Wendy "Kiwi" Smith

Home Drop Zone: World - no fixed abode.
How many years jumping: 21 yrs
Jumps: 15,000+
Breakdown of jumps: International competition in multi disiplines since 1989,(competed for France, New Zealand, Canada) half and half everything else and camera - professional cinematography - commercial cameraman.
Disciplines most into: Freefly, Wing, RW..

Containers: Jav's
Mains: PD.. 84V, 97 Sabre2, 97 Spectre for wingsuit
Reserves: PD 107's
AADs: VIGIL

Claim to fames:
First woman to test jump BAE 146 jet a/c, first woman jumping super 16mm film and High Def cameras. First to perform stunts in Skysurf tandem, triple tandem skydiving. Womans World record speed skydiving 2000 france, Emmy award winner, Guiness books, records. See resume from web site: www.wendysmithaerial.com

Your thoughts on female skydiving movement:
I like to give encouragement to woman skydivers, we can do anything when applied with perfection and love.

Your thoughts on female skydivers in general:
Awesome - most need a little condifence boost, as the larger % were instructed by dudes.

What sort of jumps will you or do you want to organise at Skysisters:
Everything!! But i do love freefly...

What plans do you have for the girls:
Heaps of info, fun, success in the air, photos to prove it.

What message do you want to get across to girls at Skysisters:
We can dress for success, apply the way we are shown and do a wicked job, both in the air and on the ground.

Any topics you particularly want to see covered at Skysisters seminars:
How people are learning, I mean the order in which they are being taught to do things can mean alot about where you're at...

What do you want to achieve at Skysisters:
New friends to share this passion with and to learn some new tricks for myself too!!

What you hope to see happen at Skysisters:
Good crew, good A/C, good team to work with.

Wish list:
Good weather, food, fun and a good bed.

Plus anything else you would like to add about jumping, female skydivers etc etc:
Bring out the Toys, bring along the costumes, make-up, etc..anything you have always thought about, we'll try and make it happen.

Lesley Gale

Home Drop Zone: Peterborough, UK
How many years jumping: 21
Jump Number: 3,300
Breakdown of jumps: 3,000 FS, 300 various
Disciplines most into: FS, big-ways, S & M
Container: Javelin Odyssey
Main: Stiletto 120 / Sabre 2 107
Reserve: PD 106
AAD: Vigil

Team achievements:
16-way - 50+ gold medals inc European Cup gold (twice) and World Cup bronze.
8-way & 4-way - 10 Nationals medals

Record achievements:
216-way, 357-way and 400-way World Records
100-way & 151-way Women's World Records (recruiter for JFTC 151-way)
World Sequential Records - 2-point 120 and 121-way (team captain for 121-way)
60-way, 98-way and 100-way British Records
Organiser of Brit Chicks 50-way and 60-way Records
World Record 16-way score (at the time) of 12 points in 1997.

Claims to fame:
First person in Europe to loop the loop while standing on an aeroplane wing
100+ skydiving medals
Editor of Skydive - The Mag
Sporting Aviation Journalist of the Year (Royal Aero Club)
Snogged Prince Andrew!

Your thoughts on female skydiving movement:
Now is the best time ever to be a woman in skydiving: there are many opportunities; we have our own category in FS; we have a good representation in the sport; we have great role models; we are being recognised for our talents; and we can train in wind tunnels more easily than men!

Your thoughts on female skydivers in general:
We rock! I have organised female, male and mixed groups. I like organising women because: they work very well as a team; they have an excellent calm, patient temperament for skydiving; they listen to what you say and really take it on board. Hence we were able to achieve both 50 and 60-way women's UK records, which were the largest formations for 75% of the participants. I believe this would not have been possible with the same experience level had they all been male. On the downside of women's temperament for skydiving is a lack of aggression - but this is a far easier skill to train than caution!

What sort of jumps will you or do you want to organise at Skysisters:
Fun, pretty, unusual and big formation skydives.

What plans do you have for the girls:
Stay safe, have fun, learn lots. I hope to be recruiting for the women's world record planned for 2008-9 (with Kate Cooper), assuming plans go ahead as anticipated.

What message you want to get across to girls at Skysisters:
Have the confidence in yourself that I and others do. Believe! As women our biggest problem is lack of faith in our own ability. Historically, we have held ourselves back by thinking we weren't good enough; prejudice from ourselves has been a bigger problem than prejudice from men. It's an easy problem to correct!

Any seminars you want to run at Skysisters:
Whatever's most useful. Could include World Team; exits; diving skills; floating techniques; varying fall rate efficiently; flying the formation; tracking; canopy piloting in big-ways; safety; dealing with pressure.

