Marie Clark leads a wingsuit flock. Photo by Mark Kirschenbaum/Hypoxic.Above: Jumpers fly a horny gorilla during the boogie. Photo by Mark Kirschenbaum/Hypoxic.
What’s the longest running and biggest boogie in Southern California? Chicks Rock! Started in 2001 by Skydive Elsinore owner Karl Gulledge with the help of one of his female staff members, the boogie that celebrates women in the sport of skydiving is still going strong 23 years later. The October 4-6 boogie featured plenty of aircraft choices to get jumpers to altitude, and attendees made more than 2,050 skydives, all in 100-degree-plus temperatures. Although the boogie always attracts several male skydivers, the emphasis is empowerment of female skydivers in an environment that facilitates learning from some of the leading ladies of the sport.
As always at the boogie, after each day of fun in the sky, the evenings featured entertainment. On Friday, jumpers enjoyed the traditional beer-pong contest and a new addition: karaoke. Saturday’s night swoops and barbeque dinner led into the event’s famous costume party with the theme of “Nightmare on Cereal Street.” D.J. Moo Tang entertained, and those who sported the best costumes received amazing gifts from Axcel Energy, Bonehead, Freefall Data Systems and Larsen & Brusgaard. Onsite vendors Advanced Aerospace Designs Vigil, Apex BASE, Down Low Gear, Fluid Wings, Gold State Gear, Performance Designs, Sound Sentri and United Parachute Technologies made amazing donations, as did Alti-2, Cookie Helmets, iFly Oceanside, JYRO, Merlin Suits, Para Gear, Rig Sleeve, Sunrise Manufacturing Wings, Sun Path and Velocity Sports Equipment.
Although many stayed up late on the previous night, Sunday’s blue skies and helicopter jumps motivated the skydivers to get up and on the last loads before they had to leave. Skydive Elsinore will host its next Chicks Rock Boogie on the first weekend of October in 2025. It’s a tradition that no one will want to miss.
Mary SantAngelo | D-9944
Perris, California