Everest freefall

Imagine doing your first skydive ever.  It's a tandem jump, you freefall for almost a minute from above Mount Everest, the highest point on earth, and set a record in the process?   How insane is that!  
It took 15 years of planning before it all came together last month (Oct 2008) when skydivers from various countries (incl SA) jumped from an aircraft over Everest.   The 41 solo and tandem jumps set 23 national and international skydiving records and included a 72yr old man, a woman who jumped on her 30th birthday and even some 1st timers in tandem jumps.
Because of the subzero temperatures and thin air they used extra thick parachutes that were also 3 times the normal size.  Their suits were specially made in Nepal and they used breathing equipment as they leapt into the freezing air at 29,500ft (8,992m) to see the summit of Everest sticking above the clouds.
Hurtling through the air for almost a minute of freefall before opening the chute and landing at the world's highest drop zone  - Shyangboche airstrip in the Himalayas (12,350ft or 3,764m) - must've been an awesome, unforgettable adventure and, incredibly, there were no serious mishaps so kudos to the organisers who put an amazing amount of effort into the planning.