Do you get excited at the idea of free falling? You’re not alone, humans have always been interested in flying. Like how Daedalus and Icarus strapped wings to themselves and took off, or how the Wright brothers built a plane. Do you ever wonder why humans have always been so interested in flying?
For many, flying has also been an epitome of freedom. So, being the curious adventurer that I am, I’ve always wanted to try it at least once. I may not have enough money to spare for an actual skydiving experience, yet, but I got a pretty close alternative.
And if you’re searching for exciting things to do in Toronto, like me, you should definitely check this place out.
Indoor skydiving is all the rage right now, and I got to try this experience out at iFly Toronto (they have one in Oakville and one in Whitby). Tip: You have to make reservations.
When we arrived, we checked in with the reception, where we confirmed our information, signed a waiver (that we understand all the risks of the activity), and then got weighed. Tip: The weight limit is 230 lbs.
Then, the staff directed up upstairs, where we saw people floating around in the wind tunnel (an instructor and a guest), and the observation deck lined with chairs for visitors to sit in. The staff told us we were group 19, and left us there to wait for our turn.
We watched people take turns going inside and the instructors showing off their skills inside the wind tunnel. We got a little worried because there were no staff in the waiting area and we were worried we missed our group. But about 20 minutes later, the instructor finally came out and called our group.
We were a small group of 7 people, and he led us into a demonstration room where we watched a introductory video. After the video, the instructor returned and reviewed the basic concepts – the hand gestures he will be using to communicate with us in the wind tunnel, and the basic posture and how to get in and out of the tunnel.
After we were adequately prepared, we headed back out to get our suit and equipment on. This basically included a flight suit, a helmet, goggles, and ear plugs. They provided lockers to put our belongings. Tip: Remember to wear athletic clothing and running shoes, as you will be wearing them during the skydiving – don’t wear anything that might fall off your body!
Once we were ready, we lined up to go into the chamber, sitting on the bench inside, waiting for our turn. They offer different packages that includes 2 flights, 4 flights, or more per person. We got the 2 flights option. Each flight is only 1 minute. It may not seem like a lot, but it’s pretty close to the amount of free fall you would get in a real skydiving experience anyways.
It took some time to get my balance the first time I went in, but I got a hang of it eventually. The key is to stay calm and stay in position even if you are falling. The instructor will help you, just remember to breath..
Though, it may be a better experience for more petite or shorter people like me. I enjoyed my free fall and had lots of fun flying up and down the tunnel. My boyfriend on the other hand is 6’3″ (a whole foot taller than me) and the instructor had a much more difficult time trying to hold on to him. He got a cut on his hand from falling on the metal net at the bottom of the tunnel and was not as thrilled as I was. In the end, we both agreed that it was a unique experience though – definitely not something you can do everyday.
Perhaps, the reason we are so interested is simply because we can’t.
Well, here’s another thing crossed off my bucket list. Follow me for updates on my adventures!
Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall.
Tea-lightful Things 