Speed Skydiving is an exciting discipline where athletes attempt to achieve the highest possible vertical speed in freefall, making speed skydiving the fastest non-motorized sport on earth, reaching velocities as high as Top Fuel dragsters.
The physical sensations combined with the challenge of performing better than your last jump makes for a fun 25-second skydive.
This discipline is one of the most accessible and inclusive. It's also rapidly evolving, making it an exciting time to get started. Top competitors can regularly surpass 500kmh (311mph), with beginners usually reaching speeds in the low-200mph range.
To learn more, check out our article on the AXIS Blog.
Photo by Matt Fry.
AXIS Coaches™ Brianne Thompson and Niklas Daniel at the FAI Speed Skydiving World Cup 2023
Learn from the World's Fastest Couple
Niklas Daniel, World Champion with Team USA in 2022 and current US Champion, and
Brianne Thompson, second in Speed (Female) at the World Cup 2023 and the first woman to medal at a USPA national speed skydiving championship in the Open category,
have a passion for this sport and like to share their experience and knowledge. Both continue to compete in Speed Skydiving at the world level, bringing home medals and breaking records.
Visit them at Skydive Arizona and work with them on your speed skydiving skills.
Personalized Training
Personalized training can include:
- Classroom instruction,
- Equipment considerations / modifications,
- Sky and or Wind Tunnel body-flight coaching,
- Individual analysis of jumps using GPS data,
- Video recordings of exits and freefall,
- Practical, personal instruction between jumps,
- Detailed debriefs after each jump.
Prerequisites:
- Access to free-fly friendly equipment (AAD required),
- Spatially and Altitude aware (Audible altimeter required, ColorAlti recommended),
- Proficient at maintaining heading perpendicular to aircraft’s line of flight.
Available Merits
Speed — Competent
How this Merit is Earned
Recipient has demonstrated the following to the satisfaction of an AXIS Coach™ Speed:
a) received instruction on speed skydiving fundamentals and safety practices,
b) read USPA SIM Section 6-13,
c) recorded speeds in excess of 300kmh (~185mph).
Speed — Advanced
How this Merit is Earned
Achieved prerequisite merit: Speed - Competent.
In addition, recipient has demonstrated the following to the satisfaction of an AXIS Coach™ Speed:
a) received instruction on how to interpret Flysight™ data,
b) read FAI competition rules,
c) recorded speeds in excess of 350kmh (~220mph).
Speed — Proficient
How this Merit is Earned
Achieved prerequisite merit: Speed - Advanced.
In addition, recipient has demonstrated the following to the satisfaction of an AXIS Coach™ Speed:
a) earned a USPA C-License,
b) either participated at a USPA Nationals or ISSA event,
c) recorded speeds in excess of 450kmh (~280mph).
Speed — 500-Club
How this Merit is Earned
Achieved prerequisite merits: Speed - Gold.
In addition, recipient has demonstrated the following to the satisfaction of an AXIS Coach™ Speed:
a) participated in a FAI G-1 event,
b) recorded speeds in excess of 500kmh (~310mph).