Skydiving Rings in New Year on a 'High' Note as Safety, Popularity Soars

U.S. Parachute Association Sets 45-Year Safety Record, Reports Record
Membership Increase

FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Things are looking up for the
skydiving industry.
According to the U.S. Parachute Association (USPA), America's premier
skydiving association, 2007 made history as the year skydiving took a dramatic
turn upward as one of the most popular adrenaline sports in the nation.
USPA reports that 2007 was one of the safest on record with 18 skydiver
fatalities -- out of over 2.5 million jumps. That number surpasses a 1962
record for skydiving's fewest accidents.
Considering that in the early 1960s, USPA was only about 10% of its
current size with 3,353 members and the aggregate number of jumps was
considerably less than today's 2 million+ jumps, this record stands out even
more as a testament to years of strict safety standards, training policies and
programs.
"This has been a group effort," said Ed Scott, Executive Director of USPA.
"USPA policies have been applied by every skydiver in the nation, as well as
coaches, instructors, safety/training advisors, drop zone owners, riggers,
pilots, manufacturers and gear distributors. We should all take pride in the
strides we have made in skydiving safety the past half century."
And the good news doesn't end there. Significantly more people are taking
up the sport.
USPA membership soared in 2007, with a significant number of new skydivers
joining its ranks. USPA ended 2007 with more members (31,264) than the
previous year for the first time since 2002. The total number of new members
in 2007 was 4,900, reversing a five-year downward trend; it's also the highest
number of new members since 2003.
The skydiving industry also saw an unprecedented upturn in the number of
skydiving licenses issued by USPA; more than at any point in the last four
years.
USPA's 2007 Skydiving Review with additional stats/demographics will be
released in early spring.
USPA is dedicated to the promotion of safe skydiving nationwide,
establishing strict safety standards, training policies and programs at 200+
affiliated skydiving schools/centers. The Federal Aviation Administration
recognizes and supports USPA's successful leadership role in the self-
regulation of skydiving.
USPA hosts the National Skydiving Championships, the sport's largest and
most exciting annual competition, October 18-25, 2008 (Skydive Arizona).
Information: 1-800-371-USPA, http://www.USPA.org.

CONTACT: Robert Arends/Jean Walcher
619-295-7140
robert@jwalcher.com, jean@jwalcher.com

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click
appropriate link.
Jean Walcher
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=5159

SOURCE U.S. Parachute Association

Robert Arends, robert@jwalcher.com, or Jean Walcher, jean@jwalcher.com, both
for U.S. Parachute Association, +1-619-295-7140