About Us
Airspeed Odyssey 2011
Click a team member name below for more information.
Josh Hall
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Age: 31 Born in: Orange, CA Jumps: 9,500 Container: Javelin Odyssey Reserve: Optimum 126 Main: Velocity 90 and 96 AAD: Vigil II Jump Suit: Tony Suit Altimeter: Audible - Larsen and brusgaard, Pro track. Visual - Viso Helmet: Cookie Composites G2 Home Dropzone: Skydive Arizona Reserve Rides: 7 Where and when did you start skydiving? Perris Valley, February of 1999 Joined Airspeed in: October 2010 Hobbies: Mountaineering, snowboarding, running, and scuba diving. What was your path to Airspeed: 2001 Perris Fall Guys, 2003 Perris Mud Hens, 2004 Elsinore GT, 2005 - 2010 Perris Fury Most memorable medal: 2009 in Bedford with Fury What made you start competing? I've always loved to play and watch sports. Soon after I started skydiving I was introduced to 4 way, it seemed natural to start competing. Highest average in competition: 24.2 and 29.9 wind tunnel Countries visited for Skydiving: UK Plans for the future: Win a World Championships in 4-way, climb bigger and higher mountains, spend more time with my family.
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Thomas Hughes
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Age: 30 Born in: Swindon England Jumps: 11,000 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 G2 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 |
Niklas Hemlin
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Age: 33 Born in: Gothenburg, Sweden Jumps: 12,000+ Container: Javelin Odyssey Reserve: Optimum 106 Main: Velocity 84 AAD: Vigil II Jump Suit: Airtime Designs, Tony Suit - Pit Special with XL Booties Helmet: Cookie Composites G2 Altimeter: Audible - Larsen & Brusgaard, Optima, Visual - Viso Home Drop Zone: Skydive Arizona Reserve rides: 12 Where and when did you start jumping? Gothenburg Skydiving Club, May 1994 What made you try skydiving? I was always intrigued by skydiving and took the opportunity when a kickboxing coach of mine solicited interest. I was 15 years old. Joined Airspeed: 2010 Hobbies: Family, Skydiving, Running, Cycling, and Cars What was your path to Airspeed? 1996 Swedish 4-way Project, 1997 - 1999 Velox (Swedish National Team), 2000 Generation FX - Alternate, 2001 PD Blue, 2002 Jet Stream (Player Coach), 2003 - 2007 Fastrax, 2010 Arizona Airspeed. Skydiving Influences: The original Airspeed team Countries visited for skydiving: Sweden, Belgium, Turkey, Portugal, Russia, and United Kingdom Most memorable medal: My first skydiving medals. 1996 Swedish Nationals Silver 4-way & 8-way What made you start competing? It's in my nature. I like to compete to push myself to my best and measure my best against my fellow competitors. I started my competitive skydiving career through the Swedish Skydiving Project who's goal was to discover and develop Swedish 4-way talents in the 90's. The Project gave me the "foot-in-the-door" to get to where I am today. I LOVE competing! Highest average in competition: 24.7 and 27.9 (Tunnel) Plans for the future: Winning the World Meet in 4-way. Continue to learn and improve my freeflying. What is the most positive influence on your skydiving? My teammates and my fellow competitors. Competition results: 1996 Swedish Nationals, 2nd Place - 4-way Open (Swedish 4-way Project) 1996 Swedish Nationals, 2nd Place - 8-way Open (Swedish 8-way Project) 1997 Americas Cup - Sebastian, 1st Place - 4-way Open (Team Velox) 1997 Swedish Nationals, 1st Place - 4-way Open (Team Velox) 1997 World Meet - Turkey, 11th Place - 4-way Open (Team Velox) 1998 Swedish Nationals, 1st Place - 4-way Open (Team Velox) 1998 World Cup - Portugal, 8th Place - 4-way Open (Team Velox) 1999 Swedish Nationals, 1st Place - 4-way Open (Team Velox) 2000 US Nationals, 2nd Place - 4-way Open (FX) Alternate 2001 US Nationals, 4th Place - 4-way Open (PD Blue) 2002 US Nationals, 7th Place - 4-way Advance (Jetstream) Player Coach 2003 US Nationals, 7th Place - 4-way Advance (Fastrax) Player Coach 2004 US Nationals, 3th Place - 4-way Open (Fastrax) Player Coach 2005 Valentine's Meet, 3rd Place - 4-way Open (Fastrax) 2005 Malevsky Cup, 5th Place 4-way Open (Fastrax) 2005 World Cup, 5th Place - 4-way Open (Fastrax) Player Coach 2005 US Nationals, 5th Place - 4-way Open (Fastrax) Player Coach 2006 Malevsky Cup, 3rd Place 4-way Open (Fastrax) 2006 US Nationals, 2nd Place - 4-way Open (Fastrax) 2007 World Challenge (Tunnel), 2nd Place 4-way Open (Fastrax) 2007 Malevsky Cup, 2nd Place 4-way Open (Fastrax) 2007 US Nationals, 2nd Place - 4-way Open (Fastrax) |
