What a Journey

This story was submitted by Eric to enter to win an L&B ARES II digital altimeter through my Gear Giveaway #3. Submissions accepted until March 31st, 2025.

My skydiving journey began last August with a 45th birthday tandem jump. That evening, I signed up for the AFF first jump course! I kept my goals small. First, do a non-tandem skydive. Success! I will admit there was an hour-long discussion in my head whether to just check that box or keep going.  Thankfully the devil on my shoulder won and I took my second jump that same day.  It was then that I was absolutely hooked! Next goal, pass the AFF and do a true solo skydive. Check! Then it was the race against time and weather to get my A license before the end of the season. With a week to spare I found myself with an A stamped on my forehead, treading water in the swoop pond on a balmy 45-degree afternoon!

Along this awesome journey I found myself on my Category F skydive. What happened next, I will never forget.

The skydive took an immediate unexpected turn when I lost a shoe upon exiting the plane!  After a deep breath and big arch, I was back to stable. I proceed to find my coach with enough time to successfully complete the category. Hell yeah, hard parts over, right? Nope!

After a successful track, I throw my pilot chute. 1, 2, 3, I count in my head. I look up to what seemed like an endless run of line twists. Being my first malfunction of any type I immediately, oddly calmly, and in retrospect, probably prematurely, went into my emergency procedures. Success, I immediately have a reserve over my head. Ultimately, I finished the jump with a stand-up landing, just under 20 feet from the target. But wait, there’s more! My shoe had fallen from over 13,000 feet high landing only 100 feet away from me, square in the middle of the field!

I learned a lot from that jump.  Don’t give up when things go to shit. Breathe, refocus, trust your gear and trust your emergency procedures.  A big thanks to all my instructors, coach’s, Skydive New England and their hyperfocus on the red book and safety.

~Eric