Divine freedom

When you live in Martinique, or perhaps more generally, when you live on a land bordered by water, the majority of us turn more often than rarely towards the sea, the river, and all the benefits of water activities. I understand us. Yet there is another universe, just as entertaining and full of emotions… the sky. I had the chance to meet the clouds, with pure adrenaline. If I had to summarize this parachute jump in two words, I would do it like this: divine freedom. Understand divine in the sense of sublime, excellent, exhilarating, and perfect in its kind. I am hesitating on the choice of this last adjective: perfect. Because I have to admit, it was too short to be completely perfect! And freedom, do I really need to describe to you the exceptional sensation of embracing the air, no longer feeling anything, not being suspended by anything? (well, being suspended only by my instructor and his parachute, let’s be clear). Anyway, the experience summarized like this deserves some details, I’m getting to it.

Who said I don’t have vertigo ?

I had been thinking about this parachute jump for a long time, I had been waiting for it for a long time. Yet, nothing led the many people around me to believe that it was an activity that would catch my attention, my affection, or even my passion. Don’t see once again any symbolism of the duality of my astrological sign. I am one of those individuals who are perfectly at ease between “darling, don’t look down” when you climb Mount Pelée and “okay, for a free fall at 200 km/h”. All this to say that I have never said that I don’t have vertigo, but I have never said that I have it either. Let those who can understand, understand! I believe that a parachute jump is a very secure and prepared activity. We are securely harnessed to a professional and reassuring instructor. Technically, it is called a tandem jump. I will even be more precise by saying that we are just a few centimeters away from the inseparable twins. Enough to calm anxious minds and undecided about vertigo. Don’t be afraid, you’re in good hands.

Repetition, telepathy, and memorization

Parachuting is like opera. A close-fitting outfit is more practical (now I know). You need to be sure of your partner, your instructor. You repeat the movements on the ground. Then you take the plunge and applaud. The difference being that at the opera, there is a floor…

In a more practical way :

Once the jump has been confirmed after checking the wind and weather (because not everyone is Mary Poppins with her chatty umbrella), the rehearsal can begin. The professional/future hummingbird pairs are formed. It’s a strategic moment, because you realize that you are entrusting your 55kg (at the time) and the rest of your life, to be honest, to this unknown person in a padded astronaut suit. You try to read his resume in his eyes. You assess his career as a professional jumper based on his haircut. You decipher the number of jumps he has under his belt. You give him that fleeting look that evaluates both his seriousness and his build. You gauge his muscles and any other reassuring element that allows you to believe that everything will be okay. And everything will indeed be okay! Firstly, because we’re dealing with professionals and telepathy doesn’t exist. And secondly, because it’s not the weight, height, or haircut of the instructor that matters. After the pair formation, comes the rehearsal stage. The hummingbird apprentices on the ground discover the movements that they will have to repeat, visualize, and record, and then repeat, visualize, and record again… (that’s right, say it again and again). Whether you’re a ballerina or a hummingbird, you feel like you’re growing wings when the harness comes on and the movements are understood and memorized.

Great leap of the hummingbird and ovation

The mild schizophrenia of vertigo is gone. Only the thrilling excitement remains as we approach the plane. It won’t broadcast the well-known message of the flight attendants “doors closing, cross-check” and you’ll have to discover why. Once on board, there’s no turning back as the plane flies at nearly 4000 meters altitude. After about ten minutes, Martinique seen from the sky is beautiful. Tiny and distant too. The tandem I form with my Siamese instructor is ready to dive into the void. Go. 200 km/h. I scream with pleasure. No feeling of turbulence whatsoever. It’s quite the opposite. The freefall is controlled, ecstatic, fast, wild, divine. The repeated movements are correctly applied, the parachute opens. Everything becomes calm, luxurious, and airy pleasure. A peaceful and disconnected stroll in the air until our feet touch the ground. It’s the end, but it’s too short. To be done again, for sure!

• Illustration photos. The person in the scene is not the author of the article. Used with permission from Air Colibri Parachutisme