Lunatic Fringe - Into the Void

Proper scared. Kaz Sheekey started out like I imagine a fair amount of us do in skydiving, but for her, just like most of us who decide to make a life out of it, that fear she felt on jump one became a positive driving force, not a deterrent. Immediately attracted to the lifestyle as well as her love of jumping, all it took was a "vacation" to the US to drive her into a 25 plus year love affair not just with skydiving, but with canopy piloting.  A kick ass competitor, Flight One instructor and demo team member to boot, as well as balancing life as a mom in these trying times, Kaz Sheekey takes a bit of her time to share with us her journey into the Lunatic Fringe.

Meat Hauler. Not what most people dream of when they think of a career in skydiving. It's not glamorous and it ain't sexy... As a matter of fact, unless you're a first time tandem student, the tandem instructors tend to be the most overlooked of us, but the truth of the matter is, it's an incredible way to spend your time in the air. Rich LaBarr will be the first to tell you that tandem instructors are seriously un-sung heroes in our sport and deserve their time in the spotlight, and I am 100% in agreement. Starting late in the game (late as in he took his time becoming a working skydiver, not cause he's old and grey) Rich and his wife became fully immersed in our sport, and haven't looked back. Join in as we talk about the joys of strapping other people to you and doing dangerous things!

Started jumping while in college, Check.  Coach rating, Check.  Tandem Instructor, Check.  US Navy F-18 Hornet Pilot...  Big Fuckin' Check!  Joey Marco started both his career in aviation and his career in skydiving around the same time, and has somehow managed to keep his passion for both!  As a new F-18 pilot, Joey gets inundated with "Fan Boy" pilot questions all over the place that I've wanted to ask for years, and we even manage to talk about skydiving!  Join in on another "quarantine" edition of Lunatic Fringe

Hard work and perseverance paid off.  Signed to run and compete for not just one of the best track teams around but precisely who she wanted, Rachel Belmont was headed to college on exactly the trajectory she had planned; then, as seems to happen too damn much, her future was changed by a random injury that left her wondering what came next. Too strong to back down, she was able to push past not only the physical, but the mental as well to become not just an accomplished runner, but an ultra-marathoner.  Training now as a nurse and wanting a way to give back during these crazy times, she wanted to find a way to combine the two worlds she's fallen in love with, and has put running and skydiving together to help those in need. tune in to listen to exactly what she's gone through, what she's got planned, and how you can help on this edition of Lunatic Fringe into the Void.

You want to know what it takes to become world champions? Curious about how to develop the kind of moves that not only haven't been seen before, but not even imagined? Wonder how in the hell anyone could survive 10 years of hardcore training, competition, travel and pressure AND do it all as a couple? And of course, find out who in the hell is behind those awesome jumpsuits? Well look no further! On this episode of Lunatic Fringe, Team Airwax members Greg Crozier and Karine Joly take the time to sit down and tell me the in's and outs of their wonderful journey to the top of the podium, smack in the middle of the Lunatic Fringe.

Like a large number of people, Beverly Cosslett's first experience with skydiving came about with a "Sure, why not"; unlike most that more "agree" than "Decide" to skydive, she managed to get herself quickly hooked! Working her way into South Africa's skydiving scene and beyond, she started at a time when the rule breakers and bad boys (and girls) ruled the sport, and stuck with it through its transition into a more, shall we say, adult sport. In a mix between agreeing and being dragging, she has gone on to work the last 7 years as Skydive Johannesburg's Chief Instructor, remembering the old days while guiding the new, all while balancing a career in the real world. Join in on this edition of Lunatic Fringe and enjoy!

Intimidated by the sport. In his own words "lacking natural talent"...  Words that only Ernesto Gainza would use to describe himself because nobody I know would use anything other than "Calculated" or "Driven". Maybe "Forward Thinking" or even "Fucking Crazy" (that was me...).  Currently holding the record for the smallest canopy every landed, the man has taken on challenges that very few ever would, and he's done them with success and professionalism to say the least. Join me as I get the wonderful opportunity to catch up with my friend Ernesto, and find out how he ended up with all of us deep in The Lunatic Fringe.

Hannah Parker PHD.  Fuck skydivers are amazing at themes (life changing course corrections), and this is one of my favorite ones by far!  Well on her way to becoming a full blown Doctor and researcher (did I mention the fuckin’ PHD?), Hannah and her friend decided to make a skydive to jazz things up a bit, at jazz it up it certainly did! Managing to finish off that PHD while fucking around at the dropzone, she gave her family the impression that she just needed some "down time" after all the hard work,  which is why she was pissing off to Portugal to go skydiving... Seven years later, she's still on that vacation from her original path! Join us for a fun look into the life and style of a hard working skydiver on this episode of Lunatic Fringe!

Wow is all I have to say! First off, Julio Ruiz, the owner and operator of Liquid Sky is doing his part. Having thought not just about his families well being in these crazy times, but of his employees and those around him, he decided to put his design skills to work to put out masks to help stem the forward push of the Coronavirus. Secondly, he tells me about his beginnings in our sport, life in Puerto Rico, what it was like to have his arm shoulder deep in a cow's ass, and if its easier to shoe a horse than outfit a skydiver! This one you've gotta hear!