Taupo: Tandem Skydive

Arriving at The Taupo Tandem Skydive at about 12 I feel fine, no nerves at all, and, after the introduction, decide to go for the Silver package - so getting a DVD of my freefall and landing plus stills of the fall. Dressing, first goes on the red body-length suit then, stepping backwards into the harness it is lifted onto my back and tightened slightly. A bit of a wait before we are the led the 20m or so to the plane - I get there first and, in true Strictly fashion "Simon Curtis and his professonal partner take to the plane!" I slide up the seat to the back of the plane and the four other divers, plus cameramen, all pile in. The door sides shut and we move off down the runway, soon heading skywards. Still no nervs, strangely, just a sense of anticipation. It is about 25 minutes up, with a brief stop to throw someone out at 12,000 feet. Then, the door is open, and people begin to tumble, and I slide down the plane. Slight pangs. Then I'm in the doorway, I can barely look, the rushes onto my face, which I suspect is showing something close to fear. Then suddenly I am out of the plane, plummeting. Now the look is definitely fear. My brain tells me that this is wrong, I am probably not breathing and it does feel like the end is coming.

The G-Force is strong, buffeting my face, my somach doing loop the loops, my heart rate probably though the roof. Falling, falling, falling. Then suddenley I am used to it (possibly the most innacurate use of the word 'used' ever) and I start to take it all in - the lake, the hills, the cameraman - some daft hand gestures are made. The odd shout of "You beauty" may have passed my lips, Simon Thomas style. (Former Blue Peter presenter) Then the minute has passed, the longest/shortest 60 seconds of my life, I'm not sure which and, as the cameraman disappears, the unfurling parachute wrenches us to a half before we begin to descend at a much more amenable speed! The views, now I have time to take them in, are sensational, looking out over Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand, the mountains with their snow encrusted tops on the horizon, endless miles of fields. Davy, the professional, loosens a strap so I can pull myself into a sitting position, which is vaguely comfortable a we drift the remaining 5,000 feet. He executes a couple of dramatic turns, which my stomach does not appreciate, and a few more gentle ones, taking in the whole landscape. A few minutes later we drift into the landing area; legs up we slide along the grass on our bottoms for a few feet before coming to a stop. Adrenalin high! For the DVD, we all jump around like idiots and then fall on the floor, before making our way back to the hanger to disrobe, look at our exit picture (not good!), and then view the DVD before settling up and getting a free t-shirt before getting drivn back to the hostel.

The adrenalin still courses through my body hours later. A tremendous experience, from the feeling of total helplessness on falling out, to the adrenalin fuelled delight and the gentlesness of floating to the ground. Beautiful and, again, FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!