About Us
Airspeed 2013
Click a team member name below for more information.
Thomas Hughes
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Age: 31 Born in: Swindon England Jumps: 13,000 Container: Javelin Odyssey Reserve: Optima 113 Main: Velocity 84 AAD: Vigil Jumpsuit: Airtime Designs Tony Suit, Pit Special with Mega XL booties Altimeter: Audible - Larsen and brusgaard, Optima. Visual - Viso Helmet: Cookie Composites G3 Home Dropzone: Skydive Arizona Reserve Rides: 11 Where and when did you start skydiving? Lake Wales back in 1998 I was given a tandem jump for my birthday and immediately fell in love with it. Joined Airspeed in: I was on the Airspeed 8 way team in 2006 and now rejoined in 2010 for the 2011 season and on. Hobbies: Kiteboarding, Flying planes, freediving, Waterskiing, running. What was your path to Airspeed: 2000 Deland Tunnel Rage, 2002-2003 Sebastian XL, 2004 Arizona Blade, 2005-2006 Deland Fire, 2006 Arizona Airspeed 8 way, 2007-2008 Knight Trax, 2007 Fastrax, 2009 Spaceland Force, 2009 Paraclete XP 8 way. Most memorable medal: 2010 in Bedford with XL What made you start competing? Before I was competing skydiving I used to compete a lot in waterskiing, the transition to Skydiving competition seemed like a natural one for me. Highest average in competition: 24.7 and 30.4 wind tunnel Countries visited for Skydiving: UK, France, Gremany, Spain, Italy, Russia, Japan, Canada, Belgium, Holland, Plans for the future: Win a World Championships in 4-way, win a kiteboarding competition. Competition results: 2000 US Nationals, 4-Way Intermediate-Gold 2002 UK Nationals, 4-Way Open-Gold 2003 UK Nationals, 4-Way Open-Gold 2003 Japanese Nationals, 4-Way-Gold 2003 World Parachuting Championships, 4-Way-4th 2004 SSL Playoffs, 4-way Open-Gold 2004 US Nationals, 4-Way Open-Bronze 2004 NSL Championship, 4-Way Open-Gold 2005 German Nationals, 4-Way Open-Gold 2005 US Nationals Intermediate, 3rd from last (back flying) 2006 US Nationals, 8-Way Open-Gold 2006 2006 US Nationals, 10-Way-Gold 2006 US Nationals, 16-Way-Gold 2006 US Nationals, Overall-Gold 2007 Bedford Challenge, 4-Way Open-silver 2007Anton Malevski Meet, 4-Way Open-Silver 2007 US Nationals, 4-way Open-Silver 2007 US Nationals, 8-Way Open-Silver 2008 Bedford Challenge, 4-Way Open-Silver 2008 Paraclete XP tunnel meet, 4-Way Open-Silver 2008 Paraclete XP Money meet, 4-way Open-Silver 2008 World Championships, 8-Way Open-Silver 2008 World championships, 4-way Open-Silver 2008 US Nationals, 8-Way Open-Siver 2008 US Nationals, VFS 4-way Open-Bronze 2009 US Nationals, 4-Way Open-Silver 2009 US Nationals, 8-Way Open-Bronze 2009 US Nationals, 10-Way Open-Bronze 2009 US Nationals, 16-Way Open-Gold 2010 Dubai Cup Canopy Piloting Speed, Silver 2010 Dubai Cup Canopy Piloting Accuracy, Bronze 2010 Dubai Cup Canopy Piloting Overall, 5th 2010 US Nationals, 8-Way Open-Bronze 2010 US Nationals, 16-Way Open-Gold 2010 US Nationals, 10-Way Open-Gold 2011 USPA Nationals-Gold 4-way Open FS 2011 USPA Nationals-Silver 8, 10, and 16-way 2012 USPA Nationals-Gold 4-way Open FS 2012 USPA Nationals-Silver 8, 10, and 16-way 2012 Dubai World Parachuting Championships, Gold 4-way Open FS |
Thiago Gomes
| Age: 36 Born in: Sao Paulo, Brazil, on February 1st, 1977 Jumps: 5,000+ Container: Javelin Odyssey Reserve: PD 113 Main: PD Velocity 90 AAD: Vigil II Jump Suit: Airtime Designs, Tony suit - Pit Special Helmet: Cookie Composites G3 Altimeter: Pro-track and Viso Home Drop Zone: Skydive Arizona, and Boituva in Brazil Reserve rides: 5 (and about 70 intentional) Where and when did you start jumping? Boituva, Brazil. I was 10 years old when I made my first tandem jump. Then in 1994 I started a Static Line progression at the same drop zone. What made you try skydiving? My parents were both very active skydivers during the late 60’s through the early 80’s. A big portion of my early childhood was spent playing around at the DZ and we always knew it was a matter of time until I tried it. Joined Airspeed: December 2012 Hobbies: I had several but never really stuck to any on a serious or competitive level. Cycling was the last one before I tried running. I’m starting very small but thinking of trying a half marathon in the near future. What was your path to Airspeed? 