Tucker Doss' Hot Air Balloon Adventure in Perris

Tucker Doss stood up to the sky, his back against the canvas of a hot air balloon. There weren’t more than a few seconds before freedom. The date was early 2024, and Perris, a Southern California town, was the backdrop. At the moment when Doss transformed the flat landscape into a 3D map of a human heart. The balloon was a colorful fabric cocoon that ballooned above Perris Valley. Tuckered off for the skies is a dangerous and risky sport. At the peak of a balloon’s flight, 5,000-6,000 feet or 1500 meters in the air — the air is thin and cold. The balloon's engines are forced to work harder, pumping out hot air to keep the ballon aloft. The purpose is to keep the balloon expanding to keep the pressure inside the balloon equal to the air outside. Because the temperature of the balloon is so high, the air inside has expanded and weighs lighter than the air outside the balloon. A balloon really wants to rise, especially at ground level. The shapes of mountains, vineyards, and rivers that made up the landscape below were almost too much. Tucker Doss, that name appeared on YouTube and Facebook daily enough to become familiar, was here at the ultimate destination for skydiving. He was the long way between needing to breathe and actually ever doing it and the ground was rushing up. The balloon had vanished — just a cloud and dusty sky. The camera motion blurred to the beat of Vance Joy's Riptide. Blood rushed past Doss's ears. We now know the message. The message was clear. The words are spelled out: "Everyone is going to die and no one is going to remember you so. Fuck it". That's the mindset. Dangerous heights and speeding down to earth. But the message is about living, not dying. Doss' experience is both beautiful — breathtaking sights and terrifying — this was a tandem jump.

The bird's-eye thrill — and a parachute

Most people see the world from the ground. Skydiving is not just about getting your hands on the sunset from above. It does not end with the freedom of getting the world out from beneath you and shouting fuck it into a headwind. When you see the ground rushing up, turns out the feeling of falling is both thrilling and terrifying. Doss chose the tandem jump. Instead of jumping alone, he chose to have his jump supervised. A tandem jump is the type of skydiving that everyone gets to. It's the most popular type of jump. The customer gets supervision. Training is required just to get to the plane. The passenger stands in harness strapped to the instructor. It is a double parachute system, which enables the instructor to have control. With tandem jumps, solo jumps, and indoor skydiving, the ground was not in sight. Perris, California is the destination for skydiving. In 2023, Silverwood Skydivers stepped in to make skydiving accessible to the public. Perris, California is the birthplace of skydiving — the sport of jumping from airplanes. It provides the perfect weather conditions for landing safely.

The role of perception in extreme sports

The experience is not just about getting your hands on the sunset from above. It's not about the freedom of getting the world out from beneath you and shouting fuck it into the headwind. It is about the fear. The fear of falling in the sky was real. Reading the environment to stay focused was key. The message stuck. Tucker Doss is challenging the idea that we can only live life with the safety net of familiarity. That experience was not self-indulgent. It was about facing fears. He had conquered his fear of heights. The angle was simple and clear. The bird's-eye view might scare you. The experience changes you. The perspective made the adrenaline rush worth it. As Doss went through the experience, it was apparent that the Why? may be different for everyone. One for the thrill of it. The perception of the jump is always changing. The bird's-eye view is the most glorious perspective. It enables you to see your world in perfect harmony. That perspective changed Tucker Doss. Doss stood with a sudden and powerful urge to jump. Everything had faded away.

The equipment — beauty and terror in one view

There was nothing between you and the ground. The anticipation was immense. The ground was rushing up. The pressure in the pilot's hands was immense. Everything was up to the pilot. The unencumbered sky offered a thrilling view. The equipment is important. The parachute system lets the pilot pull the parachute after they jump from the balloon. The harness is what keeps you safe, but it can also be what gets you in trouble if it fails. The pilot has a helmet on. Although the harness and parachute can save your life, the wind and air can take your breath away. Mesmerizing sights might be part of the beauty. Opposing forces of terror and beauty were the defining elements.

The confidence in handling the balloon

Doss challenged the idea that we can only live life with the safety net of familiarity. You could get knocked over by a large gust of wind. Doss stood at the front of the balloon. The muscles in your shoulders and arms were tense in preparation. As you're stuck in the harness. Terrified, we not merely lose sight of our adrenaline. Our distraction was anger.

The experience — an unapologetically visceral thrill

Doss instructed to hook something up. He was on the step of the balloon. He didn't know where he was going or what he was doing. Doss didn't wear a helmet, nor did he wear a special suit. The adrenaline rush was immense. The thing about extreme sports is that you‘’re never quite sure if you will make it back to shore. There is a constant fear of falling and a constant fear of dying.

The risk of risking it all

The experience is about facing fears. The people who conquer their fear of heights are ahead of the game. Because the fear of heights is the most common fear. While watching Tucker Doss, he was enjoying the bird's-eye view, which is the most glorious perspective. It enables you to see your world in perfect harmony.

The good life — having your eyes opened

Doss' experience was exciting. The early-morning adrenaline rush was an unapologetically visceral thrill. This experience is not about the go-getter or the tools, but the breathless anticipation. It is about the feeling of freedom that you experience when you jump out of a plane. It is about feeling the wind against your skin and the adrenaline rush that you get from the excitement of it. You can't even see the ground from the ground. The adrenaline rush is immense. Try to get this view from the air. The bird's-eye view is the most glorious perspective. It enables you to see your world in perfect harmony. This experience is worth it and more.