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Blenheim Palms Motel
Blenheim
Some say skydiving is a life-changing and empowering experience. Others say it's just plain insane. Initially, I agreed with the latter. That was until the bright, chilly morning that I arrive at Taupo Tandem Skydiving, with bat-size butterflies in my stomach. Here, beside the beautiful Lake Taupo, I am about to throw myself out of a plane at 15,000ft.
A dizzying mixture of nerves and childlike excitement take over as I get suited up in an oh-so-flattering red jumpsuit and harness. I am introduced to Jonathan, the guy that will hold my life in his hands with the parachute on his back, and my photographer, who will be jumping alongside us to immortalise my experience on film.
The plane ride up, with Jonathan strapped to my back is over 15 minutes long, I am told. To me, it feels like about five. The breathtaking view from the tiny windows of the plane spans from the east to the west coast of New Zealand, but does little to distract me from what lies ahead. I notice the air thinning as it gets slightly harder to breathe (this also could have been from the fact that I am about to hurl myself out of the door next to me!), and the air is freezing. On go the gloves, and thanks to the help of my guide due to my shaking hands, the goggles.
Then it's time. Suddenly, the plastic door right beside me slides open and the country is revealed below me; paddocks and forests that look like a patchwork quilt in various shades of green, edged by the magnificent Lake Taupo. Perched precariously on the edge of the plane, my legs dangle over absolutely nothing as we turn around and 'smile' for the camera in the plane. We rock back and forward three times gathering momentum, then after lingering for a split-second on the edge of balance, we fall.
"This is the closest I'll ever come to flying, and it feels as you would imagine - absolutely amazing."
Just as I had been told earlier, the first few seconds are filled with sheer terror. I can feel the pull of gravity and the massive acceleration as we hurtle towards earth. There's that familiar feeling of leaving your stomach behind, but off the scale of any rollercoaster. Then, another split-second later, as if a switch has been flicked, my brain adjusts. After a tap on the arm from my tandem master, I put my arms out and really feel the freefall. This is the closest I'll ever come to flying, and it feels as you would imagine - absolutely amazing. The fact that we are falling towards earth doesn't really register, and pretty soon I'm following the cameraman with superman poses and blowing kisses while freefalling at around 200km/h. 60 seconds and 10,000ft later, and up goes our parachute.
Suddenly, I am pulled upright. The noisy rushing air sound has gone, and there we are, floating peacefully above the gorgeous scenery and able to talk easily. For the next 5000ft we drift calmly, apart from a few fun twists and turns, toward the ground. Little did I know, the incredible buzz I was feeling then would take at least a day to wear off. Insane? Not once you’ve tried it. Empowering? Definitely. In fact, I think I've found a new hobby...
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