REACHING FOR THE SKIES - Sports News From Around Spain in H! Society Magazine
REACHING FOR THE SKIES
CONTINUING OUR SERIES ON EXPATRIATES WHO HAVE SETTLED IN SPAIN, WHAT BROUGHT THEM TO THIS AREA AND THE ROAD THEY TRAVELLED TO EVENTUALLY MAKE THEIR HOMES HERE… THIS MONTH NICOLA McGEORGE TALKS TO A COUPLE WHO REALLY LIVE LIFE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTREME
Hannah Swallow and Jonno Horne are no different from the rest of us. They get up every morning, travel to work, put on their uniforms and then jump 4,500 metres out of a plane! Okay, maybe they are slightly different, and a damn sight cooler.
Skydiving has been in their blood all their lives. Hannah, 24, runs her family’s Skydive Spain Centre in Sevilla, set up in 2005; while her family continue to run the UK branch. She explains, “There was a small skydiving centre already based at La Juliana airfield, and they asked for our help, as we have owned and operated a centre in the UK for many years. They only had a small aircraft for a small customer base. After about five months of working with them, it became clear they were not that interested in the full potential of the centre and we took it over. It made sense to branch out from a very successful skydiving centre in the UK and set one up in the most southern part of Spain, which experiences the best weather in Europe.” Hannah’s family became involved with this sport through her father. In 1991, after years of flying and skydiving, he opened Skydive Hibaldstow in North Lincolnshire. The centre grew from a three to four day a week operation to six days a week, and they have also hosted the British National Championships for the last six years. This competition is the largest national championships in the world, outside the United States. So, all in all, Hannah really didn’t have a choice about learning to skydive.
“I learnt at my home centre, of course, at Hibaldstow. I did a tandem skydive and loved it, then went on to complete the Accelerated Freefall Course (AFF) which turns you from zero into a qualified skydiver in 18 jumps. The instructors I had were all people I knew, which was great, but it also made me want to pass 100 per cent every level.”
Jonno, 30, is a static line, AFF and tandem instructor for the centre, as well as being their rigger, (the person who looks after and maintains all the equipment). As the son of a solider, he has lived in many different places but finally moved to Spain because of the weather, the girls and the relaxed atmosphere. He says, “I started the sport when I was 17, as my father was a skydiver. I became one of the UK's youngest instructors at the age of 21. My job enables me to combine work with a sport I love. It gives me a sense of well-being teaching people to skydive and seeing them progress. People often think that I'm laughing at them in freefall, and actually... I am − it's challenging but it can be hilarious at times.”
I recently visited the centre and loved every minute. The place has a great spirit; everyone is laughing and smiling all day. I also noticed that regular jumpers were helping with everything from cleaning to packing up the chutes. Apparently this is not an unusual thing; they all love the centre, and want it to be successful, so help out whenever they can. They seemed like one big, happy family to me.
Skydiving is becoming more popular with each passing year. People are searching for the more extreme rush − scuba diving, snow boarding, bungee jumping and so on − and getting harder and harder to surprise these days. Many also want to jump for charity; because they are doing something very different it persuades people to donate more generously.
There were a large number of Brits at the centre so I asked Hannah why they come here instead of staying in the UK. “We offer all the disciplines in the sport and all the methods to learn how to skydive, as well as the on-off thrill of a tandem skydive. This is the jump where the customer is strapped to an experienced instructor after a briefing of only 15-20 minutes. They exit the aircraft together and enjoy the adrenaline rush without going through a full day's training. We also fly to 15,000 feet (three miles high, or 4,500 metres), which offers more time in freefall.”
Another reason is their hugely popular Christmas boogie. A boogie is just a fun time to meet and jump with other skydivers from around the world. Their latest one ran from 19 December to 6 January and was their best yet, managing over 615 loads and resulting in a massive 8,500 skydives. Last year Hannah and Jonno took part in a 23-person formation, creating a 2007 in the sky. Impressive, huh?
Even though they run a huge operation, the pair still fit in time for fun. “Jonno organised me a birthday skydive last year with my 4way team mates,” Hannah recalls. “We launched a blow-up raft out of the aircraft with me in it. It was fab.”
Jonno adds, “Amusing things are always happening. I remember laughing hysterically at my cameraman when jumping a tandem as he had forgotten his goggles and still jumped to capture the customer's experience.”
“Ha! I remember laughing at Jonno when HE forgot his goggles and still jumped,” giggles Hannah.What I want to know is what are their future plans? Can their life get any more exciting? Jonno laughs, “My ambition is to become a master rigger (i.e. the highest qualification in parachute maintenance) and then being able to tell all my colleagues that they have to call me ‘Master Jonno.’” Meanwhile, Hannah’s wish is to operate one of the most successful skydiving centres in the world.
Though it can be challenging at times being a couple and working together, in general they are happy to be close to each other every day. One thing is for sure: for them the sky is definitely the limit.
■ Contact Dropzone Tel. 687 726 303 www.skydivespain.com
