A new student group at Belmont is taking the plunge. Literally.
Bruin Skydive, a student organization dedicated to the sport, is providing Belmont students and faculty the opportunity to check this thrill off their bucket list with a skydiving trip set for April 21.
Eric Tudor, a junior and one of the three students who formed the group, encourages all people to consider taking part in the trip, even those who might be apprehensive about leaping out of an airplane thousands of feet in the air.
“To someone who’s scared, I would say just go for it. You won’t know the reaction that you’ll have until you do it. Everyone reacts differently,” Tudor said. “I’ve never seen a bad reaction to a skydive. Everyone has always loved it.”
Another group founder, junior Aaron Sheats agrees with Tudor but also thinks that fear adds to the overall experience.
“If you’re really scared, it’s just a bigger thrill,” said Sheats.
Both students have had plenty experience skydiving. Tudor began taking part in the sport in April 2011. Since then, he has made 140 jumps. Sheats started in March 2011 and has made around 80 jumps so far.
Robby Berry, a junior and third founding member of the organization, began skydiving in October and has since taken the plunge 26 times.
The three take skydiving trips nearly every weekend. All of them agree that it’s the thrill of the jump and the relationships made with other skydiving devotees that draw them back.
“You can literally not know someone at all and do one skydive with them and be practically best friends with them, laughing and chatting it up with them afterwards and talking about the next jump you can do,” said Tudor.
Berry agrees that jumps can lead to fast friendships and feels that the most satisfying part is “those relationships you make.”
The juniors hope to grow the organization and build camaraderie around the sport. The organization plans to take a skydiving trip at least once a semester. If other students express enough interest in the organization, the three also would like to hold events on campus, such as informational sessions.
Ultimately, the trio hopes the organization will be able to continue once they have graduated. They stress the importance of underclassmen involvement.
“I’d like to get some lowerclassmen involved and interested in it. That’s the only way to keep it going,” said Tudor.
Even with their high jump counts, Tudor and the others do not plan on stopping any time soon.
“Every skydive is fun. Every single one.”
The April 21 skydiving expedition will take place with Tennessee Skydiving LLC in Tullahoma, Tenn. The cost is $195. Krispy Kreme Donuts will be provided for breakfast, and Chipotle will be available after the jump.
Those interested in partaking in the trip can find out more information about the event and how to sign up on the Facebook event page.
The registration deadline is March 30.
-Ally Willis