Staff
(Dropzone Owner)
D-1123
Coach1, Coach2, Jump Master, Skydive School Instructor, Ground ControI Instructor, Tandem Master, Skydive School Examiner, Exhibition Jump Rating, Course Facilitator, PFF Instructor, Parachute Rigger A1.
6000+ Tunnel time: 40 hrs.
: Bret is an accomplished freeflyer and tunnel flyer. He has participated in the 2011 Canadian National Head Down Formation Record Attempts. Bret loves teaching people to skydive, and is always willing to coach. If your serious about learning to freefly Bret can take you there!
D-345
Tandem Master, Commercial Pilot
4500+
Bruce has been involved in the skydiving industry for more than 38 years.
Bruce enjoys instructing skydiving and flying jumpers. He is our chief pilot. When Bruce is not working at the Drop Zone he is attending to his animals at his ranch.
Rocky Tyson
C-3773
Coach1, Coach2, Jump Master, Skydive School Instructor, Tandem Master
3500+ Tunnel time: 2 hrs.
Rocky lives for skydiving. When he is not skydiving, (almost never) he is paragliding, base jumping, or launching high altitude baloons. Rocky is our resident techy. Last year, he built a live view video camera designed for skydiving. Inquire if you would like your friends and family a real time view of your skydive.
Sander Dokter
C-3632
Coach 1, Coach 2, Jump Master, Skydive School Instructor, Ground ControI Instructor, Skydive School Examiner, Tandem Master
2000+
Sander grew up in Holland. After his first skydive there, he moved to Canada and took the First Jump Course in Vernon.
Now, after about 7 years of skydiving, hard work and lots of training, his dream came true; he jumps out of airplanes for a living! Away from skydiving, Sander loves rock climbing and spend time with his wifey Brooke and beautiful kids.
Nick Spiridonov
Tandem Master
10,000+
Nick started his skydiving career at a very young age. He has participated in 4 way teams. Nick loves taking people skydiving over beautiful Vernon BC.
C-3479
Coach1, Coach2, Jump Master, Tandem Master
2000+ Tunnel time:2hrs
Calvin is a passionate about skydiving, he participate in 4ways, big ways, wingsuiting, and freeflying.
He's an excellent coach and instructor and you'll find him most sundays and wednesdays at Okanagan Skydive.
Rick Vanderhoek
B-6879
Coach1, Jump Master, SSI
250+
Rick is our main Skydiving School Instructor. He loves teaching Solo First Jump Courses, jumping with novices and experienced jumpers. You will find him at the DZ during the weekends. He's also got a great sense of humour and is always smiling.
Vanessa Chalmers
B-6691
Coach1, FAA Senior Parachute Rigger.
232+ Tunnel time: 5hrs
Vanessa is a fashion designer and is Okanagan Skydive's official web designer. She helps out around manifest desk. She is also a Senior Parachute Rigger. She likes skydiving on the sunniest of days.
Zack Laranjo (Pilot)
Commercial Pilot
2
Zack started his fulltime job at Okanagan Skydive last season. Zack is a very talented pilot, loves flying airplanes and taking skydivers to altitude over beautiful Vernon BC.
Kody Turnbull
Packing
200+
Kody is originally from Vernon. He started his fulltime job at Okanagan Skydive a year ago. Kody loves running heavy equipment when he's not packing parachutes.
Teddy Bates (Pilot)
80+
Teddy has been flying skydivers since 1986. He loves being at the dropzone, flying planes, and mama. Teddy's experience in the skydiving industry as a skydiving pilot.
Lynn Bates - Mama (Radio)
Ground Radio Control
Mama is always aware of the radio letting Vernon area traffic know when