Skydiving – it’s on your bucket list. If it isn’t, it should be. Free falling 10,000 feet from the sky at 120 mph or more over the spectacular sea-to-land view of southern New Jersey may sound terrifying, but it’s a wild ride – one you’ll live to tell, believe it or not.
“If the weather conditions aren’t good for skydiving, we don’t go, no matter how much people argue with us,” said SEC co-owner “Coffee John” Todorv.
Skydiving injuries are pretty rare, said Todorv. Those who are over-confident and attempt high-performance jumps, such as swooping, without the necessary training are usually the ones who get hurt. SEC tandem instructors won’t be performing any fancy tricks during your jump.
Don’t worry; it’s a safe trip. The guys at Skydive East Coast, a new skydiving operation located at the Eagles Nest Airport in West Creek, just off of Exit 58 on the Garden State Parkway, are a bunch of laid-back skydivers who like to joke around, but you can be sure their main priority is safety.
 |
| Photo by Sean Maloney Free falling 10,000 from the sky at 120 mph with SEC tandem instructor Sean Maloney. |
Ideal ground winds are between 10 and 22 mph, said Todorv. Sky winds, which can get up to 30 mph or more, don’t really pose a problem. Clouds can be an issue since the tandem instructor needs to have a good visual of the location he and his dive partner are jumping over.
“If the weather’s good, we’ll be jumping,” Todorv said.
Interested participants must be 18 or older to make a tandem jump, which requires the diver to jump with a licensed tandem instructor via an attached harness. Proof of age is required, as well as the participant’s signature on a lengthy standard assumption of risk agreement, a legal document that places all risk in the hands of the participant. Then it’s on to watching a short video that introduces the diver to tandem skydiving and its inventor, Bill Booth – a serious beard aficionado who left the corporate world in the 1960s and never shaved again. All this, according to SEC co-owner George Voishnis, or “Nuclear,” as he’s known around the hangar, is the most frightening part of the whole experience.
“This is the scariest part about skydiving; they tell you stuff you don’t want to hear,” said Voishnis, motioning to the video playing on the TV screen.
SEC opened in March, after the organization’s six owners, who worked together at a skydiving and training facility in northern New Jersey, decided that running a skydiving establishment should be more about sharing the experience and the thrill of the ride with customers than price-gouging. The proprietors are local small-business owners who said they are invested in the community and run a gimmick-free operation. “You won’t find us charging hidden fees for gear to make your tandem jump,” their website, skydiveeastcoast.com, promises.
 |
| Photo by Ryan Morrill SEC tandem instructor Tadas Simonis wraps up after a successful landing. |
SEC’s owners include Todorv, tandem instructor and drop zone manager originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, who made his first jump in 1993 and 1,400 jumps since then; Tadas “Chop’em” Simonis, tandem instructor and certified U.S. Parachute Association Accelerate Free Fall instructor who has made more than 4,500 skydives and more than 33 BASE (buildings, antennas, spans and earth) jumps since his first jump in September 2002; Sean Maloney, tandem instructor and certified USPA AFF instructor with more than 3,500 jumps to-date, who gave up pizza deliveries to take up skydiving five years ago; “Little Mike” Black, parachute rigger who made his first skydive in January 2011 and about 500 jumps since then; Voishnis, tandem instructor and senior parachute rigger who has been in the sport for more than 14 years; and Dave Pankove, chief pilot, who started flying airplanes when he was 15 years old and has been safely flying skydivers for the past three seasons.
“It doesn’t get old; it’s not monotonous. It’s always a new challenge,” said Pankove, who wants to continue building his flight time and become a corporate or commercial airline pilot.
Who wouldn’t trust their skydiving fate to a bunch of qualified guys like that?
The best way to squash your pre-dive jitters is to accept them. Or you can relax at the facility and play a game of pool. The owners may even order lunch from a nearby restaurant, or you can bring your own.
“A lot of people claim they’re afraid of heights, but I think it’s really the fear of the unknown that they’re scared of,” said Todorv. “Why would you want to do something so extreme, like jump out of a plane from 10,000 feet high? But really, everything looks flat.”
“The freedom you feel is insane,” added Voishnis.
After signing the necessary paperwork and taking a few moments to get stoked for the skydiving experience, it’ll be time to suit up. Though participants are advised to dress for the weather, a jumpsuit will be provided to keep clothes free from debris, especially during landing in the nearby drop zone. Comfortable shoes that lace tightly are required. Open-toed shoes, flip-flops or heavy boots with lace hooks will not suffice.
A fully adjustable harness with four hooks, each of which can hold up to 5,000 pounds, will be provided to keep you safe and comfortable, as well as attached to the tandem instructor. The instructor will carry the necessary parachutes – the main canopy and a reserve parachute that can be deployed should the first parachute malfunction, a combined weight of about 50 pounds. Your instructor will also carry a Cypres automatic activation device. This should help deploy the parachute if something goes wrong.
“We can feel everything the other person is feeling because we’re so close to you. You become part of our body; you’re attached to us,” said Todorv.
“Everyone brings something different to the jump,” added Simonis. “It’s fun to see people who are really nervous conquer the jump. They’re so stoked.”