1997-1998-Os Canibais, 1999-2000-Azul do Ceu (Brazilian National Team in 2000-2001), Skyhigh 2004-2005 (South African National Team in 2004), 2008-2009-Sebastian Tempest, 2010-2012-SDC Rhythm XP. Countries visited for skydiving: Paraguay, Spain, France, South Africa, Swaziland, Croatia, U.A.E. Most memorable medal: 2012 US Nationals 4-Way Open Silver Medal. When everything was said and done I realized it was official; I had made it to the top level in the US. What made you start competing? Like most kids I tried several sports in school and soon realized I wasn’t really a natural. The idea of competing actually scared me a little. After my first Static Line jump that changed completely. Although I was fascinated by the sport of skydiving as a whole, I knew I had found something big and wanted to be a champion. Highest average in competition: 23.8 skydiving and 25.8 wind tunnel Plans for the future: Win a World Championships in 4-way Competition History: 1997-Brazilian Nationals 4-Way FS Rookie-Silver 1998-Brazilian Nationals 4-Way FS Intermediate-Silver 1999-Brazilian Nationals 4-Way FS Open-Bronze 2000-Brazilian Nationals 4-Way FS Open-Gold 2000-Brazilian Nationals 8-Way FS Open-Gold 2004-South African Nationals 4-Way FS Open-Gold 2004-South African Nationals 8-Way FS Open-Silver 2011-US Nationals 16-Way FS Open-Silver 2012-US Nationals 4-Way FS Open-Silver 2012-US Nationals 8-Way FS Open-Silver 2012-US Nationals 16-Way FS Open-Silver |
Mark Kirkby
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Age: 44 Born in: Kendal, England on May 9, 1968 Jumps: Undetermined... I like to guess! Container: Javelin Odyssey Reserve: PD 113 Main: PD Velocity 90 AAD: Vigil Jump Suit: Airtime Designs, Tony suit - Pit Special Helmet: Cookie Composites G3 Altimeter: Pro-track and Viso Home Drop Zone: Skydive Arizona, and Cark in England Reserve rides: Around thirty, I had about twenty in my first 3,000 jumps Where and when did you start jumping? I made my first jump with the British light infantry display team A.K.A the "trailblazers" at the Thruxton DZ in the UK in 1985, then all the others were at Cark where I truly started jumping, my first jump was a static line round parachute jump from 2000 ft, and I sprained my ankle. What made you try skydiving? I was taken to a demo when I was about six years old and I decided then that I would be a jumper, my family asked what I would do when I grew up and I always answered, "a parachute jumper". Joined Airspeed: I was the tail for the original Airspeed four way team that was formed in December of 1993. Hobbies: I like to train for and run Marathons, running gives me a chance to train and perform as an individual, also I am curious to find out what the limit of my endurance can be. What was your path to Airspeed? I found my path in California with a team called Juggernaut in 1992 a variant of the Gumbys, then I joined the 1993 Airmoves team, and then the Airspeed team was formed in 1994. Countries visited for skydiving: England, Belgium, France, USA, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Russia, Italy, Spain. World Records: 4 way 1994 - 29 points, 4 way 1999 - 39 points, 300 way 2002, 16 way 2002 -19 points. Most memorable medal: The overall medal for the 2000 US Nationals when we swept all events, this win showed what versatility the Airspeed project had built over the years, also the high skill of the Airspeed alumni, that the teams at that time could fall back on. What made you start competing? I have competed in all my other previous sports and found it satisfying, and I also love to perform in the moment, I'm really addicted to the challenge of competition. Highest average in competition: 26.0. Plans for the future: Start a family. What is the most positive influence on your skydiving? The positive effect of a real team environment has allowed me to grow and realize my full potential as a competitor. |
Chris Farina
