{"id":34133,"date":"2021-06-09T10:54:07","date_gmt":"2021-06-09T10:54:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=34133"},"modified":"2021-06-09T10:55:49","modified_gmt":"2021-06-09T10:55:49","slug":"catching-up-with-sdc-cores-jruss-and-steph-strange","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/catching-up-with-sdc-cores-jruss-and-steph-strange\/","title":{"rendered":"Catching up with SDC CORE\u2019s JRuss and Steph Strange"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Jason Russell and Stephanie Strange
Image by Dennis Sattler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Determined. Unstoppable. Fierce.<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just a few words that describe the incredible couple on the World Chaampion 4-Way VFS team, SDC Core… Meet Steph and JRuss! <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

SDC Core have dominated the 4-Way VFS scene for over a decade and are clear leaders in the vertical world. Today we get to spend a little time getting to know these two a little better…\u00a0<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An interesting journey from the AFF course to being VFS champions
Photo courtesy of SDC Core<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Growing up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Steph grew up in what she calls, \u201cthe middle of nowhere Colorado.\u201d She she studied and was into basketball. Steph remembers catching toads and lizards with her brother. JRuss recalls growing up in \u2018sheltered suburbia,\u2019 Appleton, Wisconsin. While Steph was into playing outside, JRuss\u2019s childhood consisted of playing a lot of Dungeons and Dragons.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn high school, my parents had a rule that I had to play sports, or I’d have to get a job,\u201d Steph recalls. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to run track so I got a job at the small skydiving club called, Front Range Skydivers. I worked in the store selling tickets and snacks to jumpers.\u201d She remembered at that young age that skydivers were a little nuts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the time, I\u2019d never even flown in a commercial airplane, but when I turned 18, all the staff decided I was going to do my first jump. I didn\u2019t really want to and was terrified from gearing up, getting in the plane, flying to altitude\u2026 but the second we were outside the door, I fell in love with skydiving. I knew instantly that I was going to figure out how to make skydiving my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the second we were outside the door, I fell in love with skydiving<\/p>Steph <\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Winning the gold medal at the 2018 FAI World Meet in Australia
Photo by Steve Fitch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First jump<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

JRuss remembers a friend of his doing a tandem and said he wanted to learn. He then asked JRuss if he wanted to. \u201cI was constantly recovering from motocross injuries \u2013 multiple knee reconstructions \u2013 and thought, skydiving might be a fun and less dangerous sport.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the way to the dropzone for JRuss\u2019 first jump, a series of random things happened that seemed like a sign he shouldn\u2019t jump. \u201cOn the way we accidentally ran over a squirrel and my buddy said it was a sign we shouldn\u2019t jump. But we went anyway. My AFF Instructor in the ground school was super hungover which seemed like another obvious sign we shouldn\u2019t jump.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

JRuss shared his first jump story, \u201cI remember the pilot chute had an old PVC handle. I couldn\u2019t find the handle in freefall so my instructor tried to assist but instead, he put his finger through the PVC handle. Then I grabbed onto his hand. He pulled his hand to get away from the grip and deployed my pilot chute at a high altitude. I spent the entire canopy ride thinking that I failed because he pulled the pilot chute!\u201d However, JRuss was a pretty good student. His instructor\u2019s combined his level 4 and 5 jumps and while he celebrated in front of the other staff, the dropzone owner was mad that his instructors did that because he wouldn\u2019t get money for the Level 5!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Steph knew skydiving was for her, the biggest catch was that she was 18, broke, and about to start college. \u201cIt was 3 years later that I went through AFF during the Holiday Boogie at Skydive Arizona. I remember on my first AFF we actually landed in the plane because it was too windy for me to jump. After we touched down in the plane, it swerved and hit a fence! That was pretty scary for me! However, I got back up and did well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The “golden” couple – Steph and JRuss
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Strange<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tunnel meeting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

JRuss owned a bar in Boulder, Colorado, and did AFF\/Tandem video on the weekends. He sold his bar when he became a tunnel instructor and still side hustled as a bartender. And that\u2019s when they first met \u2013 at the tunnel in Colorado. Steph said, \u201cI was a front counter staff and Jason was an instructor. When Colorado first opened they were very generous with staff flight time and I was hooked and I wanted to fly every second that I could and so did Jason. I was only allowed to fly with an instructor and most of the instructors never wanted to fly, but Jason always did. I always looked forward to the days he worked so that I could fly and learn more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At fifty jumps Steph became a tunnel instructor. \u201cAt the time I said I didn\u2019t want to work in skydiving because it was my \u201cfun\u201d thing. However, I got an opportunity to work overseas at Skydive Dubai doing tandem video. I eventually got my AFF rating after 500 jumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A year later JRuss moved to Abu Dhabi and JRuss asked Skydive Dubai if they could form a VFS team with a few other staff members. It was approved and they began by working AFF and video jobs and then training VFS after. Steph continued, \u201cWhen we came back to work the next winter, the company changed our job to train VFS full-time. Having that as my job was pretty epic!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That opportunity gave the duo a chance to learn and grow as skydivers and become really proficient in all things VFS. JRuss added, \u201cWhen we moved back to the US, making skydiving our career just seemed to come naturally. Having all these experiences and being able to pass it on to younger jumpers allows us to keep doing what we love, and help others reach their goals.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Training VFS full-time as my job was pretty epic<\/p>JRuss<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
“Being on a team with Steph is great” – JRuss
Photo by David Cherry from D Squared <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Training together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When asked about what training is like together, Steph said, \u201cHe was my coach before we started dating. I think that helps us be on a team and be a couple. I know that if he\u2019s telling me something, it\u2019s just to be helpful.\u201d JRuss added, \u201cBeing on a team with Steph is great. Because we both work in skydiving, we often coach people on the same weekends but in different locations. So when we are team training, we get to be together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of their favorite memories of being on the team was at US Nationals at Skydive Chicago when they were on their former team, Skydive Dubai Nexus. \u201cWhen we were leaving Dubai for the States, I got told at Passport Control that I couldn\u2019t take the flight because my work visa in Dubai expired that day and wasn\u2019t canceled. The company we worked for told me that while in the States to add pages to my passport so when I returned, they would add the New York visa,\u201d Steph reminisced. \u201cThe team left a few days ahead of the competition which allowed me to sort out my visa issue. I arrived in Chicago just a few hours before the start of competition and the airline misplaced all my luggage! I borrowed a rig, shoes, a helmet, and weight belt. Luckily, our new jumpsuits were shipped to the DZ so I had my own jumpsuit! We ended up doing all 8 rounds in 1 day. I was sleeping in the plane \u2013 completely asleep during the ride to altitude \u2013 and my teammates would wake me up and we\u2019d go jump. Believe it or not, we ended up setting a World Record in one round and won the competition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was the lesson you learned? \u201cIt was a true test of distraction control!” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

FAI World Meet 2018 – 4-way VFS: SDC Core<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n