Hobbies: Exploring with my Family, Kite Surfing, Speed Flying, Wake Boarding, Snow Boarding, Downhill Long Boarding & Flying RC Planes.
Current Competition Status: Still Retired, involved & connected.
2008-09 Big Wave Tow In ~ Jet Ski Experience at Hammer Heads & Devils Rock. North Shore, HI.
2006-09 Member of (RBAF) Red Bull Air Force Skydiving Demonstration Team, North America Division.
2006-09 Performance Designs Factory Team (PDFT) Cameraman, Stunt Coordinator & Canopy Flight Instructor.
2004 Red Bull Mountain Blade Raid Para-Flight Champion, Park City, UT.
2004 US Skydiving Nationals Ultra Sport Accuracy Champion. Perris, CA.
2000 Opening Ceremonies Skydive Exhibition into NASCAR 500. Fontana, CA.
2000-04 Toured Internationally with High Performance Ram Air Parachute Team, Team Extreme based in Perris, CA.
1997-2004 Flight Instructor & Factory Test Pilot for Icarus Canopies. Perris, CA. & Wanaka, New Zealand.
1999 Blade Running Champion 2 way & 4 way events with Team Extreme. Whitfish, MT.
1997-98 Operations Director, Safety Advisor & Liaison for Perris Valley Skydiving Center in Perris, CA.
1997 Universal Skydiving Award (USA #1) Perris, CA. Director ~ Pat Works.
2008 Wing Suit Base Jumps for the first Red Bull Flugtag ~ Mexico City, Mexico.
2007 CBS Discovery Channel, Stunt Junkies Auburn, CA - J.Tagle Episode / Stunt & Aerial Videography.
2007 SVF Productions “Look Before You Leap” Documentary film and Stunt work ~ Dallas, TX.
2006 Warner Bros. Film “The Bucket List” SAG Skydive Stunt Work w/ Morgan Freeman ~ Hollywood, CA.
2006 CBS Discovery Channel, Stunt Junkies Shark Cage Landing, Aerial Film Work ~ North Shore, Oahu, HI.
2006 CBS Discovery Channel Stunt Junkies High Speed Transfer/Stunt Driver ~ Palm Dale, CA.
2006 World Team Camera Crew for the 400 Way Skydiving World Record RW / Completion ~ Udon, Thailand.
2005 Stunt double for The Rock / Red Bull Taurus Stunt Awards ~ Hollywood, CA.
2004 Film Crew / World Record Skydive Completion (357 way) ~ Korat, Thailand.
2003 Fly Boyz Free Fly Film Festival / Aerial -Visual Awards for DVD Entry ; “OUT OF THE BLUE” ~ Perris. CA.
1998 Burger King “Whopper Divers” T.V. Commercial, Global Spot – SAG Stunts & Talent, Admiralty Production.
1998 World Freefall Convention Movie. Stunts/Talent Aerial Focus ~ Quincy, IL.
1996 Aerial Focus Cinematography. West Coast Cup B.A.S.E. Competition ~ Auburn, CA.
I was born and raised in Mahomet, Illinois. Sports centered & eager to fly, I graduated from EIU (Eastern Illinois University) in 1993 with a B.A Degree in Education. Taught for a few years as a Middle School teacher & found that I am not cut out to educate within the confinements of a 4 walled classroom. My journey as a school teacher was divinely & radically redirected towards the sport / industry of skydiving where some of the most unanticipated dreams were yet to be discovered.
One of the primary reasons that I studied in college to become an educator was to have the opportunity to also be a sports coach of some sort. Ultimately, after a few years of teaching 6th & 7th graders and almost 20 years in the sport of skydiving, many of the dreams I have dreamt have naturally been weaved together. While I am continually asking God to open other doors in my life to better serve him & his people, I feel truly blessed at this very moment serving the US Military and Civilians abroad as an "extreme sports skydiving instructor & high caliber canopy piloting coach."
What's the most common misconception you hear from skydivers about landing their canopy?
I feel that many skydivers believe and expect that their landings will improve jumping only once or twice a weekend or even half a dozen times a month.
In reality, successful landings require currency, jump numbers, a passion to fly and the desire to land like a bird (seriously). Flare technique, altitude and timing do not often come naturally and their value should be recognized early before jumpers risk altering the obvious physical and mental quality of the rest of their lives.