“It´s all silence and very meditative,” said Tom Noonan, a professional skydiver who participated in the Everest Skydive 2009 event on Wednesday.
Noonan along with world skydiving champion Wendy Smith of New Zealand and Indian Air Force Wing Commander Jai Kishan jumped off the Fishtail Air´s helicopter from a height of 21,000 feet and made a successful landing at the Gorak Shep -- Kala Patthar plateau at 17,192 feet creating a new world record in skydiving for the highest drop zone.
“I have no words to describe the mesmerizing experience,” said Ganesh Pandey, a member of the skydiving test who made a tandem jump with Noonan two weeks ago.
The experience of skydiving in the Everest region is unique and different from other places because of the magnificent surroundings and the Mt Everest itself. Despite his experience of diving at other places, Noonan believes the Everest Skydive was the most ´rewarding part of his life´. “It was the scariest and the most exciting jump I ever performed,” Smith exulted.
Khumbu glacier and open crevasses were visible during the skydiving and was the dangers for the skydivers. “Any wrong move would have led to a disaster,” wing commander Kishan said, while Noonan added that his training and experience was crucial.
For all of them, the risk factor was not strong enough to hinder their strong desire to experience the bliss of diving amidst the enticing mountains. In Smith´s word, it is the ´passion´ that drives her to participate in skydiving.
The successful completion of the skydiving event is a testimony that commercial skydiving can flourish in Nepal.
“The event is an opening door for commercial skydiving,” said Smith. She believed skydiving at Syangboche, which lies at a lower altitude, would be ideal for the commercial purpose as there is less risk and no compromising in the natural beauty of the Himalayas.
Skydiving can establish Nepal as a destination for extreme adventure sports. “The base for the sports to enter Nepal is very well seated,” Smith assured.
Commercial skydiving is most likely to begin in May next year, according to Suman Pandey of Explore Himalaya Travel and Adventure, the organizer of the Everest Skydiving 2009. The event was held with the support of Nepal Tourism Board to promote Nepal Tourism Year 2011.
Skydiving will, however, be costly. It is likely to cost at least Rs 1.2 million. “The expenses are high as the cost of oxygen itself is Rs 250,000,” Pandey informed. Nepalis are being trained as skydivers to take charge of the operations in future. Explore Himalaya is also considering Indian and Chinese tourists as potential customers.
There is a plan to subsidize rate for Indian national for the promotion of an activity that the tourism entrepreneurs believed will be a prominent tourism product of the country -- one more feather on the top of the world!
Skydiving?
Unlike paragliding in which the gliders launch themselves from a mountain, skydiving is about freefalling from aircrafts and then using parachute to descend. Paragliders may attain higher altitude than the one from where they began but skydiving goes only downwards. But skydivers do have gears to control the direction of their flight.
Tandem flight
A skydive or paragliding with the pilot.
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