Cindy Beamer

The sign-up table

Jim Beck

Home DZ:

Aircraft:

What I Do There:

Number of jumps: 2600

Years in sport: 6

Other stuff:

How did I get started?

I thought this was great and ran to my parents to tell them about this great new thing I wanted to do as soon as I was 16. They assured me that I would need different parents if I were ever to get legal parental consent. By the time I turned 18 I had been in college for a week and had no money for the parachute jump I still wanted very much to make.

A bunch of other stuff got in the way during the next 13 years until we get to age 31. A very close friend of mine and I had been talking about trying it for years. At this time we spent almost every weekend climbing rocks or ice, it was tough to think we'd have to spend a weekend home in Rochester and NOT go climbing, just to make a parachute jump, but we did. It was the last year our DZ used rounds, so I was able to have the T-10 experience which has now become so hard to get. We both loved it and returned the next day for a second static line jump. The following weekend I did my first AFF jump and I've been hooked ever since.

email: jimbeck@frontiernet.net

Feel free to email me with any suggestions or questions for this year, or any comments or criticisms from past years.
I look forward to seeing everyone in August and making many enjoyable skydives!


This page last updated 2/21/97

Bruce "Buddha" Berger

From Chicago, Illinois. "Pigs With Wings"

Liam "Lemonhead" Brennan

Exeter, Ontario, Canada (in the middle of nowhere)
Phone: (519) 235 2506

Occupation: Police Officer (and it shows)
Years in Sport: 9
Number of Jumps: 1700
Load organizer at the WFFC in 95, 96, 97
CSPA Instructor and Coach, PFF (that's like AFF, eh!)
CSPA Exhibition Jump Rated
Freefall Photographer

Memberof Skydive SWOOP, Grand Bend, Ontario, home of the 1995 and 1996 Canadian National Skydiving Championships. SWOOP set a new all-Canadian record 50-way on July 6, 1996, organized by Mike Crow with yours truly as captain of the Twin Otter.

How I got started...

Well, I used to be this up-tight kid with long hair, and then I joined the Ontario Provincial Police. Now that can shoot people whenever I want, I'm much more relaxed, likeable person. Until became a cop, I needed a release at weekends, and figured skydiving would do it...

We had a lot of success putting dives together at tent #1 over the past two years, so come and join in. Mike Crow and I will build up to a 20+ way group each over the course of the day, then put it all together for a big way in the evening. You don't have to jump all day with us; come and go as you please, you're on vacation....but be there for the big ways, it'll be fun...

Jack Churchill

The sign-up table

And when he is not working at the sign-up table it doesn't stop there. He occasionally organizes specia skydives.

Mike Cook

Greetings! My name is Mike Cook. It all started back in 1988 when I saw the Army Golden Knights jump at an air show in Peoria, Il. It was the first time that I remember seeing someone jump out of an airplane and I got to tell you I was excited. I ran up to one of the jumpers while he was packing and asked all kinds of questions: Do I have to be in the military to jump? Where can I go to make a jump...? and so on. He told me there should be a place around there somewhere and to look in the phone book. Sure enough there was a place 27 minutes from my house. However they said that I would have to wait 2 years before they would let me jump (I was 16 at the time). From that point on it's all history.

If you have any suggestions or ideas that you would like to share with me or any other organizer just let me know and I will pass it on. Thanks, and I will see you at Quincy.

Mike Crow

Well we don't have an update on Mike, but this is who he was before he moved to the Bahamas!

Morriston, Ontario, Canada (1 hour west of Toronto)
Phone: (519) 766-0594
Email: mikecrow@hookup.net

Well, the Great White North is thawing out...time to think of summer, and that means QUINCY!

We'll both be there to join Gary's team of Load Organizers, to give you that little bit extra to make you forget your job, your parole officer, your spouse, or whatever it is you're leaving behind for a few great days of turbine madness.

