So. Much. Fun.

This past weekend, half of Hoffman Bros. and I went up to Skydive Kapowsin because a) the forecast was beautiful and b) there were going to be helicopter jumps.

a) came true. We did four jumps on Saturday with 1-3 other people. I couldn’t believe how rusty I felt after only seven weeks without a skydive. I mentioned to HHB that I felt much rustier than I had after a longer layoff last winter. He said, “No offense, but last year, you didn’t have that much to lose.”

b) also came true. JJ took these pictures — he’s a wicked awesome cameraflyer. It was a Hughes 500 heli–we got to 5,000 feet in about six minutes, hanging our legs out the door the whole time. Then we climbed out and stood on the strut. I love how we look like we’re just standing on the corner, posing for the camera. Except for the weird gear, of course. I’m wearing the full face helmet that Jennifer sold me for the price of a jump ticket — it’s the main thing that makes winter jumping bearable

Photo by Jeff JJ Johnson

Then comes the BEST PART EVER. You just step off and fall back.

This is a seriously awesome picture. Notice the rotors and the pilot looking down to see if we’re clear.

Photo by Jeff JJ Johnson

This is probably a second after we stepped off. I fell onto my back, like Nicole is already starting to do. While there, I thoroughly enjoyed the most delicious feeling of weightlessness which I wish would last forever but only lasts for about four seconds, until I start falling fast enough that I can feel the relative wind from below.

Later that day, after a regular skydive or two, HHB asked me if I thought we should do another heli jump. That would never have occurred to me. I kind of thought of it like Halloween candy. You know, you’re supposed to just take one. But it was a great idea, and I enjoyed the second jump just as much. I fell on my back for as long as I could, milking every second of feeling like I weighed nothing at all.

All in all, we did eight jumps this weekend, and I have the bandaids on my finger from packing to prove it. I’m pretty sore and almost stupid tired, but it was absolutely, completely worth every second of it.