach butterflies, the fear – Alfred Hitchcock has nothing on that.

I arrive to the intersection of Harris & Ford streets (!!! Is this a joke? ) and I get picked up at the corner there. The driver was the actual pilot and was so pleasant and nice – like he has seen this kind of panicky face million times. Upon arrival I sign a waiver form –very discouraging – you know … the kind where they claim no responsibility for any human errors like the parachute not opening etc.

Then I go through outfit trying. Now this is a nightmare for me cuz I ordered a photographer & videographer (2in1) to document this event so I need to look good, right? Well … that didn’t happen, so I refused to wear a headgear. I know I know!! But really … if the shoot doesn’t open ... is that uglyass leather helmet really gonna help?!?!

Next I watch some video with instructions, then I practice the jumping out of the plane with the instructor – Vladi – soo cool - soo nice - soo professional - soo calm - soo great everything for me at that moment cuz he was the only thing attached to my back and potentially to grab on in emergency!!

Time to get on the plane!!! GEEZUS … here it comes … bang bang .. no time for hesitation … this is it. Get on the plane in order assigned: first the jumpers, then the camera guy, then Vladi and me.

Engine starts … loud, can’t hear anything … ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta .. little shoebox of a plane starts shaking …. tatatatatata …. tt lifts to the air and we are flying … great … how far are we going? 10,000 feet!! Holy #@&$# ... plan B non existent at this point 5,000 feet up .. camera guy asking me questions … (leave me alone buddy I can’t hear a word you are saying but I still smile through the cramp in my face anyways) .. 8,000 feet .. I look down .. everything seems unreal .. this is not happening to me right? I am watching a movie or something … yes? … no?… NO! this is happening to me … and me is who is getting strapped and attached to Vladi ... in what is now 10,000 feet the doors open .. and the strong wind blows in and its louder than you would like and my heart stops … completely! …
and 1st jumper is out,
2nd jumper is out,
camera dude standing on the wheel outside taping all this …
one foot out on the pole …
knee out the door and

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ……#*$&@#*$ aaaaaaaa

I am flying down 140 miles/hour… facemask/goggles can’t take it and is sliding off of my face, I try to correct it, pigtails are rattling everywhere, I try to smile to camera .. show the damn 2 thumbs up … smile some more through the strong forces that deform my face …and strong wind that dries out my mouth … 40 seconds later comes a tap on my shoulder and wham… my legs get yanked and parachute opens …

instant silence ..

bird’s perspective, I start breathing again. I take off the goggles and tears are running down my face … I am in heaven.

Flying slowly in the skies really high, attached to a parachute with Vladi, we are spinning around, I get to lead the ropes for a bit and then slowly declining I am ready to land. Legs up and tadaaaaa …. Prrrfect landing right in the middle of the circle.

I am shaking and I can’t believe what just happened. Camera dude runs to me and shoves the camera in my face asking some questions I don’t even remember answering. I am overwhelmed, in a shock, or whatever that state of mind is. After 5 min I recuperate and feel instant sadness its all over. So quick. I could go for the second flight right away but I didn’t have another $300. So I just stick around watch other jumpers go through the same thing wishing it was me.

The crew made a bbq lunch and I got invited, which was really great cuz they listened to my every word that I needed to share with them at the time. They felt the nostalgia of the first jump with me. They all had about 1000-2000 jumps on their brag list.

It starts getting late for me so I get my video with the photos, pack my things and say goodbyes to everyone. I really don’t wanna leave but it was my b-day and my friends were waiting for me in Vancouver to go party.

And so that’s how I turned 30. Being it a year later now, the memories are still very vivid in my brain. Adventure I will never forget. You should go ;-)

Write a Comment