Women's Freefly World Record Attempt

Posted Sunday, April 13, 2003

By Betsy Barnhouse

The women's freefly world record attempt will be officially recognized through the IPC and USPA, and organized by the Sugar Gliderz Freefly Team. The record attempt will take place at Skydive Arizona November 26-31, 2003. Those ladies interested in participating will need to acquire their FAI cards. The cost is $35.00 and you may apply online at: http://www.naa-usa.org.
Sugar Gliderz Exit
The FAI Sporting License is required for any U.S. citizen entering an Air Sport Competition or Air Sport Event in the U.S. that is sanctioned by FAI or for any record attempt under sanction of NAA. Applicants must be a member of NAA or other air sport organization affiliated with NAA. You must hold a D license or equivalent from your issuing organization.

If you are someone that would like to participate, there are three camps scheduled: April 19 & 20 at Skydive Arizona no registration and $16.00 jumps: August 7 & 8 at Skydive Chicago (jumps and registration TBD), and June 21-22 at Skydive Houston in Waller Texas (jumps and registration TBD). These camps are optional, but highly recommended.

Skills to work on: 180 turns, tracking on back, to round, fall rate control; keeping heads on level docking with both hands; work on maintaining a good head down body position; keeping low grips. Low grips fall rate control; keeping heads on level; flying your slot (No backsliding or moving around slot) flying solid with little to no movements; flying smooth with light grips; use cross-partners 4-Ways to progressively larger dives; working on above skills fly patient, waiting for grips to present themselves; fly relaxed looking at cross partners Skills to be covered in the first camp include (but are not limited to): Turning 180, stopping, and back tracking away from a formation (one of the most important skills for big-way VRW formations) Flying a slot docked with both hands (even when other people are pulling/pushing on both sides) Flying heads on level maintaining a fast fall-rate; diving down to a formation, stopping at an appropriate distance, getting on level, approaching the formation (on level), and docking, docking lightly, so the other person doesn't know you're there (low grips) The mental aspects of big-way formation flying multiple exits: diving, front and rear floating, launching pieces, flying a predicable canopy pattern and being aware under canopy. We are excited about this endeavor and are confident that we will have great success. We hope that this event will challenge you and provide you with opportunities to learn and grow as freeflyers.
Sugar Gliderz
The attempt will include 25 jumps, a tee-shirt, and dinner. The cost for the package is being negotiated, and will be posted in the near future. Jumps will be from the Skyvan. The first series of jumps will be 6-10 ways from 13,000 feet, and as the formation completes additional altitude and participants will be added up to 20,000 feet.

The official camera flyer pool will consist of Jason Peters and Greg Gasson. Jason and Greg will be taking digital photos as well as shooting on 35mm film.

History of the Sugar Gliderz

Back in the day, when Amy was traveling through the desert and Jen was packing parachutes, their paths crossed in Eloy Arizona on a hot summer day. They were both young, relatively inexperienced, bright eyed skydivers. Through the years they've wandered the roads of the great northwest from Arizona to Alaska, taking skydiving with them.

Missy made her first skydive at the age of 5. A third generation born and bred skydiver, Missy has been surrounded by skydiving her entire life. In the fall of 2001 she was traveling through the southwest competing at several different skydiving competitions when she met Jen and Amy. The three girls, who had heard of each other, finally met.

The girls all shared a dream to form a competitive all-female freefly team to compete in a sport that has been dominated by male teams. The instant chemistry among the girls and the free-spirited nature of their lives gave birth to the Sugar Gliderz.

Amy Chmelecki

Age: 25
Birthplace: Port Chester, NY
Sign: Scorpio
Favorite Food: Sushi
Pet Peeves: steeling and lying
Favorite Hobbies (other than skydiving of course): Hockey, soccer, rock climbing, snowboarding, ceramics, backpacking, travel
Išm most proud of: My little sister "The Snooks"
Favorite Quote: life is good
Hidden Talents: I have no hidden talents
Total # of Jumps: 2000
First Jump Date: June, 1996
First Jump Story: A small group of friends and I did tandems in Gardner, NY at The Ranch Parachute Club.
Most Memorable Skydive: A 2-way with my teammate Jen in Skagway, Alaska. Glaciers, mint green river, the Inside Passage, deep lush valley, sunset, big puffy clouds very nice!
Biggest Inspiration in the Sport: Mike McGowan
Skydiving Safety Advice: Try and stretch every day
Life Advice: Smile as much as possible and recognize your own limits
I'm most known for: Bartending at Skydive Arizona

Skydiving Experience and Ratings
- United States Parachute Association member since 1996
- 2000 skydives since 1998
- United States Parachute Association license D-24579
- Atmospheric Dolphin A license
- Pro Rating

Competition Experience
- 1999 Skydive Arizona: Freefly money meet 3rd - intermediate
- 2000 Skydive Arizona: Freefly money meet 5th -open
- 2001 Skydive Arizona: Freefly money meet 2nd - intermediate
- 2001 Skydive Arizona: Freefly money meet 3rd -open
- 2001 U.S. Nationals: Freefly event, 7th -open (first all female team to compete in open category)
- 2001 Skydive Arizona: Freefly money meet 1st - open
- 2002 Skydive Chicago: Freefly money meet 1st

Education
- BA in communications and ceramics from the University of New Hampshire

Work Experience
- Photography Instructor at the University of New Hampshire during my last four semesters of school
- Bartender at the Bent Prop Saloon and Grill at Skydive Arizona during the 1999-2002 winter seasons.
- Manifested at Skydive Lake Tahoe the 1999 summer season
- Ornamental, Organic, Gardner at Jewle Gardens in Skagway, Alaska during the 2001 summer season.

