‘GMA’ Goes GoPro: Meteorologist Ginger Zee Dons GoPro for Live Skydive on ‘GMA’
— -- GoPro cameras have changed the way people document their lives, and on Friday, “Good Morning America”’s Ginger Zee strapped one on to go skydiving, allowing the show's viewers to see the adventure from her point of view as it happened.
Zee jumped out of a plane at nearly 13,000 feet over Homestead, Florida. Fittingly, Zee, ABC News’ chief meteorologist, had perfect weather for her skydive.
"This is amazing," Zee said from the air. "I can see Miami. I can see all of the ocean here. It’s gorgeous."
"You have to take it all in, every moment," she said.
Zee took the plunge in tandem with Sgt. First Class Noah Watt, a member of the U.S. Army Parachute Team, popularly known as the Golden Knights, who do more than 850 tandem jumps each year.
"She did great," Watt said mid-jump. "She is Army strong today."
Zee was in free fall at 120 miles per hour for part of her dive. Once her parachute was deployed and her descent slowed to an estimated 20 miles per hour, she was able to directly address her colleagues in the studio and the viewing audience.
"Now I feel like the world is mine," Zee said. "It’s all of ours because you’re experiencing it with me."
"That’s the coolest thing of doing this," she said. "Here we are from two miles up jumping and I think it’s the first time so many people are able to experience it."
"GMA" viewers watched as Zee descended to the ground and heard Watt give her the specific instructions - knees up and then legs out - that led to a smooth landing.
"It was incredible. It was amazing. It was every single word that we can use to describe that feeling," Zee said. "You’re free. The adrenaline is pumping. I don’t think I would want to do anything else with my life."
"I’m ready to go again," she said.
Following the action from the show’s Times Square studios was “GMA” correspondent Sara Haines, who had two GoPro cameras strapped to her – showing her point of view and directly behind her, and giving viewers a unique glimpse of the behind-the-scenes action on the set.
“GMA” anchor Lara Spencer also wore a GoPro, as did several other staffers on the set, including operations manager Maria Stefanopoulos and meteorologist Max Golembo
Also in the studio for the GoPro event was the Golden Knights’ Team Leader Sgt. Angela Nichols, who provided insight into what Zee was experiencing as she made the jump.
"It’s so high that the visual cues aren’t there so it doesn’t feel like it’s falling," Nichols said. "It’s an exhilarating yet calming feeling."
"I can’t even describe how your heart is beating so fast yet it’s calming and it’s freeing at the same time," she said.
