The 9th Annual Mother of All Boogies (M.O.A.B.)

What: Skydive Moab’s ninth-annual skydiving festival

When: Sept. 26-30, 2012

Where: Skydive Moab (Canyonlands Airport off Highway 191)

Cost: $15-$45 registration fee; $200-$235 per tandem jump

More info: Tandem skydives, fun jumps, beautiful scenery, and nightly parties

Get ready to free-fall over one of the most spectacular landscapes in the country!

Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 26, Skydive Moab is hosting its ninth-annual Mother of All Boogies (M.O.A.B.), a five-day festival inviting thrill-seekers from across the globe to experience skydiving at its finest.

First-time jumper? Accomplished skydiver? No matter your experience level, Skydive Moab welcomes individuals age 18 and older to revel in all M.O.A.B. has to offer.

Jump with a professional tandem instructor or maximize your number of skydives as a fun jumper. View Arches and Canyonlands National Parks from 17,500 feet MSL, enjoy four- to seven-minute canopy rides overlooking the La Sal Mountains and the Colorado River, and top off the excitement with an array of nightly festivities.

In collaboration yet again with Skydive Arizona, SkyVenture Colorado and a number of exceptional coordinators, Skydive Moab plans to deliver an unforgettable 2012 Boogie for approximately 150 participants.

What to look forward to this year

Unlike past Boogies, however, this year’s festivities will begin on Wednesday. For $235, tandem students can jump and land at the Moab airport—a perfect location for taking in the beautiful desert scenery. Deduct $35 if you have jumped with Skydive Moab before, and ask about deals for locals, which are available during the festival and all year long.

C-licensed skydivers (those with at least 200 recorded jumps) can also take advantage of this extra day to experience more remote areas of Moab. What better way to kick off the Boogie than with specialty jumps from a Cessna 182 into Caveman Ranch, a scenic site with its own runway along the Colorado River.

The adrenaline will pick up again on Thursday morning with the arrival of a Skyvan and Super Otter provided by Skydive Arizona. Offering space for 22 skydivers per load, these aircrafts can accommodate individuals who prefer to jump in large groups or alongside friends and family: a perfect photo op for those interested in recording their exhilarating Boogie memories. Videos and pictures are available for purchase at Skydive Moab.

In addition to the thousands of words’ worth of pictures taken, some of the finest organizers in the world of gravity-defying sports will be attending this year’s Boogie. Licensed jumpers and tandem students alike are sure to have a memorable jumping experience with help from coordinators specializing in all-that-is-skydiving.

Skydive overload? M.O.A.B.ites can reflect on day two of jumping over delicious beer and grub at the Moab Brewery on Thursday night. But they’ll be at it again Friday morning.

Boogie members interested in harnessing up with a tandem master can skydive at the airport all day long (until, of course, they’ve worked up an appetite). On Friday night, paid participants can celebrate another successful day of jumping with barbeque and a bonfire all night long.

That’s right—Skydive Moab will be feeding all hungry adrenaline junkies for FREE. And things are bound to get heated with a spectacular fire show performed by Moab’s own Pyromancy.

For all you fun jumpers out there, Friday evening will consist of skydives into spectacular Castle Valley. Surrounded by 1,500-foot red cliff walls and 13,000-foot mountain peaks, Castle Valley offers C-licensed jumpers yet another view of the incredible Moab scenery.

The airport party continues through the weekend with—well, more skydiving (obviously), as well as a $10 feast and a little rock and roll. Saturday’s entertainment will be provided by the very talented Stonefed, a local blues band sure to bring the funk.

The last of the boogieing will take place on Sunday, Sept. 30. Can’t attend all five days? No problem. Skydive Moab offers a $15 one-day pass for those with limited time in the area.

Not just skydiving

Attention fun jumpers: Free camping is available at the airport, or for you spelunkers out there, Caveman Ranch is providing unique hospitality for $50 per night. Its eight available caves are located 39 miles south of the airport. Visit www.cavemanranch.com for more information on this one-of-a-kind opportunity.

Furthermore, M.O.A.B. participants with time permitting are encouraged to explore the plethora of other local activities and businesses. A world-renowned mecca for outdoor sports such as mountain biking, jeeping, base jumping and rock climbing, Moab also caters to the southwestern aficionado with its distinctive restaurants and galleries.

Founded by Clint MacBeth in November 2003, Skydive Moab now claims over 30,000 recorded skydives, including tandem, sport and student jumps.

Upholding its stellar reputation in the skydiving world, Skydive Moab also boasts the title of Best Scenic Cessna Drop Zone in the country. Bestowed by Blue Skies Magazine’s 2010 reader-poll, this accolade recognized Skydive Moab for its state-of-the-art piston-powered aircraft.

Safety is priority number one at Skydive Moab. Jumpers can rest assured that they are in good hands, as the drop zone prides itself in using the most advanced equipment on the market, including Automatic Activation Devices (AADs) and United Parachute Technologies Sigma rigs.

Helping to maintain Skydive Moab’s outstanding reputation are tandem masters Pat Martin and Jimmy Peterson, along with pilot Chris Garrison and FAA-certified rigger Greg Stone.

The staff members have been acknowledged on numerous accounts for their welcoming attitudes, excellent proficiencies and entertaining performances.

Enthusiastic about his role at Skydive Moab, Peterson states, “I have the best job in the world, and I love sharing the sport with new people every day.”

Drawing on a combined expertise of over 75 years in the business, as well as more than 10,000 successful tandem jumps, Skydive Moab ensures a safe and comfortable experience for skydivers of all skill levels. And the customers agree.

In addition to the numerous online testimonies, on-site customers have expressed their great satisfaction and appreciation, offering “sincere thanks to Skydive Moab. Your prep time made us feel like a friend!”

Recognized for going above and beyond in training and prepping its clients, it’s no wonder Skydive Moab is the most referred skydiving center in Utah.

First-time jumpers Shelly Steadman and Erek Burek even heard about Skydive Moab on a Colorado radio station. Although nervous at first, the marketing manager and software technician from Grand Junction were beyond pleased with their experience at Skydive Moab.

“Not only were the views spectacular,” Burek said, “the operation went so smoothly and the staff did a wonderful job of keeping us calm and prepping us for our first jumps.”

Steadman noted her “impressive stand-up landing,” stating that “the instructors were awesome” and “we would definitely recommend Skydive Moab to our friends!”

Experience the hype for yourself by registering for Skydive Moab’s ninth-annual Mother of All Boogies festival.

Skilled jumpers will pay $45 for all five days of fun, including the food, fire show, live music, and top-of-the-line airplanes not normally found in Moab.

Tandem students and spectators are also welcome to join in the festivities.

Come boogie with some of the best in the business! For more details or to register for M.O.A.B., visit www.skydivemoab.com or call 435-259-5867. Spots are limited.