ADVENTURE TRAVEL

When Magic Happens in the Sky

And a bunch of adrenaline junkies build a formation high above the desert

It is something you can’t explain to an outsider. How it works. To fall with approximately 200kph towards the earth and hold each other's hands just before pulling the parachute to land again safely.

But thanks to great photographers who take pictures with high-resolution cameras by pressing a button with their tongue while falling at the same speed through the sky outsiders are able to enjoy the beauty of this sport too.

In pictures.

And this is what I have for you today. A photographic documentary describing one single skydive. From preparation on the ground up to landing again and falling into each other's arms for joy.

We were hosting a boogie in Namibia how they call a skydiving event in the technical term. Skydivers from all across the world flew down into the desert country to fly and learn together.

In the group of 35 skydivers, we could count three world champions in two different disciplines. Yes, skydiving isn’t just jumping out of planes and landing with a parachute. There are acrobatic competitions in the air in more than 10 different disciplines.

Without going more into detail all I am saying about these world champions coming to Namibia is I was more than impressed with these humble and down-to-earth personalities. Visiting a country most people haven’t even heard about and flying with locals happy to teach and help wherever they can is what they did for 10 days.

On the last day, one of our guys was celebrating his birthday. Yes, adding to these 35 mainly European skydivers all the Namibians joined on the weekend as well and made the whole event even bigger.

To make this day even more special a birthday load was organized.

It all starts with a plan. A plan for the skydive. Without a plan, you don’t have to go jump. Time is so short up there every second has to be planned. If it all works out afterward is a different question. But there is going to be a plan.

In our case, the plan was to create a 16-way. For this plan, we didn’t just need 16 experienced skydivers but also two planes taking us up to altitude and dropping us right next to each other. At the same time.

You see. Lots of planning needed for that one. Not just for us. Also for the pilots. But that’s not what we need to worry about. They do their job and we do ours.

Since we had a world champion in formation skydiving in the team it was him who figured out the plan. And then it was our job to “walk it through”. Practicing the jump on the ground is the most important part of a skydive.

Without the practice on the ground, the jump will be wasted. But when the practice run is in your blood then you won’t struggle in the air either. As simple as that.

Just before getting into the two planes, we took one group photo. With all participating skydivers in it. Because who knows if we’ll all get together in the sky?

This photograph speaks for excitement. Joy and adrenaline filled happiness.

And in case anyone is wondering why yellow is my favorite color — just look at this beauty in the sky. The contrast of the yellow to the blue sky and the brown of the desert. Absolutely stunning. In my eyes at least.

Right, we’re on the plane now. Nine skydivers in each plane. Flying next to each other so you can see the people in the other plane as well. That is how close these pilots can fly. And have to fly.

Now the vibes change. Excitement is still there. But nervousness mixes in between. But you know, testosterone and adrenaline-filled guys will never admit it. That they're nervous. That’s a no-go. But they are. Just as much as the girls. They just don’t admit it.

And most skydivers on these two loads have never been in such a big formation. Jumping out of two planes to get together in the sky. So even the experienced instructors get nervous as well.

I mean who wants to disappoint a world champion? Who wants to mess up a jump where three world champions are in the middle? Exactly.

And to overpay this nervousness my plane started singing “Happy Birthday“. Since the birthday boy was in our middle we sang loud to drown the engine’s noise.

And eventually, it is time. It is time to high-five each other, check one last time your own equipment, and then we open the door. One by one we climb out. Some stay inside as close as possible to the door.

One of the guys hanging outside on the plane is giving the count. While all the people from the other plane are watching us. From a safe but close distance. And once we let go they do the same.

It is the most crucial part of the skydive. Because it is all about timing. If you miss the count and jump too late you might never get to the others. Or you waste valuable time getting to them.

But some people still have the nerves to grimace into the camera. And our cameraman captured this facial expression at the right moment.

Just before all hell breaks loose. That is at least how this photo looks like. People falling out of the plane. Others diving behind. And me in the middle. Not knowing what is happening.

The chaos is sorted out quickly and the base starts to form. A base is the most important part of a skydive. Starting with two people holding onto each other the beginning of the star is created.

This is now where everyone else needs to fly to and dock. I was the first one to join these two since I left the plane at the same time as them.

And then one after the other joins the party. But before all the skydivers of our plane are in the formation I can see the others flying in already. They were fast. The timing was right.

And slowly but surely the star is growing. Some would call it a circle. Skydivers call this flying position a star. Because that is what it is. A star floating in the sky.

The last two were struggling to join. With over 10 people in the formation, a lot of tension was happening in the circle. With different fallrates between each skydiver, we had to work hard to keep the star flying.

At one point two hands couldn’t hold each other anyone and the star was about to break apart but we quickly closed it again. Making it look like an Easter egg in the sky.

The two professional camera flyers in the sky were turning in circles around the formation. Making sure to get the best shot possible of this jumps’ highlight.

One last shot was taken from underneath.

And then it was time to break off. We had to break the star and fly away from each other. In order to be able to safely open the parachute, we have to get distance between each other.

And then fly our parachutes down. 16 parachutes in the air at the same time is a lot. But we were all following the assigned pattern and landed safely behind each other.

As soon as you picked up the canopy you walk to the nearest person for a high five. A high five and a hug. With a big smile on the face. Or both. Because now the adrenalin is gone. The stress relieved. But the excitement stays.

The excitement about what has been achieved.

And then we stand one more time together. Now with proud shoulders smiling into the camera. Because we did it. We flew a 14-way in the sky above the Namib desert. This hasn’t been done in over a decade. Maybe even two. It doesn’t matter.

For us, all that counts is now.

A big thank you goes to Ground Rush Adventures who made this jump possible. I also would like to thank Karine and Greg from Airwax for joining the jump and David from Hayabusa for organizing the Africans in the sky.

Photo Credits go to Ioannis Vlachiotis and Ewan Cowie who have done an amazing job in capturing this special skydive. It means a lot to us Namibians that you were part of this. Thank you.

More about my skydiving stories…

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Anne Bonfert is a traveler. Photographer. Writer. Teacher. Skydiving instructor. Adventure enthusiast. Nature lover. And fell in love with the African continent.

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