BY WENDY POISCHBEG
GO, GO, GO! – the final words you’ll hear before jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.
Skydiving. The exciting sport of free falling from an airplane before deploying a parachute. And yes, people do it for fun, empowerment and adventure.
Snohomish, WA happens to have a dropzone renowned for being one of the most gorgeous in the world and coveted by experienced skydivers and novices who are ready to make their first tandem jump. This is according to the Travel Channel. Located at Harvey Field, family owned Skydive Snohomish is an internationally revered skydiving destination.
A tandem skydive is a fantastic introduction to the sport.
It offers students the opportunity to experience the freedom and exhilaration of skydiving with the peace of mind that their professional tandem skydiving instructor is strapped to their back and in control. Each jump begins with “ground school”, a 30-minute class that acquaints students with equipment, body positioning and safety tips before boarding the plane for a 12 -15 minute flight to reach skydiving altitude. As you ascend, you’ll have an opportunity to take in views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, the Puget Sound, the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges, the Seattle skyline, Victoria, and the San Juan Islands.
Photo credits: all photos are courtesy of Skydive Snohomish
Next, your jump begins with an exit from around 14,000 feet, followed by a 60-second free-fall. Because of the wind resistance, you feel like you’re surfing on the air rather than falling. At around 5,500 feet, the instructor deploys the parachute. After four to five minutes of gliding peacefully above the earth, you land softly back on the ground where spectators are cheering you on!
It’s pure adrenaline-laced exhilaration.
Back on the ground, it’s time to celebrate. In recognition of your accomplishment, Skydive Snohomish bestows a personalized skydiving certificate – proof that you realized something select few have had the courage to attain! And it won’t be long before you’re choosing to return for another breathtaking and exhilarating experience.
GO, GO, GO!
