Alicja started as an employee for Hydro at the Redditch plant and transferred to Bedwas at the same time as the fabrication facility.
After 2 years as a General Operator working on saws, presses and quality inspection, Alicja asked for a new challenge – to be trained as a CNC programmer. The majority of work was covered after 6 months training and this became her main responsibility.
Now in the role of Production Planner and Sales Administrator she gets her supply of adrenalin at weekends.
Says Alicja, “Sky diving” was always on my “things to do” list.
Travelling is another and she has just been on a “single seater” experience at Silverstone, competing 24 laps with an average speed of 110km/h and top speed of 140km/h.
I admit I like a challenge and I don’t mind heights and speed! I also like to go go-carting and I usually win. I have a competitive streak as well……”
My other “hobbies” include indoor climbing as well as boxercise and yoga…….for a bit of relaxation.”
But back to the ski-diving…
A free fall dive has to be performed as a tandem dive, attached to an instructor, who has two parachutes, a normal one and a back up, just in case the first one doesn’t work!
Free fall is at about 120 miles an hour, you jump from 13,000 feet and at 6,000 feet the instructor opens the parachute.
Fortunate then that she likes heights and speed…….
“I wanted to dive for Cancer Research Wales”, says Alicja, “ as a result of personal experiences of family and friends with cancer. I found Sky Dive Swansea, who do charity dives.”
After an experience that was “fantastic” and “awesome”, Alicja couldn’t just stop at one.
“To do a free fall course by yourself, (Accelerated Free Fall, AFF) isn’t cheap. I investigated it and decided to do another tandem dive to make sure that it was something I want to do”
“The second one was completely different because they knew I was thinking about doing the AFF course, so they equipped me with everything to do it. “ It is so noisy you cannot speak – you have to hand sign”, she explains.
“I raised £410 on the first jump and £300 for the second one,” adds Alicja.
After another “incredible” experience Alicja enrolled on the AFF course and passed each stage and has now done her first consolidation jump – a solo jump at sunset from 12,000 feet - which she describes as “amazing, weird, FUN with time to enjoy the freedom up there”
After 9 more consolidation jumps and Level 8 Alicja will get her A license. “And then start having fun with the other sky divers.”
Although she adds she is now “financially ruined” she is quick to state that it has been worth every penny….
And the next challenge….?
“To keep jumping and then perhaps try formation free falling next.”
