SPORTS INTERVIEW
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Abi & mick
In this weeks sports skydiving interviews we have both Abi & Mick, beautiful humans around the drop zone. Both Abi & Mick are at the top of their working fields with Abi leading the way in SA in the hair stylist industry and Mick making his way to retirement from the Fire Service. They both share the same passion for Skydiving with a focus on canopy piloting.
This is their stories and what they both had to say!
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How did you get into skydiving?
abi
I did a tandem when covid hit! I thought well if I’m going to die I want to know what it feels like to skydive as it’s always been a dream of mine. As soon as we landed from my tandem, I knew I needed to do it again and again. That week I booked my solo skydiving course.
MICK
I tried skydiving in the late 70s but didn’t like it, mainly because you had barely any control of the round canopy and just floated down. I’ve always had fairly exciting jobs and thought I needed something exciting to carry on into my retirement, so I checked out skydiving again, and it was very different. Booked into my AFF with Teags, I was hooked.
what was your favourite aff solo stage?
abi
Favourite stage. I would definitely say stage 9. “The hop and Pop!” I felt like I was in this jump all by myself. It’s a low altitude exit jump. I was extremely nervous as I had it in my head that I wasn’t going to be stable on my exit. Some of my favourite jumps are hop and pops.
MICK
My favourite stage was stage 7, the first solo exit. It’s scary but very rewarding when you become stable all on your own.
What has been your favourite skydiving memory?
abi
It was definitely my 100th jump! It happened to be on a BIG WAY course with Kristina who is a skydiving coach of mine. It was pretty magical as it was a formation jump with 10 other skydivers. I was the base so everyone came to me, so I just sat there watching everyone come! It was so beautiful seeing and made me giggle too.
MICK
Best memories are the flocking camps, especially NZ, where I scared the hell out of my instructors. 
Also, the starcrests and bigways are really great. I was there for Abi’s 100th, and I can confirm she was giggling. I enjoy the landings now after rew hiccups, and if I was 20 or 30 years younger, I’d love to try swooping, but I might give that a miss and survive to enjoy the other stuff.
Whats your skydiving goals you’re pursuing?
abi
At the moment I’m loving jumping with mates doing flat flying and formation jumps building on my skills, also canopy work too. I want to make this a focus as I love being one with my canopy.
MICK
My goals at the moment are angles and wingsuiting, I’d better hurry with that one.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
abi
Having fun and if I get good enough then competing!
MICK
If I’m still skydiving in any form, I’ll be very happy.
If you could give any advice to yourself when you started skydiving, what would it be?
abi
Be kind to yourself. Learning anything new takes time.
MICK
My advice to myself would be to jump with other people as much as possible. It’s more fun, and you learn so much more and in less time.
Who should we interview next?
abi & mick
Definitely Ariel!
