We headed for the Fox Glacier and seven of us got out for the skydive. We were driven in a minibus to the landing strip and I was first up with Lauren in the plane. We were random with instructors and I have never felt more fear like it in my life!!
The instructor was showing us what to do and I was actually shaking with fear!! I hit my head three times on the wing of the plane walking under it – hysterical to everyone!!!
They videoed me too, and up we went, in a little Cessna, only large enough to fit the pilot, and the for of us in the back and that's it. We climbed to 12,000 feet and as we did so we flew right over the Fox Glacier and saw Mount Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand, covered in snow. The sight was really incredible. Absolutely amazing.
I was trying deep breaths to help my nerves but it was pretty intense stuff. At 12,000 feet the door opened and Lauren went first, falling out of the plane, I could hardly watch!! Then it was my turn. Shifting forward from my safe place in the back of the plane towards the open door, the fear increased and adrenaline pumped hard. I made my way to a hanging position out of the plane and at best, grimaced for the camera mounted on the wing. I felt the instructor let go of the plane and then I can’t describe that mad moment falling from the door way of the plane. We fell tumbling over and over seeing the ground, the plane flying onwards and then the ground again, and did free-fall for about 45 seconds, wondering what the hell was happening and not much else!! It was an amazing feeling though feeling the wind rushing past as we fell, getting up to a falling speed of 120mph. It was over quickly, and I felt the jerk of the parachute opening and then we were just hanging there looking down at the ground coming up at me very slowly it seemed. I steered the chute for a bit too, both left and right. All to soon it was time to put my feet up and we landed in a sitting position. Really cool.
Lauren enjoyed it too – she actually landed after me and we were both amazed at the fall, totally amazing, fear gone and totally gob smacked!!