Name

TF#45 Erica

Name: Erica Veil

Nickname: FreakGirl

eMail: skydivefreakgirl@yahoo.com

First Jump: Tandem = January 7, 2001

Started AFF = March 1, 2001 at Skydive City, Zephyrhills, FL

Jumps: 109 (as of September 3, 2001)

Naked Jumps: 2 = on my birthday - June 10, 2001 and again at the Richmond

"The" Boogie 2001 (damn you Wendy! I knew you'd be a bad influence.)

Rig: Javelin Odyssey.

Main: Sabre 170

Reserve: PD 160

Malfunctions: none

License: B-24483

Home DZ: Skydive City, Zephyrhills, Florida.

Other DZ's I've jumped: Skydive Chicago (my home dz away from home),

Aerodrome Skysports in Richmond, IN

Aircraft I've jumped from: Twin Otter, Caravan, and King Air, although I

have a goal of jumping out of everything

Most Memorable Jump: My 100th at Zhills on Sunday, August 19, 2001 (thanks Amy for doing your first jump on the same load - now you see a just little bit into why I absolutely love this sport!).

My Skydiving Story: I had gone up to Zhills with my boyfriend at the time to party with his sister, who is a freeflyer. I fell in love with the fun, open-minded atmosphere. We went back up the next weekend and Kathleen asked when I was going to do my first tandem. I explained I couldn't because of my fear of heights. I trusted her when she said fear of heights had nothing to do with it. So I did it. What a rush. I couldn't stop talking and thinking about the experience. Finally, on March 1, 2001 I started AFF and graduated on April 15. Since March 1, I've only had 3 weekends where I haven't done at least one jump. What I love most about this sport are the quality people I meet, and the fact that, because there are so many facets to the sport it'll be a really, really long time before I get bored with it.

Employment: Project manager of software development; Senior project analyst

Where I live: Sarasota, FL (for now)

Hobbies: Since taking up skydiving, I haven't done much else. However, I also love to ride horses (hunter/jumper), dance (club, country, ballroom), read, paint, listen to music (techno, punk, heavy metal, rap, classical, opera, country, rock and roll), ballet (favorite of all time = Swan Lake), in-line skate, ride my bicycle, ride motorcycles, hang out with friends, drink good beer, smile, laugh, explore new things, meet new people, go new places, have fun, etc.

Favorite Color: Royal blue

Favorite Flower: Orchids (esp dendrobium, vanda, and spathyphylum)

Pets: I used to have 2 of the cutest little boys. Roxy was named after Roxy Music, and his brother Jackson was named after one of the most beautiful places in this country - Jackson, WY. But they were taken away from me in the summer of 2000 and I haven't seen them since.

Words to live by:

"Free your mind and your ass will follow"

"Do to others as you would have them do to you"

"Love those close to you NOW, don't lose the opportunity"

Skydiving goals: To skydive for a living by getting better, more jumps, and as many ratings and licenses as I can. To be equally talented in freeflying and flat flying

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