Karine Joly, World Champion, shares how having something to aim for changed everything, turning skydives from just fun into real progression, focus, and purpose
For a long time, I was just skydiving for fun. No real goal. No direction. Just chasing the fun. And it was great at first.
Eventually, I started seeing group jumps that looked really smooth, more structured, more technical, and I wanted to be part of that. I quickly realized I needed to raise my level first if I didn’t want to put others at risk. That became my first goal: build solid control in the basic positions, sit fly and head down, so I could safely join group jumps.
Building A Team
But when Greg and I decided to start a team, that’s when my perspective really shifted. At first, the goal was simple: step into competition and give Greg the chance to check that box. It had always been something he wanted to experience. Personally, I didn’t expect much from it at first. But as we started training with a clear objective: execute the compulsory moves, and it turned out to be incredibly stimulating. It gave me a new level of focus.
I started working on truly controlling my body in the air. Every small step toward getting a move right felt like a win. There was a lot to work on, all at once, but there was also a path. Clear steps. We rolled up our sleeves and tackled them one at a time. Progress became visible. Checking one box after another became addictive.
The road ahead felt endless, but it didn’t matter. I just wanted to keep progressing, at my own pace. At some point, something else hit me. Those training sessions brought me to a level of body control and awareness that made me realize how risky, and how lucky, I had been during all those early years of “just having fun.” Turns out, you can have fun without rolling the dice. And it feels even better when you know you’re in control, for yourself, and for the people flying around you.
Enter: Competition
As I stepped into the world of competition, my goals became more structured. Short-term: what do I need to achieve for the next meet?
Long-term: where do I actually want to go? The long-term goals became the drive. The short-term ones, the fuel.
At our first World Championship, we finished on the podium, just short of silver. That’s when I started to dare to dream bigger. Let’s get that gold. Why not? What if it’s possible? From that moment on, everything aligned toward that goal. Full commitment in every part of our lives. For 4 years, I had tunnel vision. Like a dart flying straight toward a target. My level kept growing. I was on a mission.
And we reached it. I hadn’t planned for what came next. For a while, I was still riding that high. And then a strange feeling crept in. I felt lost. I needed a new direction, a new goal. That’s when I realized something simple, but essential. I’ve always had goals in my life, learning to ride a bike, to swim, passing exams, getting a diploma, landing a job. I like having something to aim for. It gives me a sense of purpose.
Choosing Your Direction
Skydiving is demanding. It brings an incredible sense of freedom and joy, but the risks are real. Setting a goal that leads you toward real control of your body is not just about performance. It’s a smart approach.
It opens doors, giving you access to more types of jumps. And it teaches you a lot about yourself. Because progression is never linear. It goes up, it stalls, it dips, and then it rises again. That’s part of the process. If you want to move forward, start by asking yourself a simple question:
What resonates with you in this sport? Belly? Freefly? Freestyle? Canopy piloting? Wingsuit? Angle? Big ways?
Once you have a direction, even if it evolves later, find someone who’s already there. A coach. A mentor. Someone who can help you break the path down into steps. That’s how you build it: A long-term goal to guide you. Short-term goals to keep you moving.
Dare to dream big, and go after it. It might take you further than you ever expected.
