• First jump: April 10, 1999
• Ratings:
  • USPA Coach
• Licenses:
  • A-34035
  • B-23240
  • C-31318
  • D-24347
• Jumps:
  • Overall: 1,500+
  • Video: 700
• Freefall Time: 25+ hours

I had thought about skydiving various times throughout my life but I had never followed up on it until April 10, 1999 when I signed up for a tandem jump. It was an experience that is really not justified by words but if I had to put it into words then I would say, it was freakin' awesome!

At that time I thought that I would just jump once, check it off on my list of things to accomplish in life, and then move on. Well, let's try it one more time. Well, let's sign up for the AFF (Accelerated Free Fall) course so I can learn to jump by myself and that will be it. Half way through the AFF course I was hooked.

Since then there are very few weekends that I am not at the drop zone. Since I was jumping so much I didn't see my non-jumping friends for some time so rather then take a break from jumping I've started recruiting my friends to come and jump. So far my aunt, the drummer from my band, and tons of friends have come to Skydive Virginia to check it out. All of them loved it and are planning to do it again. It turns out that there is so much more to this sport then falling out of a plane. There are many subtle nuances in learning to fly with skill and it takes time to learn. It's a challenge. There is always something more to learn or to improve upon, which keeps it interesting. I have now sampled may different types of skydiving: Relative Work (RW) which is creating freefall formations with multiple jumpers, Canopy Relative Work (CReW) which is creating formations while under canopy, free flying, flying a Birdman suit, and freefall videography. While I have come a long way since my first tandem jump I still have many things to learn and improve upon. That is what keeps me coming back. I had originally chosen Skydive Virginia because their web site is very informative and because of the close proximity to Lake Anna (ten minutes away), which is where I used to spend a lot of time...until I discovered skydiving! Although now, after having seen all other local drop zones, it turns out that I got lucky and picked the safest and most friendly drop zone. So, come on out to Skydive Virginia and find out what I'm talking about for yourself. And when you do, don't forget to get a video of your jump - because if you don't you'll regret it! Watching your video (which you'll do hundreds of times) is kind of like reliving that awesome moment. The only thing I regret about skydiving is that I didn't start sooner.

Sin Seriously,
Chris