Qualified jumpers at SEC can weigh up to 220-pounds, though Todorv said it depends on the person. A 250-pound bodybuilder will certainly be able to hold his own. A healthy 90-year-old woman also qualifies. Speak to your doctor beforehand if you have any medical conditions that may make skydiving a hazard. Alcohol consumption is not tolerated. Anyone under the influence will not be permitted to jump.
 |
| Photo by Ryan Morrill SEC tandem instructor and senior parachute rigger George Voishnis gears up for another jump. |
SEC is a state-of-the-art operation with up-to-date standards and equipment. Safety days and inspections are performed regularly. The facility has special use air space; air traffic is controlled throughout the area and takes into consideration all traffic from airports in Warren Grove, Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New York City, Newark and Washington, D.C.
Before hopping on the plane, a Cessna 210-5A, which holds up to five jumpers and a pilot, the instructors will cover airplane procedures, what to expect during free fall and how to prepare for a safe landing. Be assured that your instructor will remind you of each step along the way should you completely blank out.
“Our equipment is really safe, and we don’t jump in bad weather conditions,” assured Maloney. “Skydiving allows you to explore your own limits. There are no other life worries; you just live in the moment,” he added.
Now is your chance to change your mind and claim a refund. Once that door closes, you’ll be paying for a nice plane ride above Southern Ocean County. The pilot and instructors will not force you to jump, but it is encouraged. High fives, thumbs up and lots of smiles and high-energy talk will help keep you excited.
While the plane gains altitude, your job is to enjoy the beautiful view. I can attest to the serenity of the panoramic view.
My sense of direction was thrown off a bit as I sat on the floor of the plane with my back to Pankove, who was also wearing a parachute just in case. My hands gripped the ankles of Maloney, my tandem instructor who sat facing me. Peering out the window, I was captivated by the bold green color of the treetops below. I’m usually racing around the streets in my car from one interview to the next, but the vast amount of lush vegetation on the ground helped quiet my chaotic inner spirit. My eyes soaked in the brilliant blue-green of the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay, and eventually I spotted the lighthouse, a comforting landmark I’ve been fortunate enough to associate with home.
 |
| Photo by Ryan Morrill Tadas Simonis, Sean Maloney, George Voishnis, John Todorv and Mike Black. |
As the plane looped around, I could see Atlantic City to the south and Toms River to the north. The sky was a bit overcast, but I was told that on a clear day the view spanned as far as New York City and Cape May and as wide as the ocean and Philadelphia.
When the plane finally reached 10,000 feet, the door flung open. Maloney checked my harness before it was time to jump. After watching SandPaper Photo Editor Ryan Morrill slowly lean out of the airplane with Simonis, his tandem instructor attached to his back, my nerves spiked. Climbing over to the edge of the doorway, Maloney cheering us on, I accepted my fate – I was about to free fall out of the sky two miles above land for the very first time. Hell yeah!
Honestly, I was pretty nervous. Jumping out of an airplane goes against all natural instinct. Thank goodness Maloney was carrying me through this; I don’t think I could have mustered up enough courage to force myself out of the door. I just kept smiling into the GoPro camera attached to Maloney’s wrist, which snapped photos of the two of us every half second.
Remembering all of my duties as a jumper, I leaned my head back against Maloney’s shoulder and forced myself to keep my eyes open; I did not want to miss anything about this incredible journey I was about to undertake.
In the next instant, we jumped.
Holy s***.
I was on top of the world, spiraling down to Earth. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face even if I wanted to.
Everything really did look flat; it was an amazing perspective of the area I’d lived in all my life, yet had never seen from this angle before.
After about 30 to 35 seconds, the parachute opened up and everything slowed down. I was shivering a bit – a combination of damp weather and adrenaline. I allowed myself to completely relax and enjoy the ride. Grabbing on to the strings of the parachute with Maloney’s help, we flew around in a few wide circles. For the first time, I felt my stomach drop. Gosh, I loved it.
After five to seven minutes of killing altitude with the view getting closer and bigger, the ride was over. After we made a safe landing in the sandpit, Maloney and I hugged it out. My mind was blank and my hair in wild knots (ladies, I wouldn't suggest fussing over your hair before attempting a jump). All I could think about was doing it again.
After receiving my skydiving certificate, which acknowledged the successful completion of my first tandem jump at SEC, I watched another group gear up for their first jump.
John and Mary Storms of Old Bridge, who spend their summers at their home in Surf City, which has been in the family for the past 60 years, treated their daughter, Danielle, 20, and son, Connor, 18, to their first tandem jump at SEC. Connor was celebrating his birthday. Though they didn’t appear nervous, their mother said she wouldn’t be partaking in the event. John, on the other hand, was jumping next.
After their jump, Danielle and Connor seemed mesmerized by the experience.
“It was easily the most incredible thing I’ve ever done,” said Daniellle, her face glowing with excitement.
“It was awesome. It was definitely the best birthday present ever,” added Connor, letting out a loud cheer.
After each completed jump, Black set to work repacking the parachutes (the one Maloney and I used was 330 square-feet; Morrill’s and Simonis’ was 364 square-feet).
“After awhile, you make up your own technique,” he said, laying full-body over the gigantic canopy and squishing out all the air.
Later in the day, he took one of his just-packed parachutes for a dive — a nice way to end a successful day of work.
SEC is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset from March to mid-November. Tandem jumps cost $195 per person on weekends if paid in cash, and $200 if paid by credit card. Weekday jumps cost $200 cash, or $205 credit. A video and still pictures cost $90 per person, or $75 for a video and $30 for pictures if bought separately. Call 609-294-5858 to set up an appointment. A valid credit card number is required to hold your spot. Cancellations must be made 48 hours prior to your arrival. Gift certificates are also available.
No comments:
Post a Comment