Super SIS

A Parachutist Photo Essay

Features
Sunday, March 1, 2020

Amy Benton and Chazi Blacksher of The Working Girls event organizing team, along with a team of heroic volunteers, created the wonderful superhero-themed Super SIS Weekend at Skydive Arizona in Eloy January 24-26. The drop zone, Firebird and Larsen & Brusgaard heavily supported the Sisters in Skydiving event, which took place alongside the Women’s Skydiving Network’s Project 19 Phase 3 Camp that helped prepare participants for this year’s women’s head-down world record attempts. The coordinated SIS and Project 19 events drew more than 100 women, all of whom graced Skydive Arizona with their positive energy, laser focus and lots of laughter. To support the crowds, the drop zone flew multiple Super Twin Otters, a Skyvan and even the DC-3!

Emily Quinn organized a huck jam at the Skyventure Arizona wind tunnel on Thursday night to kick off the event. Then the participants watched a short video about seatbelts and were off and running all weekend with tunnel sessions, lots of jumps and parties. The Saturday night activity—a film fest and dinner at the Bent Prop Saloon & Cookery—was a big success. Kandace Rawling and IPT provided custom SIS Superhero capes and masks to those voted to be a SuperSIS by their peers. Gen Montreuil won the film fest with her entry “100 for 19,” which highlighted two women who are working hard to attain their skydiving goals by being on the Project 19 record attempts.

Onsite vendors Rigging Innovations, Square 2, SSK Industries, Sun Path Products and United Parachute Technologies provided breakfast and snacks during the event and Aerodyne Research, Cookie Helmets, Firebird, Flight-1, Icarus, iFly, Innovative Parachute Technologies, Levity, Performance Designs, Rigging Innovations, Skydive Arizona, SSK Industries, Sun Path Products, Tony Suits and Vertical Suits provided lots of swag and prizes. In addition, ladies could win massage certificates courtesy of Toltec Wellness, a balloon jump from Droplyne and a treatment from Hidden Rhythm Acupuncture.

The power of SIS was felt for days and days after the event. The friendships forged from this one weekend are sure to last for years.

Chazi Blacksher | D-28539
Eloy, Arizona