LESSONS FROM 15,000 feet
Lessons from World Record Holder Don Kellner - Skydiving
Anyone who says they are not scared every time they jump out of a plane is most likely lying or they are truly delusional and they will never truly experience the incredible rush and feeling of accomplishment. The sheer adrenaline rush of jumping out of a plane at 2,000 to 15,000 feet, freefalling for a second or 65 seconds and speeding towards the ground at 120 mph to 200 mps and then successfully opening your parachute and doing it again is a “results driven purest” dream – it’s winning or losing at its zenith.
Growing up in the same town as multiple World Record skydiver Don Kellner was an unexpected dream and the beginning of a long journey of lessons! Spending 7 years of my life visiting the Northeastern PA Ripcord Skydivers drop zone one realized Don’s environment was one of serious discipline and regiment. While that was always the case, the one element someone learns from Don is that life is about chasing your passion while not taking yourself to seriously! That maintaining a sense of humor and an atmosphere of excitement is a better motivator of excellence than an environment filled with fear and knowing what could happen on any giving day.
This became clear to me very early in my skydiving career. In December of 1978, one year after my initial start in skydiving, Don invited me on one of our annual Santa Clause jumps. Dressed as an elf in my green uniform with red leotards and accompanying 3 other skydiving elves - we were about to jump into the Wyoming Valley Mall to deliver Santa to 500 eager children and their anxious parents in the parking low below.
Exiting the Cessna 182 at 5,550 feet and experiencing a short 20 second free fall I found it odd one else opened up at 3,000 feet rather they choose to open at 2,000 feet. However, I quickly realized Don found this was a perfect time to teach me a new humbling life lesson. He neglected to tell me the weather and the wind at the Mall was very different than our departure airport. However, I quickly realized that was the case as I sailed over and past the Mall at 1,000 feet! In that instant, I realized I had about 1 minute to scope out, select and commit to a new landing area or you face possible sever injury or even death.
The funniest part of this life lesson was committing to what appeared to be my life saving lush green landing zone. As I continued my descent, I started to recognize the appearance of 15-foot barbed wire fences. Accompanied by a vision of military police rushing towards me - a “green and red eft”! In the end, I was humbled to find I was landing at the Wyoming Valley Veterans Medical Center!
As I rode back to the mall in a military Jeep, I realized that while Don was laughing his ass off, he was teaching me a life lesson. I also realized military police have no sense of humor!
For some that would have been the end. For me, it pushed me to become an expert in parachuting accuracy.
Practicing repeatedly with more experienced accuracy jumpers. Jumping out of planes and helicopters from 2500 feet trying to hit a 10 centimeter disc in the pursuit of a dead center. Learning how the winds, altitude and selecting your exit landmark in combination are paramount to any amount of general parachuting experience.
Then finally, in March of 1982 the payback. Placing 4th at National Parachute Para-Ski National Championships at MT Southington CT! Qualifying to become a member of the 1982 US Parachute Para ski Team - with the reward of representing the United Stated at the 1983 World Championships in Austria. And proudly having the New York Times list me as the only eastern competitor to crack the western domination that year.
Key take away: Don’t dress up as a green and red elf if you are going to jump out of a plane! Most importantly, pushing to become great takes more than passion, drive and experience. Being open to learning and accepting the advice of specialized experts is more valuable than accomplishing decent results on your own.