For 10 days in December, 450 jumpers from around the globe descended onto the Eloy desert for the annual Skydive Arizona Christmas Boogie. Santa, Mrs. Claus and their reindeer helped to kick off the event, bearing gifts to the delight of many local children. As the days passed, jumpers dusted off their ugly sweaters and onesies to make lots of jumps in the unseasonably warm weather.

Formation skydiving team Arizona Airspeed, vertical formation skydiving team Arizona X-Force and organizers from the Arizona Training Center kept jumpers in the air from early morning until sunset every day and even into the night on New Year’s Eve. Mike Friedman hosted Join the Movement camps for more experienced jumpers; Wade Baird provided angle coaching; Flight-1 instructor and PD Factory Team member Justin Price helped out with canopy coaching; and Steve Woodford organized the 4th Annual 10-Way DC-3 Speedstar Competition. Balloon jumps were available just about every morning of the boogie, allowing visiting jumpers to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Red Bull-sponsored pilot and licensed jumper Kirby Chambliss put on an aerobatic aircraft show for jumpers and spectators alike. The annual Film Festival, Casino Night and New Year’s Eve Snow Ball were all crowd pleasers, as well.

Vendors Airtec, Alti-2, Boogieman Suits, Firebird, Innovative Parachute Technologies, Larsen & Brusgaard, Ouragan Suits, Performance Designs, Rigging Innovations, Sigma, SkyVenture Arizona, Square 2, Sun Path Products, Toltec Wellness Center, United Parachute Technologies and Vertical Suits provided support and sponsorship, as they do for most Skydive Arizona events. The drop zone has a lot planned for 2018. Jumpers can find out what’s in store on the Skydive Arizona events calendar at skydiveaz.com.

Rhonda Kaletz  | C-36222
Eloy, Arizona