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Author Archives: Mike Swanson

Mike Swanson
Years on Team: 5 YRS
Mike Swanson
Quote:
History:
No one has more U.S. National and World gold medals for freefly skydiving than Mike Swanson. His four national titles and three world championships, multiple gold medals at the legendary Space Games, and other major triumphs have set him apart in a very elite group of athletes, and he has also co-organized and participated in five world records for freeflying head down in formation, including the mark of 69 people that was set in 2007 and still stands today. Flying is Mike’s passion and his job – when he’s not doing demos with the Red Bull Air Force, he’s busy coaching skydivers from around the world at his home drop zone in Perris Valley, California, while honing his own skills to an even higher level.

Although born in Duluth, Minnesota (1973), Mike grew up in Vermont. “My father has run the Malone Parachute Club in Swanton since I was five,” Mike says, “so I was there several days a week and grew up around skydiving. When my friends were at home playing baseball, I was at the drop zone.” As a 16-year-old, Mike made his first solo skydive in New York, and two years later he took his first B.A.S.E. jump at West Virginia’s epic New River Gorge. Since then, he’s made more than 16,000 skydives, jumping from as high as 25,000 feet. Licensed to teach and coach, as well as to fly a plane, Mike just grins at the mention of some of his more esoteric achievements, like earning the “Dolphin D” license. (The hardest challenge in a series of freeflying tests, the Dolphin D requires performing aerobatics while simultaneously catching, releasing, and catching two plummeting lead balls.)

These days, Mike still has a lot of balls in the air. People come from all over the world to be coached by Mike and fellow RBAF athletes Jon DeVore and Eli Thompson at the Freefly Mega Center. “I’m someone people tend to contact when they get serious about wanting to learn,” he states. ”We can work with individuals or groups.” And then there’s the training Mike does for himself, like learning to soar in a wingsuit for the upcoming film “Human Flight 3D,” or ramping up his B.A.S.E. jumping skills. “Skydiving, particularly freeflying, is definitely my focus, but I’ve competed in swoop competitions and am doing a lot more B.A.S.E. jumping than I used to,” Mike comments. “My dream swoop would be the Lincoln Memorial.”
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History:
No one has more U.S. National and World gold medals for freefly skydiving than Mike Swanson. His four national titles and three world championships, multiple gold medals at the legendary Space Games, and other major triumphs have set him apart in a very elite group of athletes, and he has also co-organized and participated in five world records for freeflying head down in formation, including the mark of 69 people that was set in 2007 and still stands today. Flying is Mike’s passion and his job – when he’s not doing demos with the Red Bull Air Force, he’s busy coaching skydivers from around the world at his home drop zone in Perris Valley, California, while honing his own skills to an even higher level.

Although born in Duluth, Minnesota (1973), Mike grew up in Vermont. “My father has run the Malone Parachute Club in Swanton since I was five,” Mike says, “so I was there several days a week and grew up around skydiving. When my friends were at home playing baseball, I was at the drop zone.” As a 16-year-old, Mike made his first solo skydive in New York, and two years later he took his first B.A.S.E. jump at West Virginia’s epic New River Gorge. Since then, he’s made more than 16,000 skydives, jumping from as high as 25,000 feet. Licensed to teach and coach, as well as to fly a plane, Mike just grins at the mention of some of his more esoteric achievements, like earning the “Dolphin D” license. (The hardest challenge in a series of freeflying tests, the Dolphin D requires performing aerobatics while simultaneously catching, releasing, and catching two plummeting lead balls.)

These days, Mike still has a lot of balls in the air. People come from all over the world to be coached by Mike and fellow RBAF athletes Jon DeVore and Eli Thompson at the Freefly Mega Center. “I’m someone people tend to contact when they get serious about wanting to learn,” he states. ”We can work with individuals or groups.” And then there’s the training Mike does for himself, like learning to soar in a wingsuit for the upcoming film “Human Flight 3D,” or ramping up his B.A.S.E. jumping skills. “Skydiving, particularly freeflying, is definitely my focus, but I’ve competed in swoop competitions and am doing a lot more B.A.S.E. jumping than I used to,” Mike comments. “My dream swoop would be the Lincoln Memorial.”
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Good Morning America

By Mike Swanson July 18, 2010 at 11:05

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/flight-utah-desert-11191143
This is a story Good Morning America ran on us this morning. Check it out.

