Rob Laidlaw | D-32405

Profiles
Friday, January 31, 2025

Photo by: Scotty Burns

Around 50 years ago, Rob Laidlaw was a static-line jumpmaster at a small drop zone in Penimba, North Dakota. More than 24,000 jumps later, he has brought his passion for education to skydivers worldwide with Skydive University, which has innovated the way we teach our sport to new and experienced jumpers alike. Along the way, he has picked up more than a few medals as a member of the Canadian 4- and 8-way formation skydiving teams, as well as being a part of several largest-formation world records dating back to the first 100-way. For Parachutist’s 300th profile, it recognizes a jumper who has given back to the sport on a magnitude that few others ever have.

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“Rob started skydiving before many of Parachutist’s readers were born. He has been a champion of education for many years, and has improved training for students and instructors.“ –Wendy Faulkner, Parachutist profile #150

Age: 71
Height: 6’
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Nationality: American
Marital Status: Divorced
Children: One: Cole Laidlaw
Pets: Cat (Toro)
Education: Diploma of Agriculture
Pet Peeves: When leaders or examiners shoot from the hip, accusing others or threatening rating revocations without applying proper conflict resolution process. Number one: Get reports from all affected parties.
Hobbies: Kayaking, pool, hanging out with my granddaughter
Favorite Food: Asian and spicy
Life Philosophy: Live healthy, be positive and respectful to people and be close to family.
Jump Philosophy: Have fun, be positive, motivate and inspire. Focus on quality.
Team Name: Kaizen, Go, Osmose (Canadian national teams) and many more
Sponsors: Advanced Aerospace Designs Vigil, Alti-2, Performance Designs and United Parachute Technologies
Container: UPT Micron
Main Canopy: PD Storm 120, Valkyrie 96
Reserve Canopy: PD Optimum 143
AAD: Vigil
Disciplines: Coaching, FS
Home Drop Zone: Skydive DeLand in Florida
Year of First Jump: 1973
Licenses/Ratings: Canadian: USPA Coach, AFF-I and ERC Examiner. Many Canadian ratings (not renewed).
Records: Largest formation skydive in 1986 (100-way), 1987 (120-way), 1991 (200-way), 2004 (357-way) and 2006 (400-way); two-point sequential 110-way in 2013 and 10 medals on the world stage from 1979-85 in 4- and 8-way.
Total Jumps: 24,297
  FS: 13,500
  CF: 1,000
  Accuracy: 600
  Camera: 500
  Instructor/evaluator: 8,364
Cutaways: 60

What do you like most about the sport?
 All the people I have met all over the world. I contemplated becoming only a recreational jumper in 1979, but after what I thought was my last tour of courses across Canada, realized how many friends I would never see and that all my world circle would cease. I moved to DeLand Florida to go full in.

What do you like least?
The skygod stage of skydiver life. I was there a long time ago and appreciate embracing psychology and a more “all about you” attitude.

Who have been your mentors?
Mirror Image and B.J. Worth.

Is there one jump that stands out the most?
The 357-way world record. We flew into an unknown airport to get around the weather, and built the record against all odds.

What are your future goals?
To pass on my 49 years of teaching experience to the world. I am presently working with the USPA SIM rewrite group and the IRM and EEM rewrite groups. Specifically Coach, AFFI and Examiner training.

How did you become interested in skydiving?
My mother sent me (this is true). My mother and I saw a water jump when I was very young, and it captured my interest. When she suggested it years later, I immediately agreed.

What safety item do you think is most important or most often neglected?
Flight planning and pattern discipline. Swoopers and regular pattern flyers needs to be split up, ego put aside.

I skydive because …
Initially, it was my passion for relative work and jumping with others. My desire to become a skydiver who could do sequential relative work was unquenchable. Once accomplished, world champion, master examiner and program developer, I was asked why I continued, what was there to accomplish? My renewed motivation was the implementation of psychology into our skydiving coach programs in Canada and Skydive University. I find the challenge of applying psychology to training at all levels and all courses I teach very fulfilling.

Any suggestions for students?
Mind over matter. We are participating in an activity that goes against all our natural instincts. The faster we can relax, the sooner we will experience a surge in success. Flying in freefall is subtle, and over-effort will work against you. Relax and enjoy the experience.

If everyone could do something to make the earth a better place to live, what would it be?
Be energy-efficient, recycle and implement measures to keep the environment clean.

Worst skydiving moment?
The loss of my founding Skydive University partner, Tom Piras, was a profound moment in my life. Together, we trained, competed, coached and participated in countless fun events throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. His passion, talent and dedication left an indelible mark on both my personal journey and the sport of skydiving.

What is your favorite jump plane?
A Twin Otter. I first chartered a Twin Otter to fly at Gimli, Manitoba in 1976-77. I love coaching from the Otter as the side door exits are more technical than other aircraft (Cessna or tailgate).

What do you consider your most significant life achievement?
In 1980, I had the opportunity to join a Coaching Working Committee (CWC) under the guidance of the Coaching Association of Canada to develop coaching programs for skydiving. At that time, the offer was particularly attractive as the sport of skydiving was experiencing an identity crisis—debating whether we were truly a sport or merely a military airborne activity.

Throughout 10 to 11 years, I served as a member of the CWC and eventually became its chairman, during which I oversaw the release of the first three coaching levels for our sport. This foundational work was further advanced when I moved to Florida and, alongside Tom Piras, established Skydive University. Together, we developed the FS program Basic Body Flight, and the BBF Coach program, which set a new global standard for what coaching could be and underscored its value to the sport of skydiving.

Of all my contributions to skydiving, I consider the introduction and implementation of coaching as a cornerstone of our sport to be my proudest achievement. It helped define skydiving as a legitimate sport and elevated its standards on a global scale.