WSN /// Founding Member

Christy Frikken

Skydiving since 2001
Number of jumps: 15,000+

Christy Frikken coaches and competes in 4-way skydiving with SDC Rhythm XP. Before Rhythm she has been on many teams, including but not limited to, Perris Fury, Perris Wicked, and Perris Moxie. When she is not going fast herself, she is coaching others to go faster in the tunnel and sky.

WSN /// Founding Member

JaNette Lefkowitz

Skydiving since 2001
Number of jumps: 11,000+

A founding member of SDC Rhythm XP, the current US National 4 way Open competition team and world-class skydiving coaching organization. In 2019, she and her team realized a decade-long goal, winning the US Nationals in a jump-off round and earning selection as the US National Team in 4 way open. In addition to competing, she enjoys coaching and working with teams to plan and execute their own amazing seasons. Outside of skydiving she enjoys cooking, fitness, scuba diving, and traveling.

WSN Mobile Mentor ///

Elizabeth Alexander

Skydiving since 2014
Number of jumps: 500+

Coach, Load organizer, 20 hours in the wind tunnel and co-leads the A-License Club at Skydive Chicago. Fun facts: She loves to go snowboarding in the off-season, during weather holds she crochets Amigurumi and anything else she can dream up

WSN Mobile Mentor

Tamara Bartlett

Skydiving since 2014
Number of jumps: 500+

WSN Mobile Mentor
Fun facts: She loves neon colored suits, belly flying, and balloon jumps. In her non-skydiving time she likes to cook and make kombucha.

WSN Mobile Mentor

Sheryl Benner

Skydiving since 0000
Number of jumps: 0000

Passionate coach and competitor, Load organizer and WSN Mobile Mentor. Fun facts: 100+ hours in the wind tunnel, including vertical skills so she can fly in all orientations

WSN Mobile Mentor

WSN Mobile Mentor

Started Skydiving 2013
Number of jumps: 800+

Passionate 4/8-way competitor and mentor
Fun facts: She rocks the single mom status and is raising two teenage daughters to be independent powerful women. She hopes some day to contribute to women’s 4way FS by making the competition pool larger. She’d love to see multiple women’s teams competing for the US title.

WSN Mobile Mentor

Lauren Byrd

Started Skydiving 2011
Number of jumps: 1,800+

Coach, Load organizer, US National Women’s 4way Team member, organizer of the North Carolina Women’s State FS Record. Fun facts: In her spare time, she loves flying her Valkyrie and snuggling her kitties

WSN Mobile Mentor

Shannon Catalano

Skydiving since 2013
Number of jumps: 1,200+

Load organizer, AFF instructor, heads a post-AFF student coaching program. Fun facts: 4-way competitor and spends her free time flying in the wind tunnel and thinking about skydiving

WSN Mobile Mentor

Christina Chan

Started Skydiving 2016
Number of jumps: 300+

Passionate 4-way competitor and coach. Fun facts: 25 hours in the wind tunnel and counting

WSN Mobile Mentor

Amy Chmelecki

Started Skydiving 1996
Number of jumps: 19,000+

Red Bull Air Force Team Member, Highlight Pro Skydiving Team, Joy Ridders. Amy holds 17 World Records, 7 National Championships, 4 World Titles. From the moment I walked on to a drop zone when I was 18, I fell in love with the sport and never looked back.

WSN /// Executive Director

Melanie Curtis

Started Skydiving 1996
Number of jumps: 11,000+

Highlight Pro Skydiving team co-founder, Parachute industry association membership award.. Medals, Kittens & Double Rainbows…

WSN Mobile Mentor

Nell Flemer

Started Skydiving 2010
Number of jumps: 800

I fell in love with skydiving over a decade ago and it has transformed every aspect of my life. I have been fortunate to have exceptional female mentors and role models throughout my skydiving career, including Melissa Nelson Lowe, JaNette Lefkowitz, and Stephanie Strange. I am a rigger and tunnel instructor, and I am training to participate in the women’s vertical world record in 2022.

WSN Mobile Mentor

Jess Haugaard

Started Skydiving 2012
Number of jumps: 800+

Passionate 4/8-way competitor and coach, and teaching it to others, Coordinators for the Carolina Indoor Cloud League and 120+ hours in the wind tunnel. Fun facts: She teaches and molds young skydivers on the ground before slinging them out of aircraft

WSN Mobile Mentor

Tracy Holman

Started Skydiving 2013
Number of jumps: 500+

Passionate 4-way and MFS competitor, AFF Instructor and mentor to younger jumpers. Fun facts: She has been with the Women’s Skydiving Network since the inaugural conference in 2016

WSN Mobile Mentor

Jess Jacobson

Started Skydiving 2013
Number of jumps: 0000

Coach and a passionate formation skydiving competitor, organizer, and mentor for newer skydivers. Fun facts: When Jess isn’t skydiving, taking care of her two children or working her 9-5 as a nurse, you’ll find her on her homestead enjoying one of her other passions- raising chickens, long-distance trail running or reading

WSN Mobile Mentor

Grace Katz

Skydiving since 2018
Number of jumps: 4,000+

Load organizer and passionate 4-way competitor. Fun facts: Woman’s World Sequential Record holder

WSN Mobile Mentor / Founding Member

Courtney Lee

Started Skydiving 2013
Number of jumps: 0000

Coach, AFF Instructor and load organizer who loves working with younger jumpers. Fun facts: She is also a licensed mental health therapist in private practice in Normal, IL

WSN Mobile Mentor

Amanda Lampton

Started Skydiving 2005
Number of jumps: 500+

Passionate coach and competitor, WSN Mobile Mentor

Fun facts: When she’s not skydiving, she likes to read, bake cookies, hike, and explore Colorado.

WSN Mobile Mentor

Shawna Rae Milano

Started Skydiving 2014
Number of jumps: 600+

USPA Coach, Safety &Training Advisor and AFF Instructor
Fun facts: She is a mom of two rambunctiously happy preteens

WSN Mobile Mentor

Cristina Olsen

Skydiving since 2010
Number of jumps: 0000

Load organizer and passionate 4-way competitor
Fun facts: She is a scuba diver and loves to travel with her husband, Pete

WSN Mobile Mentor

Mary SantAngelo

Started skydiving in 1979 in Colorado
Number of jumps: 6,000+

Mary has been on all the JFTC women’s world records jumps, and still hold the record for the largest freefall formation, 400 way.
She has earned medals in four way and eight way, she currently load organize and coached at Skydive Elsinore, where she is the Event Coordinator.

WSN Mobile Mentor

Cindy Stroup

Skydiving since 2006
Number of jumps: 000

AFF Instructor and Coach, USPA’s Chesley H. Judy award in recognition of safety. Fun facts: Cindy is a life coach and has a Masters degree in Nursing. Her biggest passions are skydiving and mentoring less experienced jumpers, scuba diving, reading, love of animals, and of course her husband Ed

WSN Mobile Mentor

Suzette Turner

Skydiving since 000
Number of jumps: 1500+

AFF Instructor and mentor. Fun facts: Originally from Missouri and loves traveling for jumping!

WSN Mobile Mentor

Karen Woolem

Skydiving since 1990
Number of jumps: 0000

Load organizer and organizer of Sisters in Skydiving events.
Fun facts: Founder and president of Aeronautrixx, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation with the goal of providing education, guidance, sponsorship, and resources to help women pursue their aeronautical dreams in a fun and safe manner