He’s taken over 100 jumps in the last three years, but Saturday morning’s skydive from 10,000 feet up was by far the most memorable for Jason Balesdent.
Balesdent, from Innisfail, soared in the air Saturday morning with his fiancée Debbie Kontuck and landed a married man.
“I think I was more nervous than her,” laughed Balesdent who’s taken over 100 jumps and she, only the one.
“I wasn’t nervous even when they opened the door,” Kontuck said of being pre-warned that the opening of the door usually makes all first-time skydivers jumpy. “It wasn’t until I was sitting at the door and realized I had to jump, that I felt it.”
The two, together for 18 years, decided to get married in the sky. The bride’s tandem jumper, Kyle Nelson, was also the officiate and wore a black tie and carried a King James Bible into the plane.
Balesdent, who took up skydiving in 2009, thought he’d only jump once. But the thrill of throwing himself from the plane and soaring downwards got him hooked to the sport and he’s been doing it ever since.
“I finally found a sport I like,” he said, laughing.
Even though Debbie had never jumped before, she agreed to do it as part of their wedding, to experience something he loves and is so passionate about.
“It was freaky,” she said, after landing and getting out of her gear. “I definitely understand now why he does it, but I don’t think I’ll be doing it again.”
The two were married just after 8 a.m. Saturday from the plane flying over the Innisfail airport. Once the two landed, they sealed the ceremony with a kiss.