Occupation: Actuary (you don't want to know...)
Years in Sport: 16
Number of Jumps: 2300
Load organizer at the WFFC in 1990, 91, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97....geez, why stop now...
CSPA Senior Instructor and Coach, PFF (that's like AFF, eh!), and Tandem Instructor
CSPA Rigger, Commercial Pilot, Cessna jump pilot
CSPA Exhibition Jump Rated
Freefall Photographer

President of Skydive SWOOP, Grand Bend, Ontario, home of the 1995 and 1996 Canadian National Skydiving Championships. SWOOP set a new all-Canadian record 50-way on July 6, 1996, organized by yours truly.

How I got started...

This seems to be a popular topic, so this is how it happened to me.

One day, my Dad looked at my Mom and...well moving forward 19 years, I was sitting in the bar at university minding my own business when this buddy of mine starts getting on my case to sponsor him for some stupid stunt like jumping out of an airplane. The only way to get rid of him was to promise I'd join in. The following day, in the midst of my hangover, he handed me a pledge form and told me I'd better get to work, since the first jump course cost 50 pounds (that's nearly $75!). Off I went collecting pledges, which got me into the residences of quite a few female colleges...but that's another story.

So a few weeks later, I show up to an old RAF airfield, where I find a few trailers collected around an old hangar with a camel in it. The camel didn't seem to mind the smell, so I ignored it too (the camel, not the smell). After endless hours of parachute landing falls and unlikely stories from a bunch of stereotypes who had never been east of Dover, they gave me a military surplus round, a belly wart, a motorcycle helmet, and a polaroid photo (still got it, no you can't see it). After landing, my 3 buddies were all keen to go again, so I thought what the hell, let's go...and here we all are 16 years later, they're all still whuffos and one of them nearly died from testicular cancer. Just goes to show...

Uh..uh..uh...sorry, just recovering from the flashbacks...

So never mind all that, what about the convention? Well after organizing for quite a few years, the one thing I keep hearing is "Let's do something a bit bigger which is going to work". Sounds good to me! A couple of years ago we did a day of fun 40-ways; only problem was that it was already the second Friday. Last year, we made several attempts at a 60-way, and came oh so close...

So if you're into a relaxed, positive atmosphere and want to do some neat 15, 20-way and then 40 or 60-way stuff, come to tent #1... we're free, easy, and we'll do it with anybody. Liam "Lemonhead" Brennan and I will build up to a 20+ way group each over the course of the day, then put it all together for a big way in the evening. You don't have to jump all day with us; come and go as you please, you're on vacation....but be there for the big ways, it'll be fun...

Something else that got really popular was the sunset big "O" from the DC3. Line up in the door, one by one, unload, and go for the round. On one exit in 1995, we unloaded 40 from the DC3 in 10.7 seconds...not bad when you consider that was the first time many of them had even seen a DC3! In a couple of years the DC3 will probably count as a Specialty aircraft, so jump it for $16 while you can!

Jack Cuniff

Home DZ:

Aircraft at my home DZ:

What I Do There:

Number of jumps: 1200+

Years in sport: Well, I started in '81...

Oh boy! Another jumpsuit!

Other stuff:

email: jmac@world.std.com

Thanks for checking out my Quincy page. If I ever decide I've got enough content for a good personal homepage, I'll put a link to it here. (I'd do it now, but it'd just have pictures of my motorcycle and my wife, Nancy, and her motorcycle… but maybe if I scan a picture or two of my cats… No, I can't do it. So this is what you get! :-)

SKYDIVE! See you in Quincy!

Jack Cunniff

jmac@world.std.com
.motorcycle_stuff              .skydiving_stuff
DOD #1183                      D-17518, NCB #8
'97 Honda Valkyrie

Rick DePalma

From Perris Valley, California.

RussDurand

Jumpin' Jan Finegan

I looked down at the ground and I was happy. (usually! :)

What began as a way to spend 1 day doing something completely different, has become a passion. I spent almost a year on 'student status' (not enough jumps for an A licence). The next 5 or so years were spent doing little else with my free time. I started packing 'student' parachutes at the DZ to suppliment my jumping habit. I have since become an FAA Certificated Senior Parachute Rigger (Airman blah blah) I hold an Expert License, I am a member of the 'Georgia Eagles Exhibition Skydiving Team' and work/play on weekends as a RW coach. In August of the last 3 years, for 10 days, I turn into a 'skydiving machine' at the "World Free Fall Convention" in Quincy Illinois. I work as a Load Organizer (1 of 15 or so "WFFC" staff organizers) planning, and directing the execution of, skydives! This year ('96) I made 39 or 40 skydives during the Convention. A few of the more memorable ones were...

