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Passion for skydiving leads to Indonesian woman jumping in 46 countries
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Naila Novaranti, 35, first tried tandem skydiving in 2009. She went on to become a professional skydiving athlete and later joined the Simba skydiving team. (Shutterstock/File)
T
hirty-five-year-old Naila Novaranti never imagined she would be a skydiving coach and enthusiast, but that's precisely what she has become.
Speaking to kompas.com recently, Naila revealed that her journey started seven years ago, when she saw skydivers landing in a field next to her office.
"I used to be a secretary at an oil company. Then I moved to work for a parachute company in the United States. Because the office was right next to the landing area, I saw how much fun it was to sky dive," Naila said during a WTP Forum in Jakarta on Aug. 25.
She finally tried skydiving for the first time in 2009, when she jumped in tandem.
"Naila did poorly in her first jump, her body was positioned really bad. Like a helicopter, very unsafe," said Naila's instructor Robert, who attended the event with her.
Nevertheless Naila did not give up, Robert said, adding that the mother of three continued to practice diligently in a vertical wind tunnel, commonly referred to as indoor skydiving.
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Naila went on to become a professional skydiving athlete and later joined the Simba skydiving team. She is said to be the first Indonesian woman on the team and participates in international skydiving competitions.
Additionally, Naila trains members of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus), as well as teaches skydiving in 46 other countries.
Her job, however, doesn't come without risk.
"I've broken my arms and legs, had a problematic tail bone. Two weeks ago my parachute had trouble opening, even though I was almost 700 feet [213 meters] from the ground," she said.
Accidents have not deterred her, Naila said, adding that her passion throughout her long journey in the extreme sport continues to fuel her.
Naila and her team have won a AA level in skydiving competition, which is just one level below the highest level, AAA.
"If asked whether I'm scared, until today I still get scared. But if I've jumped and then see the results in photographs [that the jumps] are good, it makes me happy," Naila said. (liz/kes)
