Edward Roldan: First-time Jumper As most first-time skydivers tend to be, Edward Roldan is both excited and nervous as he waits to get in the air. While many skydive in honor of a special occasion, such as a birthday or graduation, Roldan has simply been talked into coming along with some friends (themselves also first-timers), just to try it. He says the main reason he’s interested in jumping is for the adrenaline rush. And maybe a little bit not to wimp out in front of his friends. After this, things begin to move pretty quickly. Roldan is paired up with Ainsworth as his tandem instructor. She helps Roldan into his harness, and then they’re escorted to the plane. Once the plane is up at 13,000 feet, it’s time to jump. “There was so much going on, I couldn’t really take it in at first,” Roldan says, of the initial freefall from the plane. “But after a few seconds, it really feels like flying. I felt like Superman.” He and everyone he came with all shared the feeling of exhilaration. He credits Ainsworth’s ability to keep cool as the thing that most helped him keep calm and get the most enjoyment from the jump. Given the opportunity, he says he would definitely do it again. [SJM]
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san joaquin magazine