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Free-Falling

H-town skydiving options

A A A Comments Thursday, Jul 17 2003

Space City boasts two first-class drop zones -- that's skydive lingo for "place where people jump out of planes." You can jump from 14,000 feet even if you have no experience with the sport; all you have to do is take a short training class and then tether up to a more skilled skydiver. After 60 seconds of free fall, you'll pull the rip cord and drift for several minutes to a comfy landing. At Skydive Spaceland in Rosharon, you'll feel like a serious student, learning how to pull the rip cord and land the parachute on your first jump. On the other hand, at Skydive Houston in Waller (the self-proclaimed "country club of skydiving"), your tandem master won't mind if you relax and enjoy the jump while she takes care of all the details -- like deploying the chute.

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Up in the air, you'll question your sanity. You'll fall at 120 miles per hour. And you'll want to do it all again. Skydive Spaceland is open from 7:30 a.m. to sunset daily. 16111 FM 521. For information, call 281-369-3337 or visit www.skydivespaceland.com. Skydive Houston is open from 8 a.m. to sunset every day except Wednesday. 15355 Penick Road in Waller. For information, call 1-800 JUMP-OUT or visit www.skydivehouston.com. $159 to $189. -- Margaret Winchell Miller

SUN 7/20
There was a time when listing on your résumé the video games you've starred in would've resulted in a quick phone call to security during a job interview. But that's just so old-millennium. BMX biker Rick Thorne (a stuntman in Vin Diesel's xXx), skateboarders Steve Caballero, Phil Hajal and Anthony Furlong, and dual-sport dude Paul Zitzer are among the pro X-Game vets who will tear up the vert ramp at this weekend's Vans Warped Tour. For them, being in video games is just smart cross-marketing. In addition to the pro exhibitions, thrashers can check out Balls of Steel (featuring motorcyclists doing flips in a steel ball), a massive rock-climbing wall and a waterslide. There's also a reverse day-care center, where teens can drop off their parents and then mosh the day away. Doors open at noon on Sunday, July 20. Reliant Park, Main Street Lot, One Reliant Park. For tickets, call 713-629-3700 or visit www.cc.com. $25. -- Greg Barr