Whether it’s putting a literal spin on Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” or an unchecked box on the bucket list, skydiving is a much lusted-after adventure that few actually partake in. A litany of concerns, including safety, fear and price, often serve as deterrents.
“I’m interested in skydiving, but things like how expensive it is stop me from doing it any time soon,” freshman Audrey Zigmond says. “Plus, the entire idea definitely fazes me. At the same time, I want to know what it’s like more than I don’t want to know what it’s like.”
They are concerns that Skydive V Flying Ranch owner Van Pray deals with on a daily basis. Skydive V Flying Ranch is a skydiving business just 35 miles out of Columbia. Pray is responsible for providing divers with a safe, enjoyable experience.
“I don’t like to tell people that it’s perfectly safe because you’re traveling at 120 mph toward the planet,” Pray says. “It requires that people perform under a stressful situation. There is quite a bit to it.”
The business, which offers tandem skydiving and advanced lessons, is the key stop for those wishing to take the risk and see the world from a different view — literally. Situated off exit 161 on Highway 70 in Williamsburg, Skydive V Flying Ranch is the closest skydiving location in the area.
Prices are within a college students’ “splurge” budget, and there are few qualifications, making it ideal for students. The cost of a first-time jump runs at $199, but a $15-off coupon is available on the business’s website, lowering the price tag to a more reasonable number.
Forget those J. Crew khakis you don’t really need. You can go skydiving for the same amount of money. In addition, divers must sign a waiver, be at least 18, be in good physical condition and weigh less than 200 pounds.
“We get all walks of life,” Pray says. “We get a lot of students from the colleges, people turning 18 because it’s their birthday and something they’ve always wanted to do. A lot of people do it once. It’s not an inexpensive sport.”
First-time divers can choose to jump from either 10,500 feet up, which offers 32 seconds of free-fall, or 13,000 feet, which offers 47 seconds. In both cases, an instructor must be strapped to the diver in case of an emergency and to provide guidance.
“After the parachute opens, the instructor is there to deal with any emergencies,” Pray says. “In case the parachute wasn’t good, they will release it, go back to free fall, and then activate the emergency parachute. Then they both land together underneath the parachute. It’s not perfectly safe. It’s a high-risk activity, but it can be done safely.”
Skydive V Flying Ranch, open seven days a week from 9 a.m. until sunset, will close in November for the winter. Until then, reservations can be made online or by phone.
“I would definitely go skydiving in Columbia,” freshman Nana Duah says. “It’s complete freedom and not something a lot of people experience. It’s the ultimate adrenaline rush and sense of letting go. I’m young and restless. Why not?”