Since I had such an awesome time with my first skydiving experience in July of 2023 and I was offered half off the price last December, I pre-ordered to do another one, but it was only good through the end of the year. I also knew another fellow skydiver, Steve, from 2023 had purchased the half off during the day of our jump and had not used it yet. So, I was attempting to coordinate for us to do it together this year. Since our weekends have been so busy and I had plenty of vacation to use up, I suggested we might try on a week day, and Steve was good with that. I also thought we should do this pretty soon as it was already July and I didn’t want to do so once it started to get chilly. I imagine it can get pretty cool at 10k feet. With that said, I thought how fitting would it be to do it on the anniversary of the passing of both of our mutual friend Jenna, which happens to be August 14. And he said that would work for him. So, I booked it!
Steve had also invited his friend to join us who lives in Beaver Dam, and I thought it would be great for us to drive there together as it adds so much more excitement and fun to the drive to and from Wisconsin Skydiving Center with your fellow divers. And, since I have the new vehicle, I offered up doing the driving. Thought I would pick him up in Fondy and then his friend, Sara, in Beaver Dam on the way there. However, turns out Steve would already be at Sara’s, which is when I realized she is his girlfriend, so I was contemplating doing the ride by myself as I was going to be alone anyway to Beaver Dam and back, but opted to still pick them up.
I left around 10ish to be there around or by 11:30 with our dive scheduled at 1 p.m. in Jefferson, and of course I was a little early, but sometime shortly after noon, we were on our way. When we arrived there weren’t any other divers around and it was quite quiet vs. a weekend day. Low and behold, I heard someone say Max’s name. Who was my tandem in 2023, and then I heard someone say Kaitlyn’s name and she was my video-photographer then too. So, cool they were both there again, and I know a couple of the other employees were there back in 2023 as well.
Today’s weather was almost a carbon-copy of the day of our first jump… Nice and warm with a slight breeze and plenty of puffy clouds. As Max coined it to me my first jump… a skydiver’s dream day, and oh boy was it ever! And thankfully the Canadian wildfire smoke wasn’t too bad as I have seen posts of photos on their FB page where visibility was very hazy.
Since we all couldn’t jump together, and I promptly entered right away to do my paperwork, I offered to go up first and alone since I also knew those two would want to do it together as a couple and it being Sara’s first time. Not as much training necessary for me being it was my second time, but Max went back over the proper way to exit the plane, posture during free-fall and I also wanted to suit up.
We still had a pretty full plane as Kaitlyn joined us too. I’m guessing since we had room and why not take advantage of diving when you can. And she was not my designated photo taker this time, and I only ordered still photos. However, Macha was my designated photographer. When we got to at least 6 or 8k feet, Kaitlyn jumped out. And when we got to 10k Max connected me to him and Macha told me if I wanted to spin during the free-fall, he’d put his hands out and motioned with them face up and that if I wanted to I should place mine down into his, and I said yes I do! Macha went out first hanging on the frame of the wing, and I swear as much as I was excited to dive, getting that first step onto the platform out of the plane still doesn’t feel right with lots of anxiety, but once we were out, I was in heaven!
As Macha promised, he eventually connected with us for doing the spinning. Max helped to put my hands into his for me to join him and wow, that was so much fun! It also made it feel like the free-fall lasted longer too. Shortly after he let go, it was time to put the main chute up and dang that really pulls you up hard, but then while we were floating with our main chute, Max did some really huge figure eights, so big my feet went lateral and even maybe a bit above my torso which made my stomach turn, and Max asked me if I wanted him to stop and I said heck no! Then he proceeded to tell me he was looking for Macha’s chute because his first one failed and I thought oh my, but they have backup ones. Then he also told me it was his competition chute, which is very expensive and important to locate it. Max did find it and pointed it out to me in the field below. The time with the main chute out is so tranquil and feels oh so good!
When we landed Macha was right there to take more photos and he was perfectly fine. I did not want to mention about Macha’s chute malfunction to Steve and Sara until after their jumps. While I was waiting for their plane to get to 10k feet, and even earlier before my jump, I was enjoying the beautiful clouds and reflecting on Jenna, how much I miss her and how much I wish I could have known exactly what the truth of the matter was for her. I also was feeling so grateful how full my life was with enjoying doing all of these amazing things I love, and how blessed I truly am!
I could hear and see their plane climbing to 10k feet, and I was hoping to see when those two exited the plane, but they did so behind an obstructed view due to the maples on the property, but I was able to find them shortly after their main chutes were out.
After they landed we proceeded to enjoy a late lunch/early dinner on the picnic tables in the shade and shared our experience with each other.
What a glorious day! I enjoyed it again so much and even felt this time was so much better with all of the extra fun stuff Macha and Max provided, that I bought another half off jump without any expiration. And when I plan to do it again, it will most certainly be on a week day again too!
