The beautiful skies of Arizona greeted Canadian skydiving enthusiasts who traveled to the Canadian Arizona Casual 2024 event from January 5-15 at Skydive Arizona in Eloy. It was an unforgettable experience filled with skydiving, tunnel flying, a tour of Sandy and Brenda Reid’s rigging loft, a hockey game and many memories. Despite the occasional challenge from Mother Nature (with two days weathered out), the event was a great success. Most importantly, it concluded without any major injuries, a testament to the meticulous planning and execution that went into ensuring the well-being of all participants.

The 50 registered participants from 16 Canadian drop zones made an astonishing 920 jumps with only three cutaways (all of which resulted in safe landings). Beyond the statistics lie the heart and soul of the event: the myriad personal achievements and first-time experiences that marked the journey. From jumping out of twin turbines and a DC-3 for the first time, to experiencing their largest formation jumps, participants pushed their limits and celebrated milestones in their skydiving careers.

Several individuals stand out for their dedication and passion toward making this event a huge success. Dave Curtin, the ever-smiling videographer, captured the essence of each jump. Andrew Gliosca not only showcased his skills as a grill master but also as a reliable jumpmaster for the iconic DC-3 aircraft. The packer, Philippe Paré, completed more than 190 pack jobs and ran a packing class for new jumpers.

Nic Wolfe’s innovative and challenging belly jumps added an extra layer of excitement to the event, while Frank Fraseto, the chief pilot at Skydive Arizona, played a pivotal role in orchestrating the inclusion of the legendary World War II DC-3 aircraft. The event’s success also owes much to Albert Boucher, the primary liaison with the drop zone, and Aidan Walters, whose expertise and guidance proved invaluable in the planning process.

Anticipation is already building for Canadian Arizona Casual 2025, scheduled to take place from January 10-20. Skydive Arizona is excited to host the event and has plans to enhance the experience further, including adding a Skyvan as an event aircraft.

Jennifer Gordon | D-41764
Tucson, AZ