Nick and I anxiously walked towards Nzone. Nick was really excited; I was in disbelief that it was happening. When we got there we signed our lives away, watched terrifying instruction videos, and were convinced and sold on buying the video and photography package. We joined by a mid-life crisis man and a honeymoon couple. The drive out we were told the jump was 2.5 times larges than the mountains around us, 12,000 ft. The landing site had a souvenir shop, toilets, and an airplane hanger to pack parachutes and prepare for the jump. We had to wait apprehensively for twenty minutes hearing from Dutch girls how awesome it was. They finally called out our names. We put our belongings and last will and testaments in a locker and then got our safety instruction demo, which basically consisted of “Be a Banana, not a pineapple” ie: put you head and legs back. Then I put my life in Collin’s hands, well, belly and parachute. He had over 2,000 jumps so I felt pretty safe. We all piled into the crop-duster and on our kindergarten mats and flew up into the air. That was one of the weirdest parts, sitting on the floor as we took off. The view was so gorgeous. Mountains peaked with snow, for miles. The scariest part of was the minute leading up to the jump. 5… Putting on my hat and gloves 4… the light turns green 3… the extra girl in the plane nonchalantly opens the door and falls out causally, freaked me out 2… Nick is gone as Collin scoots forward 1… I am literally dangling outside of a plane 12,000 feet in the air. Chaos. I had no idea what was happening. I felt I was falling normally at the first but it kept happening. I was trying to find the camera, barely thinking about the all important banana. It was hard to breathe and the wind was so intense. I was so glad Collin was there to pull the chute, because my arms were flailing and I was in sensory overload. It all happened so fast it was unbelievable. I can’t imagine what 9,000 feet would be like. A blink of the eye. I was able to collect myself once the parachute drastically opened. It was so beautiful above the mountains. The turning was quite thrilling but kinda hurt. The landing was cool; I was just afraid I’d say something stupid in my video, which I’m so glad I got since I barely remember it and it was all such a blur. My whole body felt numb and wouldn’t work afterwards. I could hear myself amplified till my ears popped. Nick and I paid for the experience then drove on back all giddy for everyone to find out what we had done.