• A high altitude jump from 21,000 feet, out of a KingAir B90 (Mullins,M. :), and we used oxygen masks on the way up (cool... heh-heh heh-heh). 90-100 seconds of freefall!
• I participated in a 66 way star attempt that was launched out of 2 TwinOtter's (20+ people, large side door) and a CASA 212 (26+ jumpers, tailgate! :). The first point (a weed wacker consisting of 6 lines of 11 jumpers +/- 2?) did not complete :(..., but my slot did!!!, and I flew in and took my grip! (I was 5-6th on my line and I think it built to 10!), I exited from the left Otter, with the door facing away from the base, and had a fun turning/banking approach to my grip, who had exited out of the CASA, and I had to pick him out of the swarm as I dove (black suit/bright green grippers :) . My thanks to Roger Ponce de Leon and Dave Ruckert for organizing the dive so well in the time available and to Jim Beck for the "heads up!" and intro (I still owe him for the lift ticket :)
• I made a "sunset loose 38 way" that I became one of the "organizers" at the last minute on, out of Mr. Douglas (DC3). (38 screamin 1 ways!!! (it was a 'tad bit' after sunset ;)(and the spot was a little long :)(and we had a lot of different skill levels/fall rates :)) Twas fun for everyone though IMHO!!!
• I organized many 10-16 ways that turned multiple points with piece transitions.
• We launched quite a few different chunks from the wide tailgates (CASA and Skyvan), the cargo doors (Otters), and "The Porch" (KingAir200 way generous with altitude)!
• I met and jumped with a plethora of good skydivers from DZ's all over this planet. Many people with open minds and an accurate self assesment of their own skill level resulted in many more completions (2 or better points). We made a few of the transitions so smoothly that everyone was pleasantly surprised :) YES!
• I had a tour of a lot of the unusual places on the DZ and the subsequent excercise on the walk back! (I do enjoy the walks, but I usually don't let on as I'm pleading/snarling to/at the flight line to change the spot :) With this years winds it was a challenge and I seemed to be on a few that were "up" when the winds changed.

Bill "Hooty" Frederick

Occupation:

Home DZ's:

Number of jumps: 1300+

Years in sport: 7

Licenses:

Awards:

Other Interests and Hobbies:

How I got started:

The skydiving I like to do:

Marc Garber

Skratch Garrison

Jeff Gearhart

Mark Gerlach

Kat Grix

Steve Gromack

Steve Haley

Larry Henderson

Jay Hutchins

Occupation: Industrial Engineer

Dream Job: Win the Lotto, travel around the world from boogie to boogie

Home DZ: Mile-Hi Skydiving Center

Longmont, Colorado (Finally, a DZ that's only 10 minutes from home!)

Aircraft: Twin Otter in the summer, King Air in the winter

What I do there: AFF Jumpmaster, Coaching, Organize Scrambles Meets, RW

Licenses/Awards: (I am happy to report that I only have my D license memorized, and that is only on a good day. I think all of these numbers show that I have sent USPA a LOT of $$$$$!)

• D-14747
• C-19180
• A-9713
• CCR-1644
• CCS-842
• FA-1082
• DFA-665
• DE-505

Number of Jumps: 1100

Years in Sport: 12 (OK, so I had a few bad years of less than 50 jumps each!)

Other Stuff:

WFFC Load Organizer in '97-had so much fun, I had to do it again!

'92 Hot Air Balloon World Record-"Operation Mother Load" 21 jumpers in a hot air balloon!

'97 Colorado State Night RW record- a 10 way (hey, you have to start somewhere!)

