What do you do for a living?
I’m currently freelancing as an indoor skydiving coach. I will start working soon at Windoor again as an instructor, but will continue organising tunnel camps around the world.
How many jumps do you have, over how long? Any idea how many tunnel hours, over how many years?
I have around 500 jumps over a 6 year period, most of them I did in the last 3 years. I’ve been focusing and investing my time in tunnel flying, not sure how many hours I have, I would say personal training well over 1,000 hours, tunnel coaching and working even more.
Photo by Ewan Cowie
Which came first, jumping or tunnel?
I started working in the tunnel first, at Windoor.
What country are you from? Where do you live and why?
Originally born in the UK, never lived there though. When I was about three months old my parents moved to Spain, I’ve been here ever since
How many languages do you speak?
I speak three languages, English, Spanish and Catalan. I learned English at home and Spanish and Catalan at school and with friends.
Describe yourself in 5 words or less
Obsessively motivated and disciplined, kind and happy.
Am I correct you used to jump but now sold your rig ? Why?
Yes, I just sold my rig, tunnel time is expensive and needed the cash to help pay for my training for this upcoming competition. I plan on skydiving again when I’m not training so much in the tunnel.
Photo by Ewan Cowie
Please list your skydiving/tunnel achievements, claims to fame
Gold medals (5)
- UK nationals 2019 2way dynamic
- 4way dynamic French nationals 2021
- 4way Belgian open 2019
- Dubai desert storm 2way dynamic 2021
- Chinese nationals solo speed 2024
Silver medals (8)
- World championship WISC 2019 2way dynamic
- French nationals 2way dynamic 2021
- Wind Games 4way dynamic 2020
- Wind Games speed races 2020
- Dubai Desert Storm 2way VFS 2021
- Belgian open 2way dynamic 2018
- Belgian open 2way dynamic 2019
- Wind Games 2way dynamic 2024
Bronze medals (7)
- Clash of lions ifly Lyon 2017 4way dynamic
- Wind Games 4way dynamic 2017
- Wind Games speed races 2019
- Wind Games 4way dynamic 2019
- Wind Games 4way vfs 2020
- Wind Games 4way dynamic 2024
- Wind Games solo speed 2024
You said you are training right now, what for?
I’m training for the Indoor World Cup in Macau. I will be representing Spain with my teammate César, in 2way dynamic.
What does your training plan look like?
For now we’ve been training a lot at Windoor Empuriabrava. We will continue training at ifly Shenzhen, then the last bit of training at the competition tunnel just before the meet.
How is your training going before the world champs in Macau?
So far so good. I love the tunnel here in Macau, very powerful and smooth
What are your goals for that competition?
We have seen that the level of the flyers is higher than ever, there are so many very good teams that have trained a lot for this. The sport is reaching such high levels now, and these teams are pushing it further. Very impressive! We will do our best, it will be very tough. But our goal is always to win. You never know what can happen during the competition.
Who are the teams to watch out for at the World Cup?
Singapore, USA and France are the strongest I’ve seen so far.
Photo by Ewan Cowie
Whom do you admire, who are your mentors?
My current teammate César, one of the best flyers out there.
Josh O Donoghue, my old teammate. He was my instructor examiner, we represented Britain together and won a silver medal at the world championship.
You decided to work at Windoor, Empuriabravae rather than ifly Shenzhen, in in China, why did you choose Windoor?
I feel at home at Windoor, with my friends and family. Also, I will still have the freedom to come back to China or anywhere else I want to go to organise camps.
How was the Wind Games for you? I know you won bronze in solo speed, silver in D2W, and bronze for D4W.
Very happy with the results, always a pleasure to win a medal. Love the atmosphere at this competition.
What’s it like, training and competing with Dani?
It’s great, we have known and worked with each other for years. He’s an awesome flyer, we didn’t have much time to train so we’reboth really chuffed with the results.
Photo by Ewan Cowie
How was your 4-way dynamic team (Eaglets Fanatics Arena) put together and how much training did you have?
It was a last-minute team. We trained around 90- minutes I think in total. It was great fun! We had the best flyers of the competition in my opinion, if we had trained more I think we could have done better.
How do the different disciplines of solo speed, D2W and D4W compare? What do you like about each and do you have a favourite?
It’s hard for me to say what one I like more. 4way is the most fun, 2way I take more seriously and solo I love to push my own limits.
Everyone seems to love the Wind Games – why do you think that is?
It’s well organised, the event has a great atmosphere. They never disappoint with the livestream. It’s been a pioneer in many disciplines, adding music to the routines and inventing solo speed.
Photo by Ewan Cowie
What was your favourite tunnel moment of all time?
The World Championship was the most memorable experience I’ve had so far. Getting a silver medal at a competition like that has been one of my greatest achievements.
Do you have any sponsors, if so, who?
Vertigen for suits, currently we are also being sponsored by ifly Shenzhen, the tunnel here in China.
When not flying what do you like to do?
I’m a very active person, I keep fit. Also love skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, wakeboarding… I’m up for doing and trying most sports, especially board sports.
What is your next career move?
I want to keep doing what I’m doing, keep training, learning and getting better. I’m lucky enough to really enjoy competing and teaching this sport.
Any ultimate goals in the sport?
To be one of the best competitors and coaches out there.
Thank you for your time, and good luck at the World Cup Lewis!
You can follow the live stream of the Indoor World Skydiving Championships in Macau, 17-21 April 2024 here
Flying at Clymb with César Rico, Lewis’s current team mate
10way routine at Clymb, Abu Dhabi
You can check out more of Lewis on his instagram page
