Prince Albert seniors cross item off bucket list

By Nigel Maxwell

Two Prince Albert women have proven age is nothing but a number.

Doreen Harder, 73, and Marie Panas, 77, went skydiving last weekend near Saskatoon and with the assistance of an instructor, dropped from 11,000 feet. For Panas, the jump represented the completion of a bucket list item.

“It’s awesome and for me it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she said.

Reflecting on her experience, Panas described a feeling of absolute freedom and added she never once felt like she was in any sort of danger. However, she also acknowledged some of her family members were less than supportive.

“They were all wishing and hoping and telling me not to do it but I’m 77 years old and it’s my life,” she said.

Doreen Harder (Skydive Saskatoon)

For Doreen Harder, the trip represented a healing process, explaining she’s had a number of personal losses, including her husband.

“It was just a freedom thing from the pain I’ve gone through,” she said.

Harder explained she and her friend had initially planned to make the jump last August, but two days before they were set to be taken up, she broke her leg. However the extra few months of waiting paid off.

“I kind of felt like I was flying,” she said.

Albert Boucher, owner and operator of Skydive Saskatoon, was the one who took the initial call from the two women and recalled a feeling of wanting to spend as much time with them as they needed.

“They were just really nice people and energetic and frankly inspirational,” he said. “They are living life fully, they are enjoying the moment, and that’s what skydiving is all about.”

Boucher explained it’s very common for people in their 60s and older to come out and want to complete a bucket list item. Another common reason is post pandemic, people are just feeling the urge to get out and do something.

“Do something exciting and different,” he said.

As part of a tandem jump, an individual is literally strapped to an instructor. Boucher explained all of their instructors have between 1,000 and 8,000 jumps.

After watching a video, there’s a ground briefing and then liftoff. Following a 40-second free fall, there’s about a five-minute canopy ride.