'98 Colorado State RW record- a 44 way built with a lot of outside talent (thanks Airspeed)

Other Activities:

• Skiing
• Snowboarding
• Snowshoeing
• Camping
• Hiking

Details on Jay:

T97 will be my second year as a LO at Quincy, and my fourth boogie there. DJan and I do AFF together in Colorado, and last year she asked if I would be interested in helping out at Quincy. I had such a good time doing it, I had to sign up again for this year.

I like to work with the low to medium range jumpers who want to do some low pressure, fun skydives. I like to emphasize some key points that are the foundation of a successful skydive: eye contact, center point, etc. I am constantly amazed at how much people can improve their RW skills by just a few simple things. Whether it's hot 8-way or a 2-way, this stuff seems to work.

So if you want to have fun and maybe learn a trick or two, come look me up! I'll be wearing hat #49.

Todd Jacobson

Address:

26984 50th Ave Cadott, WI 54727

skydive at isp.com

Occupation:

current job is,,,, lets just say every time you eat some Bush beans your eating a little part of me.

Home Drop Zone:

Skydive Wissota/Indianhead Sport Parachute Club

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Number of Jumps: 2500

Years in Sport: 10

Licenses/Ratings:

• D-16935
• S/L Jumpmaster
• Chief Pilot
• Commercial Instrument Rating
• 2000+ hours

Skydiving Interests:

• Freefall Cameraman
• CReW
• Relative Work
• Coaching
• Toggle Whipping Yahoo

Other Activities:

• Motorcycle Racing
• Rapelling
• Waterskiing
• Downhill/cross-country skiing

Hi everyone, my name is Todd Jacobson. I'm 31 and have been skydiving since May 11th 1991 (my true birthday). The only reason I started skydiving, was because a friend called me up and said, "Find the nearest skydiving center, we gotta go man." He new that I was the high adventure man and would know were to look. So we went to Skydive Wissota in Chippewa Falls, WI, the nearest place I could find on my aircraft sectional (com. & Inst. Pilot).

The day we went was blue skies and breezy. I got two jumps in on that first day and I knew that my life was over for all other things, because this was it. I had found the true love of my life (my wife and child came later). I also noticed that all the pilots on staff were arguing over who had to fly (they were all experienced jumpers and wanted to jump). I offered to fly for these guys and they accepted. I spent the next three years flying and making only 30 or 40 jumps. During this time I quit ski instructing (down hill & cross-country), quit riding bike (mountain bike racer), quit Tea Kwon Do (black belt), and quit racing motorcycles (district 16 AMA title holder). So all I was left with was skydiving and flying for skydivers. I loved every second of it and never wanted for more. Then I got a good job and I haven't looked back since, no flying just hard-core skydiving. That ! ! was 93 and besides 16 months out with an injury, I have done nothing but skydive and loved every second.

The things that bring me the most satisfaction today are teaching others the things that took me years of trial and error to figure out. Whether they be skilled skydivers our first jumpers, I just can't give them enough. It makes me feel like a million bucks when I see the improvement in others because of my teaching.

I've been a load organizer at Quincy every year since 1997. I look forward to Quincy each year because it gives me a chance to learn a little myself, but also allows me to pass on some knowledge to others.

See ya at Quincy this year
Skydive hard

update 12/2000

"Magic" Ray Logan

In addition to his load organizing talents, Ray is a master magician and has performed at the WFFC. Ray is an AFF and Static Line Instructor, and he's got more than 2,000 jumps. Email: magicray@ime.net
This page last updated March 24, 2000.

Sue Metler

Home DZ:

Aircraft:

What I Do There:

Number of jumps: 3000

Years in sport: 7

Other stuff:

How did I get started?

