Knoxville becomes even more extreme as skydivers make their leaps

State of play: Des Moines Skydivers is both a business that teaches skydiving and an organization people can join to more regularly take to the sky.

Zoom in: Most people go skydiving once, maybe twice in their lifetimes.

Yes, but: For lifelong enthusiasts, it's about the thrill of learning how to do it solo without assistance.

• Member Christy Brokens wasn't sure if she'd have the time to do the sport as a mother of four, but "I've been doing it for about two years now," she tells Axios.

What they're saying: It’s a surprisingly meditative experience because you can only focus on the skydive, says longtime member Jagannathan Alagurajan.

• "You can't think about anything else," says Randy Roth, former president of the group. "Or you won't be a skydiver for long."

What's next: Des Moines Skydivers hosts a free open house where you can watch people dive all day on June 24 from 11am-3pm at 1563 IA-14, Knoxville.