Jeremy Thornton

The Athlete

Growing up as a very timid kid, the idea that skydiving could be a "normal" activity for someone like me never entered my mind even though I knew full well it was a thing, having watched the parachutes land at Harvey Airfield in Snohomish, WA. That is, at least not until 2012 when a college friend suggested going skydiving as part of his bachelor party. Partly due to a sparked curiosity, partly due to stubbornness about the sensory overload I experienced, and encouraged by a skydiver friend from work, I decided to start AFF at Jumptown a month later. Battling through a stomach doing its own spin cycle, it only took a category A skydive to be completely hooked. It's one of those things that tickles the brain in just the right spot. There's the thrill, the feelings of freedom, accomplishment and camaraderie, the never-ending opportunity for learning, growth and development, and the feeling of relief on a skydive knowing everything else can wait that keeps me in it.

As a self-described weekend warrior, I could never pull the trigger and walk away from the corporate world. However, I hate half measures and feel I've done well to make the most of what this sport can offer. I can't take all the credit though, as I've been extremely fortunate in all the mentorship that's been available to me from the start. Regardless of if it's professional or recreational, I'm an information sponge with a strong desire to apply whatever knowledge I gain in ways to better myself and my environment (physical, social, metaphorical, whatever). Since 2012, I've run the gamut of the weekend fun jumper to working in video rotations to low-stakes competition, to the much higher stakes of a senior rigger, an AFF-I, and a canopy instructor with The Alter Ego Project. Like many, my focuses in skydiving have varied from year to year, but that's part of what's led me to discover the breadth of amazing people and experiences that I have. Early on, that devotion (and financial irreverence) was to freefly and movement in both the sky and tunnel in all its forms. More recently, that passion has shifted heavily to just about anything to do with canopy flight, with a special place held for high performance flocking. By far the most amazing experience in pursuit of that interest to date was getting to be involved in Operation VK.

Currently located in Massachusetts, you'll find me keeping busy teaching canopy courses at the regional dropzones, teaching AFF, doing some organizing here and there, and playing around on Jumptown's swoop pond. When I'm not doing that, odds are I'm chasing something related to canopy piloting and flocking or a friend and I "had this great idea, no seriously." Current personal goals are largely centered around flying fast parachutes in proximity to other things, some moving, some stationary. I'm always keeping an eye open for new avenues for creativity and personal challenge in skydiving, but the biggest drive at home is a promise I made to myself upon earning my AFF rating (and later joining with Alter Ego) to have the biggest positive impact I can on canopy piloting safety, ability and confidence of the skydivers I cross paths with.

Beyond the skydiving life, I work as a semiconductor logic design engineer with a degree from RIT in Rochester, NY. I find joy in tinkering and discovering ways to make technology integration and automation simple, intuitive and effective, whether that applies to day-to-day living, skydiving, other hobbies, or just in how I avoid letting my home office and multimedia areas look like some sort of horror outside of the Matrix. It's not unusual to find me tooling endlessly with some random idea that isn't yet "just right."

The Rig

I've put at least one jump on just about every commonly found rig out there, and for me the Infinity has been the Goldilocks rig. The harness fit has been second to none, not loose but far from restrictive, like wearing a well-tailored suit. In freefall with the floating laterals, it just stays put no matter what I'm doing or my orientation (intentional or going on an exercise in interpretive AFF). After deployment, the double-wide leg straps also ensure I stay nice and comfortable, especially on high pulls. Plus I have yet to find another harness that feels so connected to the canopy. Pair that with the swoop risers with the upper guide ring and I've got a perfect recipe for my gear being a full, natural extension of my body. There's also a dedication to customer service and engineering in the quest for perfection from the company that gives me confidence beyond the tool itself.

And they're just pretty to look at…

The Stats

• Skydives: 2000+
• Ratings: AFF-I, Senior Rigger, Alter Ego Project instructor
• Home DZ: Jumptown (Orange, MA)
• Containers: Infinity I-11SN, I-12SN
• Main Canopies: Hybrid Valkyrie 75/71, Peregrine 64
• Reserve Canopies: Optimum 126
• AAD: Vigil Cuatro
• MA state head-down formation record
• FS videographer at USPA Nationals (still no video busts)
• Operation VK participant
• Once mistaken for a UFO/Chinese rocket/aerial invasion doing a night pyro flock at CSC
• Scoresheet developer for USCPA

Sponsors

• Velocity Sports Equipment
• Performance Designs
• Larsen & Brusgaard
• The Alter Ego Project