Mark Kirkby
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Age: 42 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 GAS Helmet 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. |
Nick Grillet
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Age: 25 Born in: Sioux City, IA, August 22, 1985 Jumps: 3,500+ Container: Javelin Odyssey Reserve: PD Optimum 113 Main: Velocity 90 AAD: Vigil Jump Suit: Airtime Designs, Tony Suit - Pit Special Helmet: Cookie Composites GAS Helmet Altimeter: Audible - Larsen & Brusgaard, Optima, Visual – Viso Ratings: AFF-I, Coach, PRO, Senior Rigger, S&TA Home Drop Zone: Skydive Arizona Reserve rides: 1 malfunction, 3 intentional Where and when did you start jumping? Deland, FL March 2003 What made you try skydiving? My father is a skydiver and I grew up around the sport. I started packing parachutes when I was 9 and have been immersed in the sport ever since. I made my first tandem when I was 17 after spending 8 years trying to convince my Mom I was ready. Spent my spring break of my junior year of high school in Deland with my old man doing AFF, tunnel, canopy course, and left with my A-license. Skydiving Influences: Sandy Grillet (aka my old man) and Shannon Pilcher Joined Airspeed: 2010 Hobbies: Paragliding/ground launching, fitness, free diving, yachting in the keys, movies, delicious food, and chillin’ with my girl. What was your path to Airspeed? Microburst 2003-2006, Teiwaz, Elsinore BTE 2009, Speedy Kids XP 2010 Countries visited for skydiving: Australia, Brazil and Canada eh Most memorable medal: Arizona Airspeed 16-way 2010 USPA Nationals, Gold. What made you start competing? Basically, I’ve been competing since I was a kid. Hockey, baseball, and of course Hungry Hungry Hippo. I have always enjoyed the team environment, working together with teammates to achieve our common goal. So once I started jumping, it was immediate. At 30 jumps, I was outside center on my first 4-way team. Highest average in competition: 17.3 Plans for the future: Win the World Meet in 4-way FS. Competitive swooping. Learn to freefly. Get married and have a family. Competition history: 2003- 2006 Multiple NPSL Meets 2007-2010 Shamrock Showdown 2007 USPA Nationals, 16-way Silver 2008-2009 NSL Championships 2009 SoCal Skydiving League 2009 USPA Nationals 2010 USPA Nationals, 16-way Gold |
Bill Schmitz - Video
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Age: 29 Born in: Philadelphia, PA 1981 Jumps: 1,600+ Container: Javelin Odyssey Reserve: PD Optimum 113 Main: Velocity 90 AAD: Vigil Jump Suit: Airtime Designs, Tony Suit – Camera Suit Helmet: Cookie Composites Altimeter: Audible - Larsen & Brusgaard, Optima, Visual – Viso Ratings: Coach, Tandem Home Drop Zone: Skydive Arizona Reserve rides: 1 malfunction, 1 intentional Where and when did you start jumping? Skydive Cross Keys, NJ Oct. 2004 What made you try skydiving? I went with my father and several friends to do tandems. I knew as soon as I landed that I was hooked and I was the only one in the group to continue jumping. Skydiving Influences: I have met too many great people along the way to list. Joined Airspeed: 2011 Hobbies: Skydiving, Wakeboarding, and Photography What was your path to Airspeed? Cameraman for various teams and large formations. Countries visited for skydiving: Panama Most memorable medal: Canopy Piloting Advanced 2009 USPA Nationals, Silver. What made you start competing? I got into competition when I joined a rookie team as cameraman so I could learn to film and increase my jump numbers. What started as a means of skydiving has turned into a passion of mine. Plans for the future: Win Gold at the World Meet in 4-way FS. Continue to push my skydiving career to the highest level. Competition history: |
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