Unlike many of my friends who rave about adrenaline rush of skydiving, I have a fear of heights and have never understood the impulse to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.
But when my 17-year-old son expressed an interest in defying gravity on our recent mother/son day in San Diego, I signed us up to experience the exhilaration of flight – in a safe, controlled environment where thrill-seekers of all ages can spread their wings and soar.
From the moment we stepped into iFly Indoor Skydiving’s sleek, futuristic facility in San Diego’s Mission Valley, anticipation electrified the air. The hum of wind turbines filled the space our experienced instructor guided us through a brief educational training session in advance of the adventure ahead.
After donning our flight suits, goggles and helmets, we took turns in the vertical wind tunnel for “low” and “high” flights. Gravity lost its grip, and our bodies effortlessly ascended, suspended in mid-air. My son mastered more “moves” than his mother, adjusting his hand movements to spin in one direction, then the other, and propelling his body forward and backward. For my part, I was just thrilled to experience the freedom of weightlessness, buoyed by the force of the wind.
Beyond its adrenaline-fueled appeal, I can see how iFly fosters a sense of camaraderie among its participants. From families seeking a unique bonding experience and corporate teams looking to build trust and cohesion to kids taking to the air with their friends for birthday celebrations, iFly offers a shared adventure that transcends age, background, and ability (with adaptive equipment, individuals with disabilities can also take to the sky).
As the wind tunnel echoes with laughter and shouts of exhilaration, it’s clear that iFly Indoor Skydiving isn’t just a destination – it’s a gateway to limitless possibilities whether you’re a seasoned thrill-seeker or a first-time flyer. My son is already angling for a return trip to advance to “next level” flips and spins. Sounds like another “Mom + Me” adventure is on the horizon.
