Wheelchair-bound skydiver keeps hopes high

25-year-old skydive enthusiast Jarrett Martin dreams to smash a world record.

An accident in 2009 left 18-year-old skydive enthusiast Jarrett Martin with a broken back. But, six years on, it has done little to break his dreams.
"Sometimes I have to pinch myself that this is my job. When I speak to my family back home they often joke and tell me to stop gloating," Martin tells Khaleej Times from his Skydive Dubai base.
Now a master rigger for Skydive Dubai, wheelchair-bound Martin's positivity is humbling - and his dreams to smash a world record are inspiring.
His motivation is to show people that no matter your disability, you can still pursue you dreams.
"If I can do it, you can, too."
Twist of fate
During a daredevil-feat in the US six years ago, Martin's attempt to launch himself off the side of a mountain using a two-parachute technique ended in disaster.
A failure in the complex harnessing system led to a failed landing. Subsequently, US-born Martin suffered a broken back, a torn aorta, and damaged lungs and kidneys.
In an interview with Khaleej Times shortly after he moved to Dubai last year, the avid skydiver, now 24, said he couldn't believe his luck had run out so young.
"I was this 18-year-old who just started working as a professional tandem skydiver, which was impressive for my age. Then it all just came to a stop."
Sickened by the realisation of his situation, Martin's six-month recovery left his future fraught with uncertainty. But lady luck soon smiled back on him.
Now, a year and a half after joining the Skydive Dubai team, he describes life as "pretty insane".
"Life is great. It could have been better if I didn't have the accident, but it could have been worse, too. What I'm doing with my life now is so cool."
Up, up and away
As he begins zipping up his grey and red jumpsuit on-ground, Martin kisses a small backpack before placing it on his back.
"Most people are proud of their cars. I'm proud of my parachute," he laughs. "Look at this beauty."
Lifted aboard a golf buggy which acts as carriage to a waiting propellor plane, Martin smiles and waves me goodbye.
"See you in about 20 minutes."
As the plane ascends into the blue skies over Dubai Marina, his plan is to make a 13,000ft leap of faith before landing back on solid ground.
But less than eight minutes after take-off, I get news that Mother Nature has other plans.
"They're coming back down. Winds are too high," one of the on-ground staff tells me.
A few minutes later, Martin makes his way towards me, shrugging his shoulders and sighing.
"I guess it wasn't meant to be."
In skydiving, the probability of a jump going ahead all depends on wind speeds on the day, he tells me. If they are too high or too low, jumping is a no go.
After climbing about 3,000ft in the plane, Martin says the pilot made the decision to turn back as winds had increased dramatically throughout the morning.
"We have a saying in skydiving. We'd rather be on ground wishing we were in the air, than in the air wishing we were on ground. We respect every decision made by the team."
As we leave the hustle and bustle of suiting up, rigging up and jumping from a plane, Martin begins to touch on life in Dubai so far.
Before leaving the US, he had never travelled outside of the country. But since landing in the UAE, he says his travelling opportunities have "blown up".
"Leaving my bubble in the US has seen big changes. I've been to Norway, Italy, Eastern Europe, Bosnia. A tonne of places really."
The adrenalin-mad skydiver has competed in countless parachuting competitions as part of the Skydive Dubai team - or family as he calls it. And it's a family he's proud of.
Competing against able-bodied competitors, he says he doesn't necessarily score highly, but the satisfaction of competitive jumping is reward enough.
"This is the kind of thing I had always hoped of. Now here I am living in this cool city, doing what I love. It's awesome."
Calling Skydive Dubai an "anomaly", Martin says its progress in becoming one of the best skydiving spots in the world compares closely with his journey since the accident.
"They put a runway out in the ocean. Many didn't believe they could. It's like me. Just because I can't use my legs, doesn't mean I can't do what I love."
Martin has more than 4,000 jumps under his belt. He is one of only two master riggers in the region and one of few wheelchair-bound competitive skydivers and base jumpers in the world.
If any fact should inspire you today, it should be that one. During our chat last year, Martin said he one day dreamed of breaking a world-record of his own.
The hope then was to attempt the most wheelchair-bound skydives in 24 hours. He's attempting to make the dream a reality - though the record has been tweaked slightly.
"I'm trying to do the longest duration inside a wind tunnel. The current record is 96 minutes but I want to reach two or three hours."
With wind speeds reaching 160kmph, Martin has so far managed 30 minutes during training. And there's been plenty of bouncing off the walls, he says.
"It's pretty tough, but I think I can do it. I'm not 100 per cent confident, but that's the appeal. That's where the adrenalin kicks in."
For now, he hopes to continue inspiring both able-bodied and disabled people, and if there is one message he could give them, it's simple.
"Sure, I didn't walk yesterday but I did some pretty cool things. I would say push your boundaries. I push mine everyday and it's the best feeling in the world."
kelly@khaleejtimes.com
@KTUAEReporters

• UAE
• Dubai