The first time skydiving of any person is an act of happiness. This article is part 3 in a series from our intern, Jack. Enjoy!

A Normal Day… Until It Wasn’t

July 13th 2024 started out just like any other day during my internship at Skydive Colorado Springs. I was on ground‑crew duty, moving through the routine: checking the site, managing the landing zone, and keeping an ear out for the five‑minute calls. But this day wasn’t just any day—it was World Skydiving Day. The drop zone buzzed with excitement. Skydivers from across the state—and the world—were showing up to be part of a record‑breaking attempt: the most people skydiving in a single day.

As an intern, I expected to observe from the sidelines. I was ready to support, run logistics, and witness the record happen from the ground. Never did I imagine I’d end the day not just as a witness—but as part of that record myself.

The Offer I Couldn’t Turn Down

It all shifted when my boss, Redeye, approached me with a grin that only meant one thing—something unexpected. “Jack,” he said, “how about a tandem jump today? It’s on us. Join the record.” The idea of tandem skydiving in Colorado had always sounded thrilling, but hearing it offered to me—right now—sent my heart into overdrive.

The words hit harder than expected. I’d seen hundreds of people take that leap. I’d helped them into harnesses, guided their families to the best viewing spots, and celebrated every safe landing. But me? I hadn’t even seriously considered jumping yet. And now, here I was, nodding before my brain could catch up. I knew that the moment of my first time skydiving had arrived.

Feet on the Step, Mind in Another World

Preparation was fast but thorough. Redeye went over every detail: the harness, the exit procedure, the body position for freefall, and how to land safely. Even as he cracked jokes to calm me down, his confidence was grounding. He reminded me that Skydive Colorado Springs follows the USPA Basic Safety Requirements to the letter—another reason I trusted him fully.

We boarded the Cessna 182, a small but sturdy aircraft we’d loaded a thousand times before with customers. Except this time, I wasn’t ground crew. I was strapped in and climbing toward 14,000 feet.

Looking out the window, I caught glimpses of the Colorado landscape—Pikes Peak, the Royal Gorge, even the grid of Cañon City below. Beautiful, but distant. My mind was too focused on what was coming.

Then the door opened.

There’s no way to describe that moment with justice. It’s like your brain pauses—refuses to believe what’s happening. As I swung my feet out onto the step, the roar of the wind consumed every thought. And then, first time skydiving was a real thing.

Freefall, Chaos… and Unexpected Calm

The sensation of freefall is impossible to simulate. It’s loud. It’s fast. And yet, there’s this surreal calm beneath it all. The air rushes past you like a freight train, but internally, your thoughts go completely quiet. That’s what first time skydiving does: it overwhelms and clears you all at once.

The ground didn’t feel like it was rushing up—it was just growing in detail. Mountains sharpened, roads took shape, everything got closer but in slow motion. It’s not fear. It’s presence.

And then: the tug. The parachute opened, and everything shifted.

The World Looks Different Under a Canopy

Once the canopy deployed, the chaos of freefall gave way to silence—real silence. You’re floating now, looking out over Colorado’s rugged terrain from a peaceful, slow‑moving perch in the sky. That transition—from freefall to glide—is where the real beauty of tandem skydiving hits you.

I looked over at Redeye, who gave me a thumbs‑up. We gently banked to the right, circling over the airfield and soaking in the view. For a few moments, I forgot I was a first‑time skydiver. I felt like part of the skydiving world.

Then came the part no one warns you about enough: the landing.

Ground Rushing Back—and a New Perspective

With the parachute open, many assume the hard part is over. I did too. But the truth is, the most technical piece of a tandem skydiving experience is the landing. And that’s where a skilled instructor really proves their worth.

Redeye guided us down toward the field. The landing zone looked small from the sky, but with his calm voice directing me to lift my legs, we slid in clean—smooth, controlled, followed immediately by high‑fives from the crew, cheers from guests, and one very stunned intern trying to process what just happened.

30,351 People—and One Intern—Make History

That day, 30,351 people around the world took to the skies to celebrate World Skydiving Day and help break a global record (officially logged by the World Skydiving Day Record initiative). I never imagined I’d be one of them. I started the morning thinking I’d help others with their first time skydiving; instead, I took the leap myself.

But more than the record, more than the adrenaline, what stuck with me was the transformation. Tandem skydiving stripped away hesitation. It gave me a glimpse of what it feels like to trust, to fly, and to let go—literally.

The Sky Isn’t Just for the Bold—It’s for the Willing

People often ask, “What does first time skydiving feel like?” It’s not something you can fully explain. It’s better lived than described. But if I had to try, I’d say it’s equal parts fear, freedom, and focus. It’s where clarity meets chaos, and you realize how much you’ve been holding back.

For me, it was more than a bucket‑list item. It was a moment that expanded my view of what I’m capable of—one that made me start eyeing the first jump course we run for future solo skydivers.

Ready to Take the Leap?

If you’ve ever wondered whether you could do it—whether you could jump from a plane and feel that rush—let me say this: you can. Your first time skydiving doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to happen. And when it does, it might just change everything.

Book your tandem jump today at Skydive Colorado Springs and write your own story in the sky.