Skysurfing has experienced a comeback in recent years, and fortunately, the drop zones of the world are helping to keep our skies safe by not blindly allowing just anyone to grab a board and attempt it. Most DZs insist that new skysurfers receive proper guidance from those with experience … and for good reason.

So, late in the fall of 2014, you watched Alan Eustace get tugged 25 miles into the stratosphere by a balloon that for all the world looked like a big, white map pin.

Arturo Espinosa celebrates his 300th jump and 43rd birthday by making a hybrid with Manrique Ramirez Sabat and Bernardo Jimenez Vega at Skydive Pura Vida.

From left, Bryce Schunke, Travis Mickle, Gilles Gueveneux and Dylan Mitchell enjoy a wingsuit skydive at the Flock ‘til You Drop event at Sky’s the Limit in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

Brought to you by three-time British Freefly Champion Joel Strickland. Strickland is a full-time freefly coach and tunnel-flying professional and a Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Artistic Events Judge. Jumpers can read more of his writing or contact him for tunnel camps in Europe at joelstrickland.net.

With the dog days of summer behind us and the home stretch of the skydiving season approaching, it’s important for jumpers to keep their guards up. July is typically the most fatal month in sheer numbers, but the fatality rate stays consistently high through October, even as the season begins winding down.

At its summer board meeting in Arlington, Virginia, the USPA Board approved significant changes to Skydiver’s Information Manual Section 7-2—Professional Exhibition Rating.

If you’re a northern jumper, winter gives you the opportunity to travel south, experience new DZs and get a break from the freezing weather. However, if you aren’t able to travel to warmer climates during the winter months, you’ll need to store your gear.

A freefall photographer caught this damage to his closing loop, which was relatively new, while packing during a busy weekend of jumping.

Diana Martin checks her altitude during an AFF jump with instructors Erin Engelsen (left) and Dennis Dorman at Skydive the Ranch in Gardiner, New York.

Jay Luccioni (black and yellow rig), D-9753, celebrates the 40th anniversary of his first jump with friends at Aerohio Skydiving Center in Rittman, Ohio. 

After 42 years, Strong Enterprises moved to a much newer and more ergonomic facility about seven miles northeast of its previous location. Effective October 1, the new address is 6448 Pinecastle Blvd., Suite 104, Orlando, FL 32809. Phone numbers and email addresses remain the same.

Mile High Hub recently released a worldwide skydiving event calendar for jumpers looking for the next boogie, competition or specialty event.

Skydive Elsinore in California hosted its hot summer boogie, the 11th Karlfornia Boneanza—Trailer Trash Bash, July 26-28.

Skydive Spaceland-Houston in Rosharon, Texas, hosted its third annual Pre-Nationals Formation Skydiving Competition July 20-21. Five teams battled it out in 4-way and 8-way and gained a unique opportunity to get a feel of what it’s like to compete on the national stage.

Dave Lunardi releases the ashes of longtime jumper Terry Zimmerlin, D-12981, at the Cleveland Skydiving Center in Garrettsville, Ohio.

July 17-18, Air Sports Group and the General Sports Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted the inaugural Swoop Freestyle International Open in downtown Jeddah. The first professional skydiving event in the kingdom featured 18 competitors from 15 countries.

On August 10, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Chris Wagner presented Jim Burriss, D-9540, with the USPA Regional Achievement Award.

Melvin Brewing, a local microbrewery in Alpine, Wyoming, holds an annual beer festival, Madness Days. The brewery asked local jumpers Bill and Carol Jones to organize tandem skydiving for this year’s event, which it held July 19-21. The result was a beer boogie featuring skydiving rather than the usual skydiving boogie featuring beer!

On August 12, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao swore in Stephen Dickson as the 18th administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.