It started with the days getting a bit colder and more overcast. Then there was the forecast of rain. Then there were the "partially cloudy" forecasts which turned into chances of rain, which turned into small windows of opportunities where it might be clear enough to jump. Finally, a phone call to Sky Dive San Diego at around 8am cleared up any possibilites of misrepresentation of the weather: It was much too cloudy to jump. BUT, things could change, so I was encouraged to wait an hour and call back.
Around 8:30, Peregrine showed up at my house, and we went off for coffee to wait out the remainder of the hour. As the clock rolled over to 9:20am, I called back to Sky Dive San Diego, but instead of getting better, apparently, it was getting worse. So, it was now settled that the jump was off--phone calls were made to let everyone know, and it was decided to reschedule for Saturday the 31st.
Peregrine and I finished our coffee and had a wonderful chat followed by my decision to find out about getting into the wind tunnel at Perris Valley Skydiving, in Riverside County. I made an appointment for 3pm and then went off to Dance Church to dance and see some friends and get a cardio workout. As soon as Dance Church was over, I jumped in the car and headed on my way up to Perris.
The drive wasn't too bad. It was mostly clear except for highway 76 from Oceanside to highway I-15. But, even without going over 60mph the whole way, I was arrived right on time. There's not much of interest to see along the way. Mt. San Jacinto off to the north east was ever present, but it wasn't very impressive in the clouds and moisture laiden air. What was impressive was being able to see the wind tunnel from the road and knowing that I was soon to be experiencing prolonged flight.
I parked my car and entered the office. The entry to the building seemed intended to emulate the experience of entering a ride like Space Mountain at Disneyland. I walked in to find that things weren't as high-tech as the futuristic conceptulizations implied. The schedule for the wind tunnel was pencil on paper, the computer system looked fairly old but the woman behind the counter was friendly and effective.
I was quickly registered and given some paperwork and a blank DVD and forwarded through the double doors to the launch pad. I climbed the stairs and entered the room, expecting, as I had been advised, that I would be approached by the instructor/coach once I got up top. However, I sat down and watched briefly why a young child was in the tunnel. When that was over, I noticed that someone walked behind the tunnel and there I noticed a desk. I proceeded to that area where I was greeted by Ivan, an older gentleman dressed in a jump suit, who I had just seen helping the child in the wind tunnel. He too had a schedule written on paper, but it was slightly different than the one I had seen at the front desk. Phone calls were being made to iron out what exactly was happening. In the end, everything was worked out.
I was suited up in a jump suit and given some ear plugs and a helmet and lead into the tunnel with the other flyer; a woman from Russia with 60 jumps from a few years back. A loud continuously ringing bell signals that the door to the wind tunnel is closing and gives it that 'lockdown' feeling. The Russian woman was first to go. We alternated back and forth, she had 2.5 minutes and I had 2 for five cycles. It started out very rocky for me. I laid down on the wire floor and waited for the wind to pick me up. I had no idea how to catch the air, so when it finally was lifted off the floor I had no stability.
The first 10 minute block was all about finding the center point for balance and stability. I worked on getting my feet in the right place and not moving my body in strange ways. The second 10 minute block was shared with a young kid who had 5 minutes, so I'd go for two minutes and then he'd go for one. By this point I was seriously starting to get the hang of things. I was much more stable and able to move around the chamber with relative ease. I could go forward and backward, up and down. I could do spins (which were way fun...I wish I could have just have done a few minutes of solid 360 spins!)
After the second 10 minute block I was frozen! I stood in front of a heat lamp but just couldn't get warm for at least 20 minutes. I then went and got my jacket and a balaclava that I had in the car.
The final 10 minute block was by far the best. I alternated with Josh from Perris Fury and his student. The opportunity to watch the two of them was incredible. They were so smooth and solid. Their movements were so tight. Simple movements of their hands or a dropping of a knee had them flying all around the chamber with precision body placement. I learned a lot just by watching them. By this point my stability and skills were so much better than when I started. I played a "game of tag" where the coach would fly around and touch a spot on the wall. I would then have to maneuver myself to that spot and touch it too. This really had me working on my forward and backward movement as well as turns and translations (up and down). It was really cool!
I was sad that my time had ended, but I felt much more secure in my ability to pass the remaining AFF courses without needing to re-do anything.
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