Other Interests
- Snowboarding, backpacking, ceramics, photography, video, travel, climbing and the great outdoors

Demo Experience
- 1999 Burning man festival, in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, I did 10 skydives in front of 27,000 people
- 2000 Festival Para Los Ninos, in Hermasillo, Mexico, one skydive into a crowd of 6,000
- 2001 Festival Para Los Ninos in Hermasillo, Mexico, one skydive into a crowd of 10,000
- 2002 4th of July demo, one skydive into a golf course in front of 2000 people
- 2002 July 20th, one jump into a race track
- 2002 July 20th, one night jump into a wake boarding festival

Jennifer Key

Age: 30
Birthplace: Encino, CA
Sign: Capricorn
Favorite Food: Sushi
Pet Peeves: Stupidity (especially my own), heavy traffic, really windy days
Favorite Hobbies (other than skydiving of course!): Traveling, hiking, and camping
I'm most proud of: My ability to remain calm in potentially life threatening situations
Favorite Quote: "If you're gonna be stupid, you gotta be tough."
Hidden Talents: Writing computer programs, drawing from photographs, giving "The Bird" with my toes
Total Number of Jumps: 1300
First Jump Date: May 1, 1994
First Jump Story: I went out to Marana Skydiving with a college friend of mine and made a static-line jump out of a Cessna 182.
Most Memorable Skydive: A 2-way with my teammate Amy in Skagway, Alaska. We jumped into a narrow glacial valley at the trailhead of the Chilkoot Trail; nothing but white clouds and glaciers as far as the eye could see with the sun setting in the distance; it was hard to tell which were clouds or glaciers. I touched a piece of heaven that day.
Biggest Inspiration in the Sport: Jay Humphries, Pat Works, and Wendy Smith
Skydiving Safety Advice: Be in the moment
Life Advice: The key to happiness is appreciation
I am probably most known for: My rope swing accident at Lost Prairie 2000

Education
- B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona May 1997
- AAA in Sign Language Interpreting from Pima Community College May 1998

Work Experience
- Sign Language Interpreter at Arizona State University -- September 1999-present
- Sign Language Interpreter at Pima Community College -- January 1998 September 1999

Skydiving Experience and Ratings
- 1,300 skydives
- U.S. Parachute Association Licenses A-20240, B-18435, C-25335, D-18432
- Jumped from 12 different types of aircraft
- 3 night jumps
- 1996 - Mexican Special Olympics in Hermosillo, Mexico: jumped into a football stadium; 2000 spectators
- 2002 July 20th - One skydive into a race track

Competition Experience
- 2001 U.S. Skydiving National Competition: 7th- (first female team ever to compete in open category)
- 2002 Skydive Arizona Freefly Money Meet: 1st Place (open)
- 2002 Skydive Coolidge Freefly Money Meet: 4th Place
- 2002 Skydive Chicago Money Meet: 1st Place (open)

Melissa "Missy" Nelson

Age: 24
Birthplace: St. Charles, IL
Sign: Virgo/Leo I'm more like a Leo
Favorite Food: Mashed potatoes
Pet Peeves: Negativity and ignorance, oh and the car door open with keys in it.
Favorite Hobbies (other than skydiving of course!): Roller blading, golf, writing, water sports, climbing, hiking, and spending time with friends
I'm most proud of: I'm definitely happy, but I feel I need to experience more to be sure what I am really proud of
Favorite Quote: "Faith is the evidence of the things unseen." - Bible
Hidden Talents: Writing
Total # of Jumps: 2400
First Jump Date: August, 1982
First Jump Story: I was only 5 so I'm not sure if it's a dream I recall or reality but it seems so surreal!
Most Memorable Skydive: 3-way tracking dive with my dad and my brother
Biggest Inspiration in the Sport: My brother, my dad, Nanette Studebaker, and Stefania Martenego
Skydiving Safety Advice: Be conservative, be smooth, be aware, and never stop learning
Life Advice: Listen
I am most known for: Wearing pink

General Education
- 1996-1998 College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL - General Studies
- 1996 Airline Travel Academy, Graduated June 1996 - Airline Industry Education

Work Experience
- 1998-Present Skydive Chicago, Ottawa, IL (Fulltime, Seasonal) President of Skydive Chicago/Skydiving - - - Instructor1993-1997 Skydive Chicago, Ottawa, IL (Part-Time, Seasonal)Administrative (Answering phones, scheduling, computer work, customer service)

For more information and updates, or to get on the mailing list E-mail the Sugar Gliderz at: SugarGliderzFreefly@Hotmail.com

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