Marshall Ameele

USPA License #: D-33638

Number of Jumps: ~900

How many years in the sport? First jump was 9/23/01, but there were several years where I barely made any jumps or none at all.

What was the circumstance that led you to the DZ for the first time to make your very first skydive?

I had been fascinated by skydiving for a couple of years prior to my first jump, because of watching skysurfing and freeflying on the ESPN X-games in the late 90’s. One day during my second semester of college, my roommate and a friend went to the local DZ (Skydive Deland) and made tandem jumps. With the information they brought back, another friend and I enrolled straight into the AFF program through the university’s skydiving club.

What made you want to continue skydiving after your first jump?

I think because of where I was (Deland), I saw it for what it had the potential to be; a lifelong journey with a ton of cool opportunities and things to learn. I was on loads with skysurfers while I was in AFF… that was wild to be watching up that close just a couple of years after riding my bike across town to watch the X-games at my grandparents’ house (because they had cable).

What’s the best / most memorable skydive you’ve ever made?

Hard to narrow down just one, but one of the most fun and exciting at the time, was my first intentional off-airport jump/landing. It was a private “demo” into a family reunion/party that was being hosted by another jumper. I felt like a rockstar even being invited to go in the first place, and then again when standing up my big ‘ol Sabre2 on a hot, windless summer afternoon, right on target in front of all of maybe a dozen people that were paying attention. That fueled my interest in pursuing my PRO rating and doing more public demos… which all seem to end up being memorable in one way or another.

What is most gratifying about your work at Skydive City?

I get to work among, and learn from, amazing and talented people, while playing a small part in keeping things moving safely and smoothly.