The American classic movie “The Wizard of Oz” laid the (yellow) brickwork for a one-of-a-kind Sisters in Skydiving event at Skydive Arizona in Eloy January 26-28. Amy Benton and Chazi Blacksher (affectionately known as “the Working Girls”) collaborated with Larsen & Brusgaard to bring more than 90 women together for a weekend of sharing, giving, jumping, tunnel flying, winning prizes and dressing in costume.
The munchkins who arrived early participated in a Thursday night huck jam (where wearing onesies was encouraged but not required) at the SkyVenture Arizona wind tunnel. On Friday morning, the good witches (aka load organizers) left their brooms at home and took the ladies on coached skydives in all orientations. In addition, Taya Weiss and a team of wingsuit coaches ran a first-wingsuit-flight course. The day also included twister time: tunnel flights for beginning belly flyers to advanced vertical formation skydiving competitors.
After dinner on Friday, participants broke into groups to follow the yellow-brick road to 12 stations staffed by vendors (Firebird, Innovative Parachute Technologies, Larsen & Brusgaard, Mirage Systems, Performance Designs, Rigging Innovations and Square 2), Skydive Arizona (a Twin Otter and Skyvan) and the good witches. The event included a game of Twister. The best Lollypop Guild dancers won pack jobs, and the women who could do the most pushups earned balloon jumps.
A group photo kicked off an early and chilly Saturday morning. Then the ladies who signed up for big-way camps met with Brianne Thompson of AXIS Flight School for formation skydiving or Sara Curtis of VFS team Arizona Arsenal for head-down skydiving. Lew Hart offered canopy coaching, and the Pink Mafia Sisterhood took women up on Barbie Doll jumps.
Jumpers in spectacular costumes—some Oz-related and others not—graced the Emerald City party on Saturday night. Firebird awarded one lucky registrant with a free custom container, and Advanced Aerospace Designs, Aerodyne Research, Alti-2, Bev Suits, Cookie Helmets, Green Light Skydiving Gear, Icarus World, Innovative Parachute Technologies, Larsen & Brusgaard, Mirage Systems, Ouragan Suits, Performance Designs, Rigging Innovations, Square 2, SSK Industries, United Parachute Technologies and Vertical Suits graciously gave to the prize pool, as well.
Sunday’s near-twister-level winds and dust prohibited jumping, but Performance Designs kept the ladies busy with trivia and awarded tank tops to the winners. Firebird also opened its doors for a factory tour. The event provided a safe learning environment packed with fun for ladies of all experience levels. As Dorothy may have said, “There’s no place like Skydive Arizona!”
Chazi Blacksher | D-28539
Eloy, Arizona