Skydiving: “It’s Something That Gets In Your Blood”

Jumping out of planes sounds like a crazy concept, but for some people in the Red River Valley, jumping from planes is a part of their daily life.

Jerry Fischer is just shy of 80 years old, but he sure doesn’t feel like it.

“People who know me are not surprised at all,” says World Record Sky Diver, Jerry Fischer.

In a month, Jerry will head to California where he will go for another world record for elderly skydivers.

Not too long ago, Jerry set his first world record with eight other sky divers, all over the age of 70.

“Eight of us get out of the plane, get together and turn three points,” says Fischer.

While Jerry travels across the country for his sky diving adventures, he started right here in West Fargo 21 years ago, and 2,000 jumps ago.

“It keeps me going.  It’s a sport.  It’s something that gets in your blood.  It’s almost addictive,” says Fischer.

Jerry joined the rest of his fellow Fargo Skydivers for National Safety Day where instructors across the country will remind their jumpers there’s a safe way to jump out of airplanes.

“We’re flying a canopy, a canopy is like the wing of an airplane and we want to make sure we’re coming down safely.  We’re not hitting any obstacles, we’re not coming down too hard,” says safety and training advisor Chris Gourde.

“The training and everything else has kept me from getting in trouble,” says Fischer.

Training that skydiving student Andrea Enger is paying extra attention to.

“Eventually, I’m hoping to become licensed where I can jump out by myself or with other jumpers and do formations,” says skydiving student, Andrea Enger.

Andrea jumped for the first time last August, and since then, she can’t get enough.

“My favorite part is actually being under canopy when the shoot opens, and it’s just me and the earth and I’m so free up there I don’t really care about anything else,” says Enger.

A sport that may seem a little crazy.

“What’s not fun about jumping out of an airplane,” says Gourde.

But a sport that makes the thrill all worth it.

Fargo Skydive hopes to start student training come April.