Above: Photo by Mark Kirschenbaum/Hypoxic.
Derek Thomas made his first jump in 1975 and has since built a skydiving resume worthy of a standing ovation. He has been a British national champion in 4-way, 8-way and 16-way formation skydiving, and has been on every large FS record since the first 100-way in 1986. Today, he is one of the most highly regarded riggers in the sport, with a wealth of knowledge to pass on to those interested in learning the craft. After 49 years in skydiving, Thomas still approaches the sport with passion and commitment to excellence.
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“If you asked me to say something bad about Derek, I would be at a loss. He is one of the nicest and most honest guys I have met in over 50 years in the industry.” —Bill Booth, Parachutist profilee #2
Nickname: Derro
Age: 67
Height: 6’1”
Birthplace: Feltham, London, England
Nationality: Dual British-American
Marital Status: Divorced, more than once
Pets: Had a white Siberian Husky named T’Lun
Occupation: Life-long family relationship with harness-and-container manufacturing. Partner in a military sales company and currently running The Elite Rigging Academy.
Pet Peeves: Cigarettes and people that talk a load of bollocks but think they know everything.
Hobbies: Skydiving, skiing, motorcycles and grandkids
Favorite Food: Chocolate
Life Philosophy: Don’t be too serious. Be happy.
Neat packer or trash packer? Duh! Super neat, of course …
Team Name: Not Responsible Toy Company
Sponsors: Myself, Advanced Aerospace Designs Vigil, Alti-2, KISS Helmets, Larsen & Brusgaard, Performance Designs, Sun Path, Tony Suits
Container: Sun Path Javelin Odyssey
Main Canopy: PD Storm 150
Reserve: PD Optimum 143R
AAD: Vigil Cuatro
Discipline: Formation Skydiving
Home Drop Zone: Skydive City Zephyrhills in Florida
Licenses/Ratings: D-29063; AFF-I and PRO; FAA Master Parachute Rigger and Designated Parachute Rigger Examiner
Total Jumps: 12,000-plus
FS: 10,000-ish
Tandems: 1,500
CF: 800-1,000 (mostly after FS)
Accuracy: 1,000 (mostly after CF)
Demos: 100-plus
Largest completed formation: 400-way
Cutaways: 7
Most people don’t know this about me:
I was a professional actor on the stages of London as a child.
What drew your interest to rigging?
I wasn’t drawn, I was ordained.
What advice do you have for people considering becoming a rigger?
Rigging isn’t cool and isn’t easy, but it’s fantastically rewarding, because you become responsible for taking care of all your peers’ lives … It’s empowering, but with compassion and humility.
Is there one jump that stands out the most?
A two-way over Mount Everest with my son. Oh, and the 50-way over the Egyptian pyramids wasn’t bad …
Who were your first skydiving mentors?
I’ve definitely had a few. Firstly, my dad, Lofty Thomas. He started it all in our family. His best buddy and the chief instructor at our local DZ, Ronnie O’Brian. I believed he would never let me get hurt or die, but six feet away from the step of the Cessna on my first jump, I realized there was nothing he could do to help me—I was on my own, and learned to look after myself that very moment. John “Shanks” Shankland took me under his wing and taught me to be a skydiver. Later in my career, Rocky Evans, with whom I did 200-250 AFF jumps, learning from the man who developed it. Over the years I have learned from and taught many of my best friends: Patrick Passe, Herman Landsman, Mitch Decoter, Jerry Bird, Jake Brake … even now I get to run over to Europe and hang out with a couple of my best friends, Milko [Hodgkinson] and Siân [Stokes], still teaching and learning.
What’s your favorite jump plane?
Any tailgate. I’ve been fortunate in my career to have maybe a couple hundred C-130 jumps.
Any suggestions for students?
Listen.
The toughest thing to do in skydiving is …
Again … Listen!
Is there one jump you would do over again?
I have been blessed with so many magnificent jumps all over our beautiful planet, but I have to say there are a couple of round-10 competition jumps I wish I could get back. Sometimes we manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of glory because of nerves.
What’s the coolest thing you can do in the air?
Continue to save my ass.
What do you consider your most significant achievement?
My children. I have one natural child, Kyle, who is now a great father himself. And I have five other children whose upbringing I have had the pleasure and privilege to be a part of: Vincent, Jason, Spencer, Aiden and Sabrina.
Suggestions for USPA:
Try to stop being self-serving or political. Start doing what’s good for the members.
Greatest competition moment?
I’ve had a couple unlikely wins against much better or experienced competitors, and obviously winning my first nationals and going on to represent my country.
Worst skydiving moment?
Hitting a picnic table at a very high speed.
What drives your competitive spirit?
I’m a natural-born winner. I would say I hate to lose, but that’s not true. I can be beaten, but I never lose. If you give your all and you’re beaten, it doesn’t make you a loser. You’re a loser when you didn’t give everything.
What do you like least about the sport?
Those who talk like they know it all, but don’t know s**t.
What are your future goals?
To keep going and learning as long as possible. Oh, and to keep setting new world records.
What is your perfect day like?
If you asked me that question 20 years ago, it would be simple: skydiving. Today, it’s still skydiving, but now there’s more family. I have two crazy little grandchildren, Edith and Arthur, and time with them is priceless.
If you could do a fantasy two-way with anybody, whom would it be with and where would it take place?
My dad. Anywhere.
Explain Derek Thomas in five words:
Kind, loving, giving, caring, fun-loving.