Experienced competitor, test jumper, and PD rep with how setting intentional goals accelerate real progression
Evolving Goals in Skydiving
Skydiving has a funny way of reshaping what we think we’re chasing.
I know it’s a cliché, but if you’d told me 15 years ago that I would be where I am today, doing the things I’m doing, with the people I’m doing them with, I would have rolled my eyes and gone right back to struggling to fit my 190 into a bag that was plenty big enough. But here I am.
Don’t get me wrong, I had aspirations for my skydiving career. What it has evolved into, though, has surpassed my wildest dreams. Dreams I didn’t even know I was chasing.
Learning How to Aim
Over the years, my relationship with goals has taken a lot of different forms.
I’ve charged headfirst into credit card debt, vowing not to stop until I could fly circles around any tunnel instructor in the world. I’ve slowed things way down into an almost zen-like pace, trying to use “the force” to Jedi mind-trick my goals into meeting me when the time was right. I’ve even looked the other direction entirely, hoping my body would just absorb whatever it needed without me forcing it — the skydiving equivalent of pretending not to care how long that Linkin Park song took to download on LimeWire. Surely that helped, right?
The approach that’s worked best for me, though, has been a reasonably stoic one. Stoicism isn’t about resisting life. It’s about preparing carefully, acting intentionally, and accepting whatever unfolds without fighting it.
Photo by Buzz
Big Dreams vs. Small Steps
So how do you relate to your goals?
Do you like tackling progression with multiple short-term goals, or do you prefer one big, shiny endgame to plug away at? Personally, I’ve never had a single vision that I must obtain at all costs. I prefer smaller, achievable goals that act like stepping stones toward a larger objective.
I’m the type of person who writes “make to-do list” at the top of my to-do list.
That said, I always have a general direction I’m working toward — whether that’s flying head down, competing in freefly, winning a medal, or even one day flying a Peregrine. But I also make peace with the fact that things can change. Sometimes they change for the better, like finding yourself in an even more incredible position… say, working for the company that actually makes the Peregrine.
Turning Dreams Into Workable Goals
If you want to progress and achieve in this sport, goals are your friend. The key is learning to separate goals from dreams.
Dreams are absolutely achievable in skydiving, but trying to work directly toward a dream can feel overwhelming. The solution is to break that dream down into clear, simplified goals that give you something concrete to work on.
Let’s say you want to be a Swoop World Champion. Amazing. To be a world champion at anything, you need mastery. That means learning everything you can about the discipline and figuring out where you currently stand.
How’s your canopy handling? Can you land near your target every time? If yes, great. If not, there’s your first goal.
One of the most valuable resources in skydiving is coaching. There’s an abundance of it across all disciplines, and it’s almost never a bad idea to seek it out. Find a coach who works for you and get to work. Be realistic about how much time you can spend at the dropzone and how much disposable income you have, and plan accordingly. Talk to your coach about the next achievable checkpoint and keep moving forward — like a monkey swinging from one vine to the next.
Your experience, knowledge, and skill will grow, and your goals — and even your dreams — will start to feel closer.
Photo by Buzz
When the Outcome Changes
Here’s the slightly harsher truth: not everyone who dreams of being a world champion will become one — and that’s okay.
That doesn’t mean the journey wasn’t a success. The dedication and progression almost always open doors you didn’t even know existed at the start. Being active instead of passive has helped me see opportunities where others saw dead ends.
Weather cancels jumping? Stay and debrief.
Can’t afford a new canopy? Learn everything you can about the one you have.
Staying positive and willing to evolve with my career as it unfolds has been my secret weapon. When one door closes, another often opens, but only if you’re paying attention.