| Age: 39 Born in: San Jose, CA Jumps: 11,000+ Container: Javelin Odyssey Reserve: PD Optimum 113 Main: Velocity 84 AAD: Vigil Jump Suit: Tony Suit, Pit Special with Mega XL booties Helmet: Cookie Composites G3 Home Drop Zone: Skydive Arizona Reserve rides: 33 Where and when did you start jumping? Upstate New York, Rochester Skydivers. On a whim with my best friend... we decided to go make a static-line jump. Joined Airspeed: December 2012 Hobbies: Motorcycles, Guns, Hockey, and my dogs. What was your path to Airspeed? 1999-Jestream, 2000-2002-Formula4, 2004 Deguello, 2005-Spark, 2006-2011 Perris Fury, 2012-SDC Rhythm XP. Countries visited for skydiving: UK, Canada, Singapore, Dubai, Czech Republic. Most memorable medal: 2012 US Nationals 4-Way Open Silver Medal. What made you start competing? I’ve always been competitive from my soccer, hockey, and martial arts as a kid. After about 500 jumps I was looking for a way to increase my love of skydiving and competing seemed like the way to go. Highest average in competition: 24.3 skydiving and 29.9 wind tunnel. Plans for the future: Win a World Championships in 4-way. Competition history: 2001 4-Way Intermediate Formation Skydiving Champion 2001 8-Way Intermediate Formation Skydiving Silver Medalist 2002 16-Way Open Formation Skydiving Bronze Medalist 2003 8-Way Intermediate Formation Skydiving Bronze Medalist 2004 16-Way Open Formation Skydiving Bronze Medalist 2005 8-Way Intermediate Formation Skydiving Bronze Medalist 2005 10-Way Open Formation Skydiving Bronze Medalist 2006 4-Way Open Formation Skydiving 4th Place 2006 Player Coached 8-Way Intermediate Formation Skydiving Bronze Medalist Team 2006 10-Way Open Formation Skydiving Champion 2006 16-Way Open Formation Skydiving Bronze Medalist 2007 4-Way Open Formation Skydiving 4th Place 2007 10-Way Open Formation Skydiving Silver Medalist 2008 4-Way Open Formation Skydiving Silver Medalist 2008 10-Way Open Formation Skydiving Bronze Medalist 2008 16-Way Open Formation Skydiving Champion 2009 4-Way Open Formation Skydiving Bronze Medalist (24.3 avg) 2009 16-Way Open Formation Skydiving Champion 2010 Shamrock Showdown, 4-Way Open Formation Skydiving, Bronze Medalist 2010 Performance Designs Battle at Midway, 4-Way Open Formation Skydiving, Silver Medalist 2010 4-Way Open Formation Skydiving Silver Medalist (24.2ave.) 2010 16-Way Open Formation Skydiving Champion (Official National & Unofficial World Record 21pts.) 2011 4-Way Open Formation Skydiving, Bronze Medalist 2011 4-Way Open Formation Skydiving, Dubai World Cup, 4th Place 2012 4-Way Open Formation Skydiving, Battle at Midway, Champion 2012 4-Way Open Formation Skydiving, Silver Medalist (23.8 avg) 2012 16-Way Open Formation Skydiving, Silver Medalist Wind Tunnel 2007 Arizona Gauntlet 4-Way Silver Medalist 2008 Arizona Gauntlet 4-Way Silver Medalist 2008 Bedford World Challenge 4-Way Bronze Medalist 2009 Bedford World Challenge 4-Way Silver Medalist (Unofficial Record 59 pts.) 2009 Paraclete World Championships, Champion 2010 Bedford World Challenge, 4-Way, 4th Place (Unofficial Record 66 pts.) 2012 iFly Singapore Tunnel World Championships 4-Way Silver Medalist |
Justin Price - Video
| Age: 28 Born in: Houston, TX Jumps: 6,000+ Container: Javelin Odyssey Reserve: PD Optimum 113 Main: Comp Velocity 79 AAD: Vigil 2 Jump Suit: Tony Suit Helmet: Cookie Composites Altimeter: Audible - Larsen & Brusgaard Viso Ratings: USPA AFF, Coach, FFA Senior Rigger Home Drop Zone: Skydive Arizona Reserve rides: 5 Where and when did you start jumping? I made my first skydive on my 16th birthday at Skydive USA (SUSA). My instructors were my parents and my ground school instructor was a good friend, Tom Bryant, who was sharing his birthday with me. What made you try skydiving? I was a DZ kid from a very early age and spent most of my weekends loading planes, packing parachutes and catching tandems at my Dad's, Chuck Akers, DZ. Joined Airspeed: 2013 Hobbies: Basketball, Snow Boarding, Weight Lifting, Canopy Piloting Competitions What was your path to Airspeed? I changed my focus from College to skydiving in 2007. I left Texas and started packing for Fastrax where I met people like Thomas Hughes, Nicklas Hemlin and Stuart Shoenfeld who helped me with work and competition opportunities.
Most memorable jump: 2012 - my mom, dad, and sister did our first four way at Skydive Spaceland. We turned more points than Airspeed. What made you start competing? I have always had a need to push myself and stack myself up next to my peers. Plans for the future: Medal at CP Nationls, make the US CP team, medal in two-way CF, win a world championship in 4-way FS. Competition history: |
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