Any topics you particularly want to see covered:
Canopy skills (general rather than big-ways).

What jumps do you personally want to do at Skysisters:
Aussie female FS record.
Beach jump onto somewhere pretty.

What do you want to achieve at Skysisters:
Impart useful knowledge.
Organise jumps people enjoy.
Set Aussie female FS record.
Drink champagne!

What you hope to see happen at Skysisters:
Aussie female freefly and FS records.
Make lots of new friends and catch up with old ones.

Wish list:
I wish my rig packed itself!

Plus anything else you would like to add about jumping, female skydivers etc etc:
It takes a very special sort of person to take up skydiving - and an even more extraordinary individual as a woman. Hence the chicks in the sport are amazing. Skysisters is a fantastic opportunity to bring these people together; it will be a fabulous event in itself and will also have wider implications by making worldwide links between these wonderful women. I can't wait!

Amy Chmelecki

Home Drop Zone: Skydive Arizona
How many years jumping: 12
Jumps: 9,000+
Breakdown of jumps: 4,000 freefly fun jumps, 3,000 training jumps, 2,000 freefly coach jumps
What disciplines most into: Freefly
Container: Mirage Systems
Main: Stiletto
Reserve: PD
AAD: Cypres

Team achievements:
I am the 2003 and 2004 US National Freestyle Champion and I have made the podium at several local competitions. I am currently training with a Vertical 4-way team called Arizona Arsenal.

Record achievements:
3 Vertical World Records, 2 Women's World Records, several country and state vertical records.

Claim to fame:
I think being part of the all girls freefly team "The Sugar Gliderz" is my claim to fame. We never really won competitions, but we came damn close and looked real good trying.

Your thoughts on female skydivers:
The world needs more female skydivers. Women tend to listen very well, ask good questions and exercise caution. These are great practises to have.

What sort of jumps do you want to organise at Skysisters:
I will be going freefly load organising and coaching. If the ladies are up to it we can go for another head down record.

What plans do you have for the girls:
I plan on teaching all that I know to anyone who is interested. Maybe we could do another nudie flare run - I just may be up for it this time!

What message you want to get across to girls at Skysisters:
Know your own limits and never stop learning.

Any seminars you want to run at Skysisters:
Maybe team training!

Any topics you particularly want to see covered:
At the 2005 Skysisters I loved the tandem seminar and Gi's Seminar. There could be a general freefly seminar at the start of the event. We could go over basic Freefly technique and safety things again and it could be geared toward the beginner.

What jumps do you personally want to do at Skysisters:
I really enjoy jumping with the same freefly group for three jumps and then getting a new group.

What do you want to achieve at Skysisters:
A bigger womens vertical record.

Wish list:
I can imagine an event better then last time, it was so well done.

Elise Hill

Home Drop Zone: Picton, NSW
How many years jumping: 16
Jump Number: 5,700
Breakdown of jumps: alot of work jumps in there, AFF, camera, but for fun mainly relative work
Disciplines most into: rel work
Containers: Jav, Talon2
Mains: Alfa 104, 115 and Stilletto 120
Reserves: PD113, Airforce 120
AAD: Cypres2

Claims to fame:
Have been working in the skydiving industry for the last 7 years fulltime and been on the last couple of Australian big-way records.

Thoughts on the female skydiving movement:
Love seeing more women becoming not just jumpers, but activists - being on the APF board, organisers, leaders and winners.

Your thoughts on female skydivers:
One of the best things about this sport is that women and men compete on a level playing field and with women competing in mixed teams and mixed comps, we are kicking ass!

What sort of jumps are you going to be organising at SS:
4-16way formation skydiving.

Plans for the girls:
My jumps are about learning the disciplines and techniques for succeeding on big ways.

Any topics you plan to cover at SS:
Formation exits, approaches and flying your slot.

What do you want to acheive at SS:
I would love to see people who come from DZs with smaller aircraft progress enough to join the SS women's formation record by the end of the boogie.

Wish List:
Lots of participants, fair winds, no crutches. This is a great event! I am looking forward to getting away from the boys for a week and just doing what we want the way we want.

Erica Vanderstelt

Home Drop Zone: Toogoolawah
How many years jumping: 7
Jump Number: 5,700
Disciplines most into: Freefly all the way! Freefly Tutor No. 38
Container: Javelin Odessey
Main: Stiletto 107
Reserve: Precision 115

Team Achievements:
I've been in a lot of scratch freefly teams over the years and won 2 gold and 2 silvers. My goal is to start a 4-way VRW team.

Records:
Womens Aussie headdown record. I went to the Womens World Record and was on the 22-way attempt, which didn't quite build.