Also posted in BASE, Featured, Jon, Jon's_POV, Mike, Mike's_POV, Miles, Miles'_POV, video | Tagged base jumping, Good Morning America, Jon Devore, mike swanson, Miles Daisher, Red Bull Air Force, Stunt, wing suits | Leave a comment

Lodi

By Mike Swanson April 7, 2010 at 14:01
Also posted in Mike, STATUS | Leave a comment
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New York Red Bull Arena Jump

By Mike Swanson March 27, 2010 at 20:09

Here we are jumping into the new Red Bull Arena for the home opener of the New York Red Bulls MLS season. Definitely the tightest stadium we have ever jumped into by far. Good times for sure!

Also posted in Featured, Jon, Mike, Mike's_POV, Othar, Othar's_POV, SKYDIVING, video | Tagged Jon Devore, mike swanson, New York Red Bulls, Othar Lawrence, Red Bull Airforce, skydive | 8 Comments
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awesome day of speed flying! heading to the opening of the new Red Bulls stadium in the am

By Mike Swanson March 18, 2010 at 18:33
Also posted in PARAGLIDING, SKYDIVING, STATUS | Leave a comment
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Back in sebastian filming 3D Human Flight

By Mike Swanson February 4, 2010 at 18:16

In Sebastian filming 3D Human Flight. Photo’s Jeff Nebelkopf fogheadstudios.com

Also posted in Andy, Clint, Jon, Mike, Miles, SKYDIVING, photo | Tagged Andy Farrington, clint clawson, Jeff Nebelkopf, Jon Devore, mike swanson, Miles Daisher, Red Bull Air Force, wing suit | 3 Comments
Status:

Heading back to Chicago!

By Mike Swanson July 27, 2010 at 07:42

really?getting warmera little puckeredhucktasticturn it to 11 ← RATE IT
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Posted in STATUS | Leave a comment

Heading back to Chicago!

By Mike Swanson July 27, 2010 at 07:42

really?getting warmera little puckeredhucktasticturn it to 11 ← RATE IT
Loading ... Loading ...
Posted in STATUS | Leave a comment
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More Balloon Fest Photos

By Mike Swanson July 27, 2010 at 07:38

IMG_2272IMG_2245IMG_2305CV_072510_AirForce_ 658IMG_2265

really?getting warmera little puckeredhucktasticturn it to 11 (3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
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Posted in Featured, Jon, Mike, Miles, SKYDIVING, photo | Tagged Balloon Fest, Red Bull Air Force | Leave a comment
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Good Morning America

By Mike Swanson July 18, 2010 at 11:05

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/flight-utah-desert-11191143

This is a story Good Morning America ran on us this morning. Check it out.

really?getting warmera little puckeredhucktasticturn it to 11 (2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ... Loading ...
Posted in BASE, Featured, Jon, Jon's_POV, MOBILE, Mike, Mike's_POV, Miles, Miles'_POV, video | Tagged base jumping, Good Morning America, Jon Devore, mike swanson, Miles Daisher, Red Bull Air Force, Stunt, wing suits | Leave a comment
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heading out for 2 weeks in chicago

By Mike Swanson July 7, 2010 at 08:22

really?getting warmera little puckeredhucktasticturn it to 11 (2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)
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Posted in STATUS | Leave a comment
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Flying off the High Nose pictures by Andy Farrington

By Mike Swanson June 28, 2010 at 12:22

IMG_0898IMG_0892

really?getting warmera little puckeredhucktasticturn it to 11 (4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)
Loading ... Loading ...
Posted in Andy's_POV, BASE, Featured, Mike, POV, photo | Tagged Andy Farrington, BASE, mike swanson, Red Bull Air Force, wing suit | 2 Comments
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