Many jumpers are surprised to learn that women make up only about 13 percent of USPA’s membership, because it seems like there are more women than that at their DZs.

It’s no secret that more and more people are turning to giving gifts of experiences instead of material things.

The USPA Board of Directors is in need of a new National Director to fill the vacancy when Shanon Searls joins the USPA staff as the new Director of Sport Promotion on December 17.

USPA has selected Shanon Searls as its new Director of Sport Promotion, succeeding Nancy Koreen, who has served in this position for 10 years. Searls’ start date is December 17.

Results are in for the special election to fill the vacancy for the Central Region seat on the USPA Board of Directors.

In October, the International Skydiving Museum & Hall of Fame held its 10th annual Hall of Fame Celebration at Skydive Perris in California.

The U.S. Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, has represented the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community for decades, slowly and steadily developing their craft.

Over the years, Austin’s unique mix of hard-charging and grounded doesn’t just make its mark on the marketing side of the skydiving industry.

First things first: There’s a lot of debate surrounding this topic. Global climate change remains a charged topic, season after season … especially since those seasons seem to be, well, changing.

The USPA Board of Directors chose Bryan Burke, D-8866, to receive its prestigious Gold Medal for Meritorious Service. Every year, USPA presents a select few recipients with this award, which honors “outstanding Americans who, by their efforts over a period of years, have made significant contributions to the skydiving community.”

During the first week of October, you could hear a variety of languages anywhere on the drop zone: Chinese in the boarding area, French on the packing mats in the hangar, Norwegian around the pool, German at the mock-up and Russian at the manifest window. 

When a competitive skydiver earns a U.S. Parachute Team patch and the opportunity to represent their country at a Fédération Aéronautique Internationale world skydiving event, they are bound to have an amazing experience.

Jeff Weiss makes a sunset swoop at Start Skydiving in Middletown, Ohio.

Kevin Arcamona chases down the base during Skydive Midwest’s Freefly Fest invitational sequential event in Sturtevant, Wisconsin.

You pull one handle and, magically, there is an open parachute over your head. And if that doesn’t work, you just cut away, pull the reserve handle and later buy your rigger their bottle of choice. Voilà! Seems simple enough.

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.