I made my first skydive at Skydive Orange in June of 1993 on a dare from a buddy of mine at James Madison University . I was a little nervous most of the day until I found out who my jumpmaster would be. She was beautiful and a sweetheart, so I quickly felt more at ease. I did a static line and was hooked immediately. I somehow found the time and money to start skydiving as often as possible and began jumping more and more actively every year. I would bring all of my friends from JMU to make their first jumps, and I was jealous of all the instructors who got to share my friends’ amazing adventures with them.

As soon as I had 500 jumps, I got my tandem rating, and I received my AFF rating a year later. I love teaching because I can’t imagine a job with so much responsibility and fun wrapped up into one. The handshakes and hugs I get from students after taking them on their first skydives while they have the biggest smiles I’ve ever seen makes it all worthwhile. The fact that this is actually a job that pays makes it almost seem wrong. (But I think I’ll get over it.)

I highly encourage anyone thinking about making a jump to do so and not to be the person who is still just talking about doing it years from now. I’d love to tell you exactly what it’s like, but it’s beyond description. You’ll have to come see for yourself.

Photo by Dan Wayland


Photo by Eric Babcock