When I received my second degree, I was ready for a change of pace. My husband and I often talked about taking flying lessons "someday," and at some point skydiving was thrown in as another thing to try "someday." One night, after watching a rerun of a "Cheers" episode (the one where a bunch of guys from the bar make a skyive), my husband said something about trying it "someday," I said, "Let's quit talking about doing it, let's really do it!" or something to that effect. When he mentioned it at work the next day and three other people said they were already planning on jumping, he would have lost face if he backed down. When he mentioned it to me, i think he secretly hoped I'd chicken out, but I was pretty determined to follow through this time. So we were committed. Five of us went through the first jump course together, did our first S/L's on T-10's, and three of us went back three weeks later for our second jump - my husband, one of his fellow workers and me. We were all hooked after that jump. My husband lasted about 160 jumps or so - I never thought his heart was really in it. The other guy has a few hundred jumps, and does a handful of jumps a year.

I must have really gotten the skydiving bug, because I kept going back for more. I'm up to around 3000 now, and still going strong! Oh yeah, I kind of left my husband by the wayside somewhere in there. And I didn't forget about that flying thing, either. I'm now a private pilot. Ironically, though, I think my dad's prouder of my skydiving achievements than the flying.

email: jimbeck@frontiernet.net

This will be my fifth year at Quincy, and I've done many jumps with the Convention Load Organizers. I'm excited about the opportunity to help anyone who wants to jump with the Organizers have as much fun and as memorable a time in '97 at Quincy as I have in past years.

This page last updated 3/29/97

Brent Middleton

Schaumburg, IL. Chicago Suburb

Profession:

Home DZ:

Number of jumps: 2000

Years in sport: 6

• Tandem Master
• Video flyer

David "DUK" Miller

401 Beals Place
Seminole, OK 74868

Profession:

Home DZ:

Number of jumps: 2600

Years in sport: 12

Licenses and Ratings:

Awards received:

Skydiving interests and activites:

Other interests and activites:

Languages:

Email: duk@us.inter.net

Todd Morman

25 Vesper Drive
Ellisville, MO
63011

Profession:

Home DZ:

Number of jumps: 2300+

Years in sport: 9

Licenses and Ratings:

Other skydiving activities:

Winsor Naugler

Gary Peek

Computer/Electronics consultant,
from St. Charles, MO USA (St. Louis area)
phone (636) 946-5272
Email: peek@freefall.com

Years in Sport: 20, Number of Jumps: 5000
USPA Central Regional Director
Load organizer at the WFFC in 1990, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00
USPA Static line, AFF, and Tandem Instructor/Examiner
Master Parachute Rigger, Commercial Pilot, Cessna jump pilot
USPA Professional Exhibition rated
Freefall Photographer
Speaker at PIA Symposium `95, `97, `99, `01


Provider of Skydiving and Aviation related products and services.
This is my "personal" web site, and contains a variety of skydiving related information - USPA info, clip art, computer programs, articles, stories, books, web graphics, photos, research, and technical information.

Author of the skydiving Equipment Color Programs, Formation Skydiving Planners, and Skydiving Logbook Program, all published by and available from Para Publishing and its dealers.

Parachute researcher with the Parks College Parachute Research Group.



Final note:

"1. Be safe, 2. Have fun, (everything else is way down the list.) G.P."

Jean Potvin

Profession:

Home DZ:

Number of jumps: 2000

Years in sport: 9

Licenses and Ratings:

Other:

Skydiving interests and activities:

Other Interests:

Languages:

How I got started?

Raider Ramstad

Number of jumps: 3000+

Raider has been one of the staple load organizer's tent at World FreeFall Convention and has been on numerous big-way events to include the World Record 282-way accomplished in Thailand in December 1999. He was also on the 50-way night world record.
"Fun RW is my forte and passion."

Email: Raider_Ramstad@Mindspring.com

Dave Ruckert

Mary SantAngelo

Hi, my name is Mary SantAngelo and this will be my fifth year as a WFFC load organizer. It seems that each years, it just keeps getting better and better.

My background in skydiving is not very exciting. I started jumping the late 70's under that wonderful T-Ten. What fun that was!!!!!!!!!! After a few setbacks with having children, a broken ankle, and other problems, I finally have close to 3,000 skydives.

Again this year I will be working with the more advanced jumpers that come into tent 3. My goal while working with you all is to teach you basic four-way techniques. This will also include designing the dive, something that some of us (me included) have a difficult time doing. But I've found through trial and error that there is always an easier way to get to the next point. I'm also planning on working with jumpers that are ready and aware enough to want to work on bigger way skills. By bigger way we're only talking ten ways. Learning how to dive and float out of all the different aircraft.

