Tales of an Indian Skydiver in Denmark

The idea of skydiving stuck to me after seeing some photographs in the orkut profile of a friend. We were in Denmark for a project and it was some time in November 2008. The more I thought of it the more the fascination was and I started a relentless search for information in the internet. I located the web site of Aarhus Parachute Club, but again things were not easy as everything was written in Danish.  I used the Google Language Tool to decimate information and finally contacted Mr. Michael Fogh who is in charge of the club over phone. Michael is a pilot by profession and started skydiving at the age of 16. He has some 3000 jumps to his credit. He is a person with lot of enthusiasm and often laughs while talking. He promised me to introduce to skydiving. By then we were back in Pune after the first phase of our project.

We were again back in Denmark by early March. On 8^th March 2009 I first met Michael in person. As agreed over phone I was waiting in front of Aarhus train station and it was around 7.30 AM. I had little information on if I can have breakfast before the dive so came empty stomach. After some time hunger was overwhelming me and I decided to have a bite. I ordered for a Polse (a typical sausage common in Denmark) in a store near by. The girl at the counter asked me what sauce I would like to have and I asked for remolade.  She generously poured it over the Polse. I rushed back to the waiting shed with Polse in one hand and steaming coffee in another. The remolade sauce was dripping while I was munching the Polse and my hands were soiled by the sauce. My worst fear came true as Michael appeared from no where. I was in an embarrassing situation that I could not shake hands with him during our first meeting. Michael burst into laughter seeing my plight and then waited patiently till I am done with the food.

We drove to Aarhus airport and on the way Michael was talking about the airlifting he undertook of two Swedish skiers who got injured after a fall while skiing in Caucasus Mountains in Russia.

At the airfield I was introduced to my tandem master Mr. Michael Laaigard and he gave me a small lecture on in-flight safety, exit from aircraft, stable arch position during free fall, canopy ride and landing. The aircraft used for lifting the divers was a Cessna which could take only 5-6 passengers at a time. There were many people assembled for the dive. I got the third slot for the lift and was waiting at the club watching the people and activities going around. Then this chap came forward and introduced himself. He also introduced his Swedish girlfriend to me. He was to go for the jump in the first sortie and I was more than happy to get the company of his girl friend. The weather was cold and so I decided to have a smoke. I tried to pull the cigarette packet which was inside my jeans pocket over which I was wearing the dangrees (jump suit). Seeing my struggle she offered me one and we started conversation over a cup of coffee and smoke. I asked her name and she told Hanna. I pronounced it the way we Indians do and she correct me saying the tongue should touch the upper part of the mouth and so on. She even demonstrated it to me and I noticed her yellow teeth in her smoke filled mouth. As the phonetic class was going on that way I invited her to pronounce my name and she abruptly dropped the class. I felt relieved.  We kept talking and after a while may be she have noticed the nervousness in me and asked a hypothetical question – What if the parachute does not open during my jump? I looked back at her with a smile not knowing what to answer. She looked straight into my eyes and said “You are F***ed!!! “and started giggling.  It was the first time I am hearing that F word from a women’s mouth and was slightly embarrassed.

After the first sortie Michael Fogh who was piloting the aircraft came to the club and announced that the aircraft had developed some snag and all the activities for the day was cancelled. I was very much disappointed hearing it. No one could do anything about it.

The next Sunday early morning I called Michael to enquire if any boogie is to happen that day. Michael promised to get back after checking the weather condition. After some time he called me and informed the weather is not conducive for a jump. There were clouds at 400 feet high and as per rules he cannot conduct the jump on that day. Low lying clouds could be dangerous during the last leg of fall. I told Michael that I will have to travel to Lisbon in another 10-12 days and it may not be possible for me to dive if it is not happening next week. (In Aarhus boogies happen only on Sundays).  Michael told me skydiving rules are written in blood and nobody violates it. This is a sport in which there is no margin for error. Do something stupid you will have to pay with your life. I had nothing to say to that.

The following Sunday we reached the club at around 9.00 AM. The weather was perfect with low wind. The whole process of briefing was again repeated. In fact Michael was so meticulous in taking care of everything for me. He helped me strap the harness, wear goggles and head cover. He even showed me the rest room and reminded me to go for the loo if needed and as joke added he will not offer any help for that.

I along with 15 other skydivers was then taken to the airport. After security check we boarded the aircraft. It was a NOMAD which could take up to 18 divers at a time. We have to sit on the floor in squat position with each person leaning his back in between the legs of the one behind him. I had one among the two lady skydivers leaning against me. I encouraged her to be comfortable leaning against me.  A nice aroma was coming out of her hair and I enjoyed the flight during the entire climb.

At 4000 meters high a red light was flashed indicating that we are about to reach the drop zone. My tandem master then strapped the harness which I was wearing to that of him and we are ready for the jump. By now the aircraft was hovering over the drop zone and its doors were open. A huge gush of air entered inside and it began to feel terribly cold. There will be a difference of 20 deg Celsius to the lower side at 4000 meters high.  All the experienced skydivers started diving out one by one. I looked through the window and could see human bodies falling down. Finally my turn came. I signaled thumps up to the camera man and I and my tandem master walked towards the door with an awkward gait as we were strapped together. At the door I looked down and fear started to engulf me. The pilot reduced the blast of the left engine and gave clearance to dive. My tandem master tapped my shoulder signaling to cross my hands and rest the palms on the shoulder. It is difficult to hear to each other because of the gush of air. He shouted chin up and again at top of his voice asked- ARE YOU READY?  I replied back a big YES. He shouted LET’S GO and here we were exiting the aircraft on a freefall spree. He activated the drogue chute and in seconds we reached terminal velocity. Still we were falling at a speed of approximately 200 Km per hour and as there was no relative motion I could not feel that we were falling.

That was an experience of a life time. I am flying like an Albatross in the skies of Denmark!!!.

As some skydiver has put it. It is the most fun thing you can do with your clothes on :)

I saw Alex who was flying the camera approaching me in the air and shouting to court my attention. I waved to the camera and signaled a thumps up. The free fall continued for about 58 sec and I enjoyed every bit of it. Suddenly I felt a huge jolt. The main parachute was activated and our rate of descent suddenly came down to 6m/sec. Here we were hanging under the canopy at 1000 meters high. My tandem master tapped again at my shoulder and asked me if I am alive? I smiled and said yes even though I was trembling with fear. I looked around and could see some seagulls flying past.  He then gave the controls of the parachute to me and I tried to steer the parachute. You pull the left handle you turn left, right handle you turn right. Pull both together you break the descend.

Finally we touched the ground with a perfect landing. I was still excited and my body was shivering.  Michael asked me how the experience was. What to say to that question. Man it was orgasmic. I helped him to fold the parachute and we walked to the club. A young girl of some 8-9 years came running towards me and asked if I would like to have a cup of coffee. That was the most refreshing thing to have at that point of time and I answered yes. After the coffee I joined her to play foot ball and slowly came out of the excitement.

Those who have the opportunity, I strongly recommend to do skydiving at least once.

Blue skies and safe landing,

Jayachandran