Message to female freeflyers:
Get out there and give it a go! We need more female freeflyers.

Advice on Freeflying:
Most of it's in your head! If you think you can do it, you can! Get in there and be aggressive!!

What do you want to achieve at Skysisters:
Get more girls into freeflying and VRW.

What would you like to do at SS:
4 way VRW all the way!! That's my passion!

Message to female jumpers:
Be more aggressive and don't be intimidated! It's the only way to get better...

Jules McConnel

Home Drop Zone: Rutherford and Picton
How many years jumping: 11
Jump Number: 1,700
Breakdown of jumps: 1700 Canopy Piloting, of which 500 RW, 300 Freefly, 80 CRW and CRW camera, 100 RW camera, 50 RW tutor(B-rel) plus 13 BASE jumps.
Disciplines most into: Canopy Piloting
Container: Talon2
Main: Crossfire2 105
Reserve: Airforce 120

Team achievements:
2003 Nationals Silver Medal Intermediate Freefly with team "Sorry, I Forgot My Rel Shoes", 2005 APF Web League Gold Medal 2-way Sequential CRW with team "Stacks of Racks", Silver Medal Australian Canopy Piloting Championships 2007.

Claim to fames:
Original Flying Zucchini.

Your thoughts on female skydivers:
I speak to a lot of female skydivers about canopy flight, and the majority lack confidence while flying their parachutes, I would like to see this change.

What sort of jumps will you or do you want to organise at Skysisters:
One on one canopy tutor jumps, canopy flocking, CRW.

What plans do you have for the girls:
To get female pilots more confident under canopy, planning their canopy flights before each skydive and having fun under canopy. While I'm not jumping, I'll video landings and debrief canopy flight of any jumpers wanting landing advice.

What message do you want to get across to girls at Skysisters:
You spend over two thirds of every skydive under a parachute, enjoy this experience and learn from it! Be confident under canopy, have fun, be safe.

Any seminars you want to run at Skysisters:
Confident canopy flight, morning stretching/warm up-yoga/pilates style.

What do you want to achieve at Skysisters:
A female CRW record.

Wish list:
Kaz Sheekey to come and tear it up and show female and male skydivers how to fly!

Naomi Adam

Home Drop Zone: Elderslie, Picton
How many years jumping: 11
Jump Number: 1,100
Breakdown of jumps: Pretty much all freestyle
Container: Talon FS
Main: Stiletto
Reserve: Airforce
AAD: Cypres

Team achievements:
Team Synergy (with Luke Carter), Gold at Aussie Nationals 2004, 2005, 2006. Formed a new team with Dingo (Mark McColgan) in March 2006 and competed at World Meet in Germany and Nationals 2007.

Claim to fame:
Preventing freestylers from becoming an extinct species in Australia!

Thoughts on female skydivers:
There should be more of them! The vibe at the first Skysisters was amazing - a DZ free from excess testosterone is a wonderful thing... I'm looking forward to this next SS!

What sort of jumps will you do or do you want to organise at Skysisters:
I'd love to see some girls give freestyle a try. Dingo will be available to fly camera for you.

What plans do you have for the girls:
I want to share my passion for freestyle with others - I speak to many women who are interested, but are not sure where to start. It would be great to see some girls take that first step.

What message do you want to get across to the girls at Skysisters:
Don't be daunted - yes, freestyle is a big challenge, but it is also extremely rewarding. You don't need to be super-flexible or an ex-gynmast to give it a go. I think there is a huge pool of potential talent out there. There are so many terrific female freeflyers, and those skills translate very quickly into being proficient at freestyle and/or flying camera for freestyle.

Any seminars you want to run at Skysisters:
A seminar about getting started with freestyle will happen early in the week. Also, there will be yoga/stretch sessions each morning in the Snake Pit at 7 a.m. - hope to see you there!

What do you want to achieve at Skysisters:
Improve my freeflying - we have an amazing team of female freefly coaches for the week!

Wish list:
An international freestyle coach for the next Skysisters... maybe Axis 21 (Yoko and Axel from Japan) or HeKla (Heine and Klaus from Finland).

Susie McEvoy
The Brainchild of the Skysisters concept

Susie is not a feminist out there burning her bras. Far from it! She's flying the flag for the Sport of Skydiving /Parachuting and the awesome female skydivers that are out there loving it.

She appreciates and respects her fellow female skydiving friends and wants to
Help get more girls get into it
Provide for more skydiving action
See progression and
Have even more fun!

Susie wants to see the girls inspire the world with their incredible
Talent
Skill
Motivation and
Courage

Find out more about Susie:
Read article by journalist Froydis Brekken Elvik.