Free falling from 13,000 feet is a thought that scares most people, but for a small portion of society, it sounds like a great time.
Skydiving is a sport that millions of people participate in each year, and it is especially popular among college students.
According to the United States Parachute Association, the sport of skydiving began during the eighteenth century in Europe when Jacques Garnerin performed display jumps from balloons.
The reason people jump varies depending on the individual; some do it for the rush of adrenaline, others to gain a sense of independence.
Skydiving is viewed as an extreme sport because it is often perceived as having a high level of inherent danger.
While instructors and veteran jumpers will disagree when someone says that skydiving is dangerous, it is a sport that comes with great risk, and requires those who wish to participate to do their research.
While anyone over the age of 18 is legally allowed to skydive, there are some factors that need to be discussed prior to making your first jump such as weight and health issues.
For students who are considering taking the great leap of faith out of a plane, 21-year old Russ Gomery may be the perfect person to consult.
Gomery, a Chico State business major knows the ins and outs of this sport, and is familiar with drop zones near the University.
Gomery is currently pursuing his USPA class A skydiving license, and is only 7 jumps away from the required 25.
Gomery began jumping in 2008 following his brother’s advice to try it, and fell in love with the sport soon after.
“It change’s peoples lives and it really gives you perspective,” Gomery said.
Research became an important aspect of Gomery’s decision to not only jump for the first time, but to also pursue his license, especially since the sport can be quite costly.
“It cost me $1,100 to sign up to get my license,” Gomery said. “And then it’s 35 bucks for the chute, helmet, altimeter, and plane ticket each time I go.”
According to the USPA website there are 17 USPA member drop zones in California.
At one point in time there was a drop zone in Paradise that unfortunately is no longer in operation.
Luckily, for students who are interested in jumping there are two skydiving locations that are within a short drive from the University.
Skydive Sacramento is located in Lincoln, about an hour and a half from Chico, and is a USPA member drop zone.
The Parachute Center is located in Lodi, about two hours drive from Chico and has USPA licensed instructors.
Patrick Garcia, owner of Skydive Sacramento has been in the business of selling adrenaline for two and a half years, operating in a small warehouse near the Lincoln Regional Airport.
Garcia got his start as a pilot, and eventually made the shift from flying planes to leaping out of them.
Garcia’s passion for this sport shines through in his personality, making jokes with customers as the phone is ringing off the hook and people are being fitted with jumpsuits, harnesses, and goggles.
Ben Michel, a 26-year old drum instructor from Roseville and a student at CSU Sacramento made his second tandem jump Saturday afternoon with Garcia.
Michel’s first jump was in Lodi in April of 2009. Curiosity was what drove him to his first jump; wanting to know what the feeling of a 90 second free fall was like.
At some point getting tattoos, buying cigarettes, and driving fast cars just doesn’t cut it anymore, you need something else that sets you apart from the majority of other people, and saying you did this is one of those things Michel said.
Following his second tandem jump Michel was all smiles and laughs, sitting outside the warehouse still in his jumpsuit, he takes a few deep breaths to recover from the fall while cracking jokes with the jump instructors and his parents.
“I think the second time you jump you are able to take everything in, the adrenaline rush isn’t as bad as the first time, so that allows you more clarity,” Michel said.
Skydive Sacramento boasts of a perfect safety record, and Garcia recommends that students interested in jumping for the first time do their research to assure their safety.
“You’d want to research the skydive centers themselves, and go to USPA.org to find out which drop zones have good safety records,” Garcia said.
All USPA member drop zones must adhere by a strict standard of safety rules and regulations, as well as FAA regulations for aircraft maintenance, and any skydive instructor that is licensed by the USPA has been trained to adhere to their guidelines for safety as well.
If you are interested in learning more about skydiving or would like to view a list of USPA drop zones go to www.uspa.org. If you are interested in making reservations at Skydive Sacramento or The Parachute Center their web addresses are as follows; www.skydivesac.com or www.parachutecenter.com.
