...then these are the guys you need to talk to!
Jon DeVore
Sport: Skydiving, Freeflying
Home: Juneau, Alaska
AKA: Alaska Jon
Jumps: 16,000 skydives
Bio: Jon DeVore is the perfect combination of skill and luck. His skill has made him one of the most talented freeflyers and canopy pilots in the world. But it was luck that saved his life when he had a malfunction that kept his canopy from opening causing him to hit the ground at close to 100 mph. Not only did he cheat death that day, he walked away completely unharmed, even making more skydives that same day. Jon is motivated by his love for his sport, with a constant goal of educating the public he has created the Red Bull Blade Raid, a ski slalom event that forces competitors to fly their parachutes close to the ground at speeds up to 70 mph. With his creativity and devotion, the sport of skydiving will grow and it will have Jon DeVore to thank.
Charles Bryan
Sport: Skydiving, Freeflying, BASE jumping
Home: Chicago, Illinois
AKA: Chuck The Truck
Jumps: 13,000 skydives, 450 BASE jumps
Bio: Charles Bryan has lived a fast life. At the age of 21 Charles was the bassist for a band that was touted as the next Nirvana. But the Rock ‘n Roll lifestyle wasn’t enough for him and as the band toured Charles would find the nearest dropzone for a little “air therapy”. Skydiving showed him how fast he could live when, in 1997 Charles became the fastest human in suborbital freefall reaching a mindblowing speed of 327 mph. Skydiving has been good to Charles introducing him to his wife Annica, the mother of his two children Emma and Rocket.
As a member of the Red Bull Air Force Charles is getting all of the time in the sky he can handle performing skydiving and BASE jumping demonstrations around the world.
Andy Farrington
Sport: Skydiving, Freeflying, Canopy Swooping, BASE jumps
Home: Kapowsin, Washington
AKA: Air Farrington
Jumps: 14,000 Skydives, 98 BASE jumps
Bio: The youngest member of any team is usually considered a “rookie” but not Andy “Air” Farrington. This third generation skydiver had close to 100 jumps before he was even born. At age 16 Farrington put on his own canopy and hasn’t taken it off yet. Growing up at the dropzone started by his grandfather and now run by his parents helped Andy accumulate 14,000 skydives and develop the skills to be considered one of the most talented all-around skydivers on the Red Bull Air Force.
Luke Aikins
Sport: Skydiving, Canopy Swooping
Home: Kapowsin, Washington
Jumps: 12,000 Skydives, 100 BASE jumps
Bio: Genetically, Luke Aikins had no choice but to skydive, he is a third-generation skydiver who grew up jumping with cousin and Red Bull Air Force teammate Andy Farrington. Most people look forward to their 16th birthday so that they can start driving a car, the first thing Luke did was to go for a skydive. His addiction to the sky hasn’t lightened up at all, now with 12,000 skydives and 3 world records when Luke isn’t skydiving you can find him trying to flip, loop and roll his aerobatic plane over the Puget Sound.
Mike Swanson
Sport: Skydiving, Freeflying.
Home: Williston, Vermont
AKA: Softy
Jumps: 16,000 Skydives, 40 BASE jumps
Bio: Mike Swanson can’t sit still, growing up on a dropzone he quickly amounted over 16,000 skydives. As one of the most experienced freeflyers in the world Mike has organized and participated in the largest freefly formations to date. Success in skydiving hasn’t slowed his roll at all, still jumping as close to seven days a week Mike is one of the most sought after skydiving coaches in the world. His quiet demeanor completely contradicts his hyperactive attention span.
Eli Thompson
Sport: Skydiving, Freeflying
Home: Taft, California
Jumps: 14,400 Skydives
Bio: At the age of 19 Eli Thompson entered the sport of skydiving, screaming all the way down to the ground. From day one it was the rush of the air and the freedom that it brought that kept Eli coming back. 14,400 skydives later he hasn’t lost any of the love for the sport. Eli is a multiple world championships in Freeflying, skills that lead him to instruct the Army Golden Knights and the Navy LeapFrogs. When not skydiving you can find Eli on the Discovery Channel show Stunt Junkies.
JC Colclasure
Sport: Skydiving, Freeflying, Canopy Swooping
Hometown:
Jumps: 13,500 skydives, over 100 BASE jumps
Bio: Though he did have one failed BASE jump with a trash bag as a parachute when he was 5 year-old, JC got a late start into skydiving with his first jump happening on his 23 birthday. Sure JC was a late bloomer but the boy can’t sit still; making quick work of his first 13,500 skydives. JC is more at home in the air then on the ground. An all around athlete JC can fly his massive 6’6” frame with the best of them whether it is freeflying or under canopy.
Clint Clawson
Sport: Skydiving, Freeflying, Canopy Swooping
Hometown: Kaialua, Hawaii
Jumps: 13,000 skydives and 100 BASE jumps
Bio: Hawaii native Clint Clawson first skydive was at the ripe old age of 9, he didn’t need his school’s guidance councilor to help him decide at 16 years old to start jumping full time. 13,000 skydives later he is still living his dream performing at demos and coaching skydiving all over the world. True to his Hawaiian roots Clint is one of the most laidback and sincere guys you will ever me. Last year Clint also one the award for “Best Tan” on the team. The tan is also a product of Hawaii.
Francisco Neri
Sport: Skydiving, Canopy Swooping
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Jumps: 10,000 skydives
AKA: Cisco
Bio: A native of Venezuela Cisco quickly became a force in skydiving by placing 1st in the speed event, 3rd in the distance event and 4th overall in the Canopy Piloting World Cup. But Cisco’s focus is difference, his passion with skydiving is to show the general public how beautiful and dynamic the sport is. This is what lead him to become one of the premier aerial videographer and photographer in the world. With motivated individuals like Cisco the sport of skydiving will undoutable grow in size and respect.
