"I did two first jump courses at Dunkeswell (1995 & 1997). My third jump was at Netheravon where I then trained and jumped for four years. I was not a natural, I had 'involuntary back loop' issues on RAPS and spent many jumps after cat 10 flailing around the air with fellow flailers. I even gave up to go freeflying for a while.

I dabbled with my first event in 2000. I wasn't experienced enough to actually load organise back then and didn't think much bigger than a four way either. The event was called "All for One" and it involved getting experienced jumpers to come and jump in high ratios to lower experienced people like me. It was a good turn out. Jumpers of all levels came to Netheravon. Event wise it was ok, but not great, and not as safe as it should've been. I got a bit upset about that and vowed not to do another one.

It was actually the All for One event that inspired the Big Way Beginners events I lead today. In early 2007 I was looking through the old photos from the event and thought "that really wasn't a bad concept at all, but now I reckon I know how to make it work". The Big Way Beginners events will always be close to my heart because of that.

Anyway, back to the history! By the end of 2000 Langar had become my home DZ. That's when I realised what I'd missed by being too shy to jump at different dropzones! My eyes were opened and looking back I realise that although Netheravon had taught me to survive, just one year at Langar had taught me to skydive!

I started jumping with Stephen 'Stealth' Elvy almost as soon as I arrived at Langar. I got on well and felt like I had finally found something that I was more natural at! I remember going to the Empuria Christmas boogie that year though and watching Milko dirt dive with his group - too scared to ask to join in!

I got the 'big way bug' bad and quickly became addicted to boogies, bigger and better formations, and jumping with as many different organisers as I could. I loved to watch debriefs and dirtdives, even if I didn't know anyone on the groups! I was fascinated by them and hungry to learn more. I was also learning about load organsing without even realising; listening, watching faces and seeing what techniques made it easiest to understand what was being said.

Around that time I was in a 4 way team too. But it wasn't where my heart was. Even on team training days, I only ever wanted to be on the big way that was dirtdiving over in the distance. Eventually I made the inevitable break and never looked back. I chose it as a path like any other in this sport.

I started shadowing Stealth when he was organising, asking too many questions and generally being a pain. Then found myself in the hot seat, alongside Billy, putting it all in to practice properly once Stealth moved to the states. Milko helped a lot in those days. I found doing debriefs terrifying (especially when people had more experience than me). Milko used to look at the videos with me before I spoke to the group. That really helped me understand 'cause and effect'. In time my confidence grew and I toughened up! It kind of snowballed from there....

I have always loved the creative side of organising - building the impossible or something with lots of movement. For me it's about creating a real flow out of the sequences as they are performed. The name 'Skydive Choreography' describes it pretty well! I also love working the group dynamics, understanding everyone's strengths and weaknesses and being able to use that information to make a skydive perfectly balanced, put people in the optimum learning environment or build someone's confidence. That's why I love working with beginners so much.

Everyone learns differently, some people need to see the pictures (dirtdive lots, lay it down), some need to relate to something in everyday life (like driving a car or walking through a crowd..). Others need to understand 'why' they are being asked to do something (e.g. the technical/scientific bit). Reading the people and understanding what their learning styles are a big part of the challenge.

As well as my passion for organising, my personal goals are also very important to me. I am pretty greedy - I want to be on every top event going, and more than anything I want to keep proving that you do not have to be a medal winning or world meet podium team jumper to do that!"