Atlanta Skydiving Center Instructor Jim Vance took 1st place in the first competition of the year for the Florida League of the Canopy Piloting Circuit last week. Close behind were ASC Instructors Tyler Lawson (3rd place) and Chuck Owen (5th)! Woohoo!

Vance (pictured right) took home $200 and a new Neptune for the win. The Atlanta Skydiving swoop team will compete again next month in the second competition. Jessica Edgeington and Kenny Pugh plan on competing as well. Swoop, baby, swoop!

Scott Shell completed his B-License requirements when he passed the written test last week. Nice job, Scott!

We have two new skydivers in our midst. Martin Baldazo graduated the student program at Atlanta Skydiving Center under the watchful eye of Jim Vance. Meanwhile, Callie Hulsey graduated when she passed the level 7. Callie has been around skydiving for the last few years as she works at manifest, as well as in the reservations office. Fill up the beer fridge Callie and Martin!

Team One released its Good Vibes boogie DVD last weekend. What a piece of work! Chuck Owen (pictured left) is definitely the star of the show from his description of skydiving, to his night with Debo. SunMan, Michael B., Ron Stamey and Lucas put together a great collection of skydives and ground footage for the DVD. The team is selling the DVD for $20. Team One will be organizing at Atlanta Skydiving Center again May 14-15. Don't miss it!

Chuting Star Rigging Loft became an authorized "SkyHook" installation center for Relative Workshop last week. FAA Master Rigger Mike Gruwell spent last week at the Vector factory installing the SkyHook system, which turns a cutaway main canopy into a direct bag pilot chute system for the reserve canopy. The system is used exclusively on Relative Workshop Sigmas and Vectors.

Meanwhile, rigger-in-training Blythe Jordan (pictured right) was set to finish up her FAA Senior Rigger requirements in Chicago, but a last-second cancelled AirTran flight put a damper on those plans. Blythe will continue to work under the supervision of Chutingstar riggers, and will complete her testing in the fall.

Laura O'Dowd is back! She returned this weekend from her extended vacation in Australia with Darren Doyle. Welcome home!

For all of you crazy early-morning skydivers, the Breakfast Club of Canopy Piloting is back for the season! Starting this Thursday morning, we will have the first load off the ground at 8 a.m. Come work on those canopy skills in the cool, calm early-morning air.

Local spin master Barry Bond plans to join us again this Saturday night. Barry plans to make his first skydive with us before the party Saturday night, so we can welcome back our favorite DJ as a new skydiver. Everyone had a great time last month when Barry came out, so this weekend should be a blast! So don't miss out this weekend, come for the great skydives and stay for the party!