An 80-year-old great-grandmother took her birthday celebrations to new heights last week - 12,500 feet to be exact.
It was truly a family affair Sunday morning as Elmvale's Patti Clark took the plunge over Innisfail's Big Bend Airport for her first skydive. Joining her at Skydive BigSky for the jump were two of her 22 grandchildren: Calgary's Darin Swain, 26, and Swain's sister, Edmonton’s Melanie Hawes, 33.
Hawes’ jump, which was a birthday present in June from her mom, two brothers and their girlfriends, was also her first.
Swain said he got the idea of bringing his grandmother along after she came to the airport in early July to watch Swain complete his 25th jump and a family friend, Alan Paramanathan, complete his first.
"She was like, 'Oh that looks like fun," Swain recalled, saying he was "stoked" to be able to jump alongside his grandmother. "I said, 'If you want to do it I'll cover it."
The jump became a belated birthday gift - Clark had turned 80 on Feb. 3. Clark has seven children, 22 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Many of them came from across Alberta to witness the feat, including two of her seven children, Calgary’s Denise Swain and Barrhead’s Sally Visser.
While Clark showed no pre-jump jitters - she beamed as she and the other jumpers in her group watched a tandem skydive safety video - she said not everyone in her family was thrilled with her decision to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.
"I have children who think it's wonderful," Clark said. "(And) I have children who think I have lost my marbles."
After some ground-based training with her tandem partner, John "J.T." Thiessen, Clark got set to suit up. A number of her family and friends who had turned out for the event gathered around her as she donned a jumpsuit, harness, helmet and goggles in preparation for her morning jump. Many wished her luck as she got ready to board the airplane for the 25-minute trip up to 12,500 feet above sea level.
"I want you all to know that whatever happens I'll be okay," Thiessen, a veteran of nearly 2,000 jumps, joked.
"If I lose my false teeth you won't be," Clark quickly shot back to raucous laughter.
As the plane carrying Clark, Thiessen, Swain, a cameraman, and one other jumper took off, her family gathered at the south side of the company's hangar to get a good vantage point.
"The next midlife crisis she gets a sedan," joked Denise, admitting that while she will never skydive herself she was proud of her mother.
Clark’s husband, Don, admitted he thought his wife would get cold feet before the jump.
“I’m surprised that she didn’t get too excited about it,” he said.
“When she decides to do something, good grief get out of the way – she’s going to do it,” Visser added.
After minutes of craning their necks skyward to catch a glimpse of the plane, Clark's family cheered as the first jumpers made their way out into the clear blue sky.
The cheers grew louder as Thiessen and Clark, who were the last jumpers out, came into view overhead. Clark acknowledged the cheers, waving to her family as Thiessen guided them in for a soft landing metres away.
"That was without a doubt the most awesome sensation," she said moments after touching down. "If I was any younger I’d be hooked."
“She loved it. She was smiling the whole way,” said Darin, who accompanied both Clark and Hawes on their jumps.
Thissen called her “a spitfire” and said the jump was memorable for both of them.
“This is one of those top 10 memory jumps for sure,” he admitted.
Ten-year-old Shaelyn Clark and four-year-old Ryker Clark, two of Clark’s six great-grandchildren in attendance, said they thought Clark’s jump was amazing.
“They can’t wait to go to school and tell their friends,” their mother, Vickie, added.
After helping Clark to her feet, it was Hawes' turn to suit up for her first jump.
About a half-hour later Hawes pumped her arms and let out a large “woo” as she and her partner came in for a picture-perfect landing.
“Oh my God! That was awesome,” Hawes said.
“I think we have another one hooked,” Patti said proudly.
Patti admitted she’s already got a Christmas gift idea in mind.
“Next year I’m going to ask the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to send me money so I can go skydiving.”
