NZONE freefall photographer Matt Schreurs on one of the
tandem skydives this year. Photo supplied.
In January last year, Matt Schreurs was attempting his
second tandem skydive in Queenstown as a customer.
Now, he has joined the NZONE skydive team.
The Invercargill man became a skydive photographer this month
after being inspired to join New Zealand Skydiving School in
Methven last June.
By January, he was ready to start working as a freefall
cameraman with NZONE Skydive in Queenstown, where he made his
only two tandem skydive jumps, the first back in 2006.
Mr Schreurs chose to live in Queenstown for the relaxed
lifestyle, outdoor sports, nightlife and "the best scenery in
New Zealand".
He had been looking for something to get him out of the "nine
to five grind" and was considering an overseas trip, but on
on a flight from Queenstown to Christchurch, he thought about
the rush of jumping out of a plane.
"I couldn't be happier with where I am right now."
The possibilities in skydiving were endless, he said.
"There are a lot of different aspects to skydiving, with
freefall, canopy flight, rigging, plus the different
disciplines within them."
His job as a freefall photographer involves taking pictures
of customers who are tandem skydiving at a speed of 200kmh.
On each job he jumps with two cameras on his helmet, one for
video recording and one for taking pictures, and uses a bite
switch in his mouth to operate them.
The company is celebrating more than 21 years of skydiving,
having taken more than 180,000 customers on jumps.
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