I look forward to seeing the wonderful people that I met last year, and hope to make many more friends this year. If you would like to get in touch with me to talk about the Convention or any special requests you have, you can reach me by email at flyangel@lanminds.net.

Till then,

Blue Skies and Soft Landings,,,,,,,,,,,,Mary

Kathie Shepherd

Amy Shreve

DJan Stewart

This will be my sixth year organizing at the Convention. Skratch will hopefully be returning this year to keep us entertained. Whether he does or not, I will be continuing the separate tent for the "young" jumpers -- now, just because you are in your second childhood at forty or fifty or beyond, doesn't mean you are not welcome to jump with us! This also goes for those of you who have a thousand jumps or more: what I am looking for in 2000 is a program of jumping that will keep all of us having fun and learning new things. As we did last year, we'll have hula hoops, streamers, and specialty skydives as requested, such as all-women jumps, fast fallers, etc. And for those of you who have goals you'd like to meet, such as 2-point 8-ways, or even 4-point 4-ways, we'll do everything we can to attain those goals! Kat Grix and Winsor Naugler will be returning, along with some other new organizers who I know you will love. We will have standby organizers in case we get really, really busy.

If you have 300 jumps or under, are not current, or if you have a desire to participate in more fun-type, non-competitive skydives, I have a group of people who are dedicated to jumping just with YOU! We will keep the group size small (4-10), and if there are enough load organizers so that we don't have people standing around waiting, we would like to try to do more than one jump together at a time. In 1999, we were able to maintain smaller groups and have some really wonderful and successful skydives. One person came with only 50 jumps and was able to progress from barely being able to stay in the sky with us to turning 6 points on a 4-way skydive!! Now that's progress.

We are trying to address all your suggestions and queries. Thank you, everyone, who came to the Convention last year and had a good time with the load organizers! I made tons of new friends, and I hope you did too. See you in August! Any questions, email me at jan@ucar.edu.

Let's make this year's Convention the best ever! I'm ready, are YOU? If you want to know more about where I work, check out my personal home page at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. ---DJan

This page last updated on March 24, 2000.

Marcus Thorton

Brian Vande Krol

I love to skydive. If I were older, I would have invented skydiving. I would be A-1, B-1, C-1, and (sorry Mr. Sanborn) D-1. I will be organizing toad loads. Jump with me. ---Brian

Bill Von Novak

Patrick Weldon, MD

Home: Jackson, MI
Jumps: 3000+
Occupation: Physician/Neurologist
Ratings: all of them

Patrick made his first jump as a college freshman at Louisiana Tech University in 1986. Four years later he made jump #999 into a La Tech Homecoming game in front of his fellow students.

Between college and medical school Patrick spent several years as a wandering skydiver, doing tandems and videos at multiple drop zones around the south, then spent about a year jumping in Hawaii. He was the founding USPA member of Skydive St. Marteen in the Caribbean and served as the first S&TA for the caribbean drop zones. He has filmed multiple world-record skydives, including a high-altitude tandem jump that occured immediately prior to the release of Flying the Camera: the complete guide to freefall photography & skydiving video. Patrick's book is listed as the best selling book in skydiving history, and has recently topped the 12,000 mark. It is available in five languages.

He has also written many articles for Skydiving and Parachutist magazines,and currently answers medical questions for Skydiving in an article called "Ask Dr. Freefall". He has had skydiving photographs published in several non-jumping magazines, filmed a few low-budget tv commercials, and also written articles for publication in several professional medical journals.

He has attended the convention since 1993, and been a Load Organizer since 1997. During that time he has won the WFFC 20 way competition three times, and the Jet Speed Star event every year it has been held.

Currently he is employed at University of Mississippi, specializing in Neurology. He spends his weekends jumping at Gold Coast Skydivers in Moss Point, Mississippi.

contact info: patrickweldon@hotmail.com