Nine from the city participatedin an event in Puducherry
Skydiving is slowly catching up among adventure freaks in the city. More people are now taking to the thrilling aero sport to feel the adrenalin rush.
Incidentally, the Bollywood hit Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara appears to have generated some curiosity among the youth to experience skydiving. “The breathtaking skydiving scene by the leading stars in the flick captured the imagination of some adventure loving youth. Nine people from the city participated in a skydiving event held in Puducherry this year,” says D.S.D Solanki, who was part of the team.
The event, organised by Kakini Enterprises, New Delhi, was held in Puducherry airport recently. It was for the first time the Mysore-based International Academy of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (IAMAS) sent a team. Sandeep Reddy of IAMAS was the team leader.
Mr. Solanki told The Hindu that everyone could not afford skydiving as a single jump would cost about Rs. 18,000. “One jump needs two days of training. Skydiving is hugely popular in countries such as the United States, Spain and New Zealand,” he said.
“We got inquiries for skydiving from people who saw the movie. As I had experienced skydiving once at Palampur in Gujarat, we decided to send a team to Puducherry. The dive was from an approximate height of 5,000 ft,” he said.
The skydiving course includes theory, hands-on sessions, physical endurance tests and aircraft familiarisation. It requires high endurance and physical fitness.
After the training, the nine, who were armed with skydiving gear and the parachute, were permitted the static-line skydiving from a Cessna aircraft under the watchful eye of a jump master.
The jump was arranged separately for each diver.
“The skydive was allowed only after we understood the intricacies of skydiving. In static-line skydiving, the diver will be floating in air for about 10 seconds. That was the most exciting part,” Mr. Solanki said.
In accelerated freefall, the diver will be floating in the air for a longer time, may be for about 30 seconds, he added.
Mr. Solanki, who has been promoting adventure sports and coordinating Himalayan expeditions, said Mysore had a good potential for aero sports and more adventure-related activities need to conducted to encourage the youth.