LV Life

Mendoza enjoys rush of freefalling

Freshman Vianna Mendoza has parachuted seven times during the past year. She did her first jump at Lake Perris, and she has performed jumps in Colorado. After she accomplishes one more jump, she will be able to earn her skydiving license, enabling her to teach others. / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian
Freshman Vianna Mendoza has parachuted seven times during the past year. She did her first jump at Lake Perris, and she has performed jumps in Colorado. After she accomplishes one more jump, she will be able to earn her skydiving license, enabling her to teach others. / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian

by Erica Aguilar
Editorial Assistant

Diving from an airplane merely to captivate the ultimate adrenaline rush, freshman Vianna Mendoza, an English major at the University of La Verne, has made a total of seven skydive jumps since she graduated from high school last year.

Mendoza first jumped out of an airplane last year, two weeks after she turned 18 years old. She decided to skydive when she received enough money from high school graduation gifts.

“The first jump is called a tandem jump and that’s when an instructor dives with you on your back. It cost $180 and I received a certificate after,” said Mendoza.

For the tandem jump, the passenger and the tandem master each wear a harness. However, only the master wears the parachutes. In most cases the entire ride lasts approximately 30 seconds.

Mendoza and her best friend were competitive, so when he turned 18 years old before her and decided to jump, she had to do it too. “I thought about it before, but I never took it seriously,” she said.

When she recalled the first time she skydived, Mendoza remembers a clear incident that occurred.

“I broke my nose the first time I jumped because the altimeter, located near my chest, lifted when I pulled the cord. I got bruised also, but was so fascinated with the rush, I didn’t care. I wasn’t nervous at all,” she said.

“The best thing about the skydive is the freefall,” said Mendoza.

The freefall is the moment before the person pulls the cord and the parachute comes out, when he or she is falling through the air.

“It’s peaceful, not like when you lose your stomach on a roller coaster. It doesn’t feel like you’re falling. The ground just looks like it’s getting closer,” she said.

Several movie myths associated with skydiving are the ability to talk in flight and first jump acrobatics.

Most skydiving clubs or schools require ground hours and training before the first jump is allowed. The training sessions can total up to six hours.

Since Mendoza has been skydiving, she has spent over $1,000 to partake in these daring events. The place where she trained and jumps is called Perris Valley Parachuting, located in Perris, approximately two hours from La Verne.

During the week, to skydive for the first time costs $175 and $185 on the weekend. Experienced divers also have the opportunity to pull at 2,000 feet, after receiving a license.

“Not only does the price get cheaper, the freefall gets longer. After a total of 20 jumps, you can receive a license. It costs approximately $1,700, but only costs $17 per jump after,” said Roland Minnich, a reservations agent at Perris Valley Parachuting.

Mendoza said, “We usually go up 12,000 feet and pull at 5,000. I always land fine, stumble at the most, but I have seen people fall pretty hard, though.”

When asked what the worst part of skydiving is, she said when the chute actually opens because it pulls you very hard.

This summer, Mendoza wants to get her skydiving license, but she estimates it costs $1,500. For the most part of the summer she will be doing summer service in North County, near San Diego.

“As a summer job, I could instruct if I get my license,” Mendoza said. But now she believes she may end up just waiting until next summer.

Last September was her last jump. There is no minimum weight limit but one cannot weigh over 200 pounds.

“You can get videotaped or pictures taken, but they’re very expensive, somewhere around $50,” Mendoza said.

A student interested in studying can call Perris Valley Parachuting at (909) 943-4759.

She suggests that if anyone is interested “to do it if you have the money.”

For many who skydive, it is considered not just a sport but a lifestyle.

Erica Aguilar
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Veero Der-Karabetian
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