The Des Moines Skydivers, at the moment leaping out of the Winterset airport, will construct a brand new dwelling in Knoxville. On Oct. 1, members of the group checked out what leaping out above Knoxville can be like. Their transfer to city might be official on April 1, 2023.

I interviewed Randy Roth, spokesperson for the group, in a program that aired on Sept. 30 on KNIA/KRLS. I used to be excited to announce to the group that the group was coming. I used to be tipped off that the occasion was occurring by my pal Steve Mitchell, who’s on the airport board. Steve is the previous superintendent of Melcher-Dallas Public Colleges and is now on the Iowa Board of Academic Examiners.

Randy informed me that Knoxville was the proper match for the brand new dwelling for the Des Moines Skydivers. He stated Airport Supervisor Dan Van Donselaar, the airport board, town supervisor, the mayor, and town council had been all enthusiastic in regards to the transfer.

Who wouldn’t be? Take a look at the enjoyable this younger girl is having whereas tandem leaping!

Randy tells me that with the membership being housed in the neighborhood, there’ll possible be an financial impression of  $250,000 to $300,000 per 12 months.

However sufficient of me rambling! Right here is the video Randy shot along with his GoPro of considered one of his flights on Saturday:

Right here was my view from the bottom.

Improbable!

However the place does skydiving come from? Right here is one reply, based on Skydiving Melbourne:

Steven Wade, in his 2011 thesis at Western Kentucky College, says skydiving tradition locations a excessive worth on particular person achievement, self-reliance, and adherence to routine, and it promotes a powerful sense of group amongst its members in his consideration of Skydive Kentucky in Elizabethtown.

James Hardie-Bick and Penny Bonner evaluate skydiving and climbing in an examination that explores “the motivations, behaviors, and experiences of those that have interaction in high-risk actions.”

They are saying it’s all about experiencing “movement” and pleasure as a part of the danger. They cite the work of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, one of many first students to analysis movement. Movement is a “idea describing these moments once you’re utterly absorbed in a difficult however doable job.”

Csikszentmihalyi says:

“The perfect moments in our lives aren’t the passive, receptive, enjoyable occasions . . . The perfect moments normally happen if an individual’s physique or thoughts is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to perform one thing troublesome and worthwhile.”

Like skydiving.

Randy tells me they’ve leased land adjoining to the airport and plan to construct a clubhouse. They can even construct a personal tenting website for visiting skydivers and members that received’t be open to the general public.

I can think about after an extended day of leaping; it could be enjoyable to sit down round a campfire with pals and have a cookout and some beers.

Randy additionally tells me that the airplane flew 15 “hundreds” on Saturday. I presume meaning a great deal of individuals or 15 flights. And 26 individuals made skydives for a complete of 59 jumps! How cool is that?

The world wants risk-takers. To take us to the sting of the human expertise. To guide us there, look at the boundaries, and report back to the remainder of us what they’ve skilled. And the way they’ve grown, so we would too.

I felt like a child once more, wandering round with my pal Steve, testing the airport whereas the skydivers had been preparing. I can’t assist sharing this photograph of Steve, laying down on the grass, attempting to identify the skydivers as they fell to earth.

Regardless of how previous we’re, there’s somewhat boy or woman in all of us, and right here you may see the little boy in Steve.

I’m proud to name him pal. Randy, too. And I stay up for assembly extra new pals because the Des Moines Skydivers study to name Knoxville dwelling. Let me say it first — Knoxville is the brand new “Skydiving Capital of Iowa!”

Steve and Randy additionally counsel “Knoxville: The Daredevil’s Vacation spot” or Knoxville: “The Adrenaline Capital of Iowa.”  Each can be enjoyable.

I’ll in all probability by no means leap. However I feel Steve will. Randy simply has to ask him if he desires to.