Make the Bounce – It is an Expertise of a Lifetime

ReadWrite appears to be like for uncommon experiences and firms within the tech world that we are able to suggest for extremely motivational encounters. Our group was invited to “Make the Jump” at Limitless Flight in SLC, Utah. Bounce is a extremely technical VR expertise, and we determined that due to the tech world we work in, for a group bonding and mind-expanding occasion, we might head out to Utah and check out The Bounce.

My expertise at JUMP was essentially the most emotionally liberating and empowering expertise that I’ve skilled in my life.

I’ve participated in lots of experiences in my life that some would name “daring,” however I can not adequately specific what my emotions had been heading into Bounce. I learn up on and watched a few YouTubes on wing go well with leaping in addition to skydiving and anticipated that it’d give my coronary heart somewhat skip or (or a deep thud).

A number of of my buddies had been in doing a little skydiving (as newbies) within the weeks earlier than The Bounce — so I requested one among them to come back alongside and provides an unbiased account of his expertise with the Bounce and the way it associated to his skydiving — and the way shut the 2 experiences and emotions had been.

My thoughts was blown by the complexity of the entire operation

As you stroll into the foyer, there’s a large window in entrance of you (I referred to as it, “the window of the soul”). The soul window is about 12-15 ft of glass, and it appears to be like like a film is happening. However you might be witnessing the particular person forward of you “in flight.” You’re seeing what they’re seeing as they fly.

The entire inside is sort of a film set that units you as much as enter the expertise.

You stroll up a ramp to the proper, the place there are every kind of base-jumping wing fits and different thought-provoking objects and planes. Subsequent, you obtain directions on what you can be doing, how you’ll gown, and easy methods to placed on the wingsuit, and the helmet.

We led to ten folks with us — (I wasn’t going to go it alone on one thing this vital). A number of of my peeps jumped forward in line — and that was tremendous by me. After the transient tutorial video — we entered an area the place many wingsuits had been hanging on pullout racks. Somebody stepped out to assist me go well with up.

I used to be suited right into a  real-world wingsuit and a real-world parachute harness. In a roundabout way, I assumed the VR expertise was going to be VR all the best way — however no — the real-world setup and outfitting started to right away put me within the zone. At this level, the fact of the expertise began to set in.

I’m actually doing this — the place am I? — how did this occur?

I used to be positioned in a room the place a novel VR helmet was placed on my head — sure, in crimson, my favourite coloration. After I went to placed on the helmet, my first thought was that I had the most important and fattest head in the entire U.S. of A, and it wouldn’t match — however I put it on, and it match simply tremendous.

Subsequent, I used to be guided contained in the stomach of a cargo aircraft. I gazed up and down on the sidewalls — I used to be actually contained in the aircraft. I shivered somewhat for some motive. Was I courageous or not? What if I couldn’t bounce?

I used to be listening to directions by the helmet. At that time, the door within the cargo aircraft opened, and it turned clear that I might now bounce out of the airplane and fly with my wingsuit. What would my group….what? — And I used to be gone — utterly enveloped within the expertise.  I overcame my worry and jumped out of that aircraft; my thoughts couldn’t distinguish actuality from digital actuality. I used to be utterly immersed in an occasion that was exhilarating, but utterly scary on the identical time.

The flight expertise is one thing that I can not clarify. I’ve no body of reference. Phrases to precise the expertise are exhilarating, thrilling, stunning — and mind-expanding.

From that time ahead, till my expertise was accomplished, I utterly misplaced my notion of time and actuality.

Why am I leaning? Was it the proper arm increased to maneuver proper? Why am I circling right here? Oh yeah, I did that circle, carry the opposite arm and are available out of the circle, Brad — now head to the flag. Man, I’m too near that cliff! 

The cliffs — so actual. I can really feel the air, I’m weightless. Am I asleep? Have I flown over that mountain vary someplace? What do I acknowledge? I believe I’ve been right here earlier than.

Touchdown safely on the platform, I took the second leg of the bounce.

There was no idea of time and house whereas I used to be within the Bounce. After I used to be completed with the Bounce and was getting out of the wingsuit, I needed to examine in with my thoughts to ensure what was taking place was actual once more. The expertise itself was mind-blowing — however I got here away with greater than anticipated.

I needed to face an actual worry of heights that has bugged me for years — like a clenching proper the place you don’t speak about it — and now that’s gone. Accepting the invitation and going and taking my group felt like making use of for a brand new job on one other planet. Would I have the ability to Bounce — particularly with my group there? I didn’t understand that I feared the unknown however felt like I confronted it, and I’m higher for doing so.

The After Bounce

There may be an “after Bounce” room the place we quietly talked about what had simply occurred to us. It was like we had handed by a secret and needed to ponder issues. I assumed that we might instantly hop out and start some huge planning session. The After Bounce was very revealing, and it was obvious that we had all been deeply affected.

In a really possible way, I skilled a thoughts shift that lasted for days.

I play video video games — and play VR video games with the headset on. I’ve the Oculus and Oculus Quest 2. I duck and bounce and play the video games — This isn’t That in any method.

For the reason that day of the Bounce, I’ve learn all the things I can discover on altered states of thoughts, getting within the zone, and the “Circulate State” of thoughts.

Within the guide, “The Rise of Superman,” Steven Kotler tells about Dean Potter of the Fitz Roy climb fame, the place Potter says, “I can sit on my ass and meditate for 2 hours to get a fifteen-second glimpse of this state [Flow State], or I can danger my life and get there immediately–and it lasts for hours.”

Sure — that’s what I felt — the Circulate State. As I sit right here writing, I can really feel it once more. The fact of what occurred just about impacted my life — and I can say that “life” has occurred as a consequence of the expertise.

Open Your Thoughts and Your Coronary heart to New Issues and Experiences

It was onerous to confess that I got here into the Bounce expertise with some trepidation, worry, and anxiousness.  However issues and emotions like these are not onerous to confess for me.

I left having accomplished the expertise feeling exhilaration and confidence — and again to my typical self — with one thing extra.  My thoughts is extra open to new concepts.  Now I believe to myself, “If I can placed on a wingsuit and bounce out of a aircraft and off of a cliff — then what else is feasible?

Go Take the Bounce —

Within the phrases of Nike — Simply Do It. I requested my group — and also you’ll end up asking, “What different issues are you able to conquer.” In what different methods are you able to push your self personally, professionally, or emotionally?”

…and one of the best factor — Due to The Bounce — you’ll have some solutions!