World Skydive Champ Gives Seminar In Moapa Valley

By NICK YAMASHITA

Moapa Valley Progress

Canopy Piloting World Champion Nick Batsch from Denver, Colorado, taught a Canopy PROgression Camp for professional skydivers at Perkins Field airport in Overton on March 2-3.

The two days of pro-level instruction were sponsored by Skydive Fyrosity. About a dozen people attended the event including skydivers from Las Vegas and participants from Skydive Utah.

Even with the rain and cold on that Saturday, the instruction went on. Batsch covered everything from risers, sliders and lines to toggles and pins. He talked about every part on a canopy and laid out the importance of knowing the equipment and how to maintain it.

He emphasized again and again the importance of upkeep and cleaning gear properly and how a person’s life depends on gear maintenance in the sport of skydiving.
“Parachutes have come a long way,” he said. “Just about every parachute is different. So, you need to check, check and check.”

Camp participant Anthony Chacon from Las Vegas said that the event included very valuable instructions. Chacon was in the Air Force for six years where he began to experience skydiving.
“You get up there and the feeling is amazing!” he said.

Chacon wanted to keep that going so he continued taking lessons at Skydive Fyrosity after he got out of the Air Force, he said.

As the “Camp” progressed, the rain eventually ended, the clouds cleared and participants were given the green light to make a jump. After noon on Saturday they all climbed in an airplane for take off. The group was also able to make a jump on Sunday.
Batsch said that he fell in love with skydiving when he was 19 years old after he made a jumpwith a friend.

“Enjoy the journey!” he said. “The destination is awesome when you’re there, but the journey is even better.”

Skydive Fyrosity is available for people of all levels of expertise in skydiving. The company also offers tandem jumping for $195. For more information call business owner Sammy Vassilev at (702) 720-6250 or by email: sammy@fyrosity.com.