Kathryn (Kate) Cooper-Jensen: Skydiving organizer and coach
Number of jumps, rough breakdown
11,500 – 10,000 FS, 700 FF, a handful of CF, Demo, BASE thrown in
Time in sport
38 years this November (wow!)
Equipment jumped
Pretty much everything along the way. What I’m currently jumping is: Aerodyne Icon, Aerodyne Zulu 112 and Pilot 117, Aerodyne Smart 110, Vigil AAD, Larsen & Brusgaard altimeters (audible and visual), Bev Suit and Kiss helmet.
Nationality, and where do you live?
Nationality USA, currently splitting my life 50% in Denmark (where I’ve lived for the last 8 years with my wonderful partner Carsten), 50% in the USA and 50% on the road (I’m not a math major obviously!)
Favorite place in the world to jump & why
Oooh, too difficult to narrow that down. For sheer beauty and craziness — VOSS!
For great support, aircraft, weather and people — PERRIS! For great margaritas on the beach post jumping — PUERTA VALLARTA! For great people and smiles — THAILAND!
Favorite wind tunnel & why?
Also hard to narrow down but I’d have to say Bodyflight in Bedford. Easy for me to get to (from Copenhagen), lovely tunnel and support from staff, amazing Bedford World Challenge every year, and (of course) the obligatory curry when we visit for training.
Skydiving achievements, claims to fame
16 World Records—most of which I’ve either organized directly or been on the organizing team, medals in regional and national competition.
Favorite skydiving moment(s)
Competing in the World Championships of skydiving in 2012 in Dubai for Denmark as part of the women’s team Danish Divas. We had almost no practice and managed to eke out a 6th place finish and stole the Fun Flag while we were there!
Describe yourself in 5 words or less
I see myself as a (the 5 words start here) happy, powerful, and passionate gypsy
Whom do you admire, who are your mentors?
I admire all those who paved the way for us in this sport — to be a pioneer in skydiving was a lot like being one of the original pioneers in the ‘old west’: hard work and dangerous 😀 I especially admire the women who have made such a powerful mark in our sport — Carolyn Clay, Eliana Rodriguez, Lise Nansen, Lesley Gale, Christy Frikken. I truly adore and admire Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld — and am proud to consider him not only a mentor but a friend.
Do you have a motto, or favorite quotation?
Depends on the time of day.
You enjoy 4-way, tell me about your last few teams
I LOVE 4 way — I learn more every year and it’s COOL TO LEARN! Prior two teams: Lady Vikings (women’s 4-way Denmark) and Danish Divas (women’s 4-way Denmark). The Divas competed in the World Championships of Skydiving in Dubai — epic event. At the same time as the women’s team I kept on a training 4 way team based in the US doing air and tunnel training. Now I’m VERY excited about our current team, Prime Pickles. Carsten and I have joined with two members of a past Danish national team and have a multi year plan to dominate the world(!)
How important is it for a Load Organizer to work on her own skills?
PARAMOUNT! I integrate all my skills routinely — tunnel, 4 way FS, big way FS. I learn from everyone that coaches me and I use (some would stay steal!) the phrases and tactics wherever possible. To be a great organizer you need to stay sharp and focused and at the top of your game — ground and air.
What do you enjoy about coaching big-ways?
The reward for me is the absolute joy I see in people’s eyes when they see how fun big ways can be. Big Ways can run from 20 to 200+ and it’s an amazing way to share the exhilaration of our sport with many other people at the same time.
Why did you start to organize women’s world records?
I started the Women’s World Records [WWR] in collaboration with my partners Tony Domenico, Mallory Lewis and Brad Hood as a fund raiser for Breast Cancer awareness. The Jump for the Cause [JFTC] events were all truly amazing—from inception to the last, successful jump on the (still existing) 181-way in 2009. I truly believe that the JFTC events could be my lasting contribution to the world and that we (ALL who were involved) made a huge different in other people’s lives as a result.
How is an all-female record different to a mixed gender event?
A lot like an all-female team differs from a mixed team. The vibes are quite a bit different and (surprisingly enough to me at first) very cool. The women truly blossom and thrive in such an environment.
How does canopy behavior differ?
That Y chromosome obviously causes the toggles to move quite a bit more than the X one. Just sayin’.
Have you seen the attitude to women in the sport change?
Hell yes! Some ways good; some ways less so but in all, much better. When I started you truly had to be a ‘tough chick’ to make it through — gear was stupidly heavy and bulky and was ‘one size fits no-one’. Now it’s easier to get into the sport strength- and size-wise and we’ve seen a lot of amazing women join the ranks as a result.
#When is your next Women’s Record event?
Now that you mention it—we have one scheduled for August/September of this year! It’s called ‘Women on Wings’, a sequential European Women’s record, at Skydive Teuge, in the Netherlands, working with my great friends and colleagues Lesley Gale, Lise Nansen, Alia Veselova and Marloes Swarthoff, who is heading up the event. Henny Wiggers is running the camera team, he has an outstanding line-up including George Katsoulis and Andrey Veselov. Henny’s also making breakfast for us women in the morning, how’s that for #PledgeForParity!
How are the invitations going?
After much Skype and email discussion between the five captains, we have almost filled our team of 50. The level of women is STELLAR! We have a phenomenal team and I can’t wait to get everyone together!
#What about those who aren’t on that halllowed list but still want to play?
The following year, 2017, we are running a European Women’s record, 100-plus, and are looking to recruit talent NOW. We are running a big-way camp this year, alongside the 50-way record, to coach skills in a highly mentored, no-fault environment. That is the PERFECT place to learn good technique and put yourself in front of the selection team.
What are you looking for?
We’re looking for well-rounded individuals who show strength not only in big-way but also in team jumping (4 or 8 way) and tunnel. We want people who have shown themselves to be great teammates both on the ground and in the air. We also weigh quite heavily canopy control for safety reasons.
Can anyone apply for the big-way camp?
YES! Provided you have basic formation skydiving and canopy skills. Join in now! We even take boys too! [on the camp not the record]
What is the biggest single thing we could do to improve safety in the sport?
This will not be overly popular but… upsize canopy size and downsize performance. Everyone should train canopy awareness just as they train EPs.
What can we do to improve safety on big-ways?
There have been horrible accidents on large formations — from canopy collisions and from slow (or ill performed) Emergency Procedures (EPs). Neither should EVER happen in our sport — from 4-way to 400-way. For canopy awareness, NEVER make a turn close to the ground. Landing in a ‘cool’ area isn’t if you’re injured or killed getting there. I’m a big fan (personally) of the ‘Land alone’ club, especially at unfamiliar dropzones. As for Emergency Procedures—this one alone has taken (or nearly taken) many experienced and inexperienced jumpers alike. TRAIN THIS — never be complacent. If you feel your parachute is not 100% perfect then GET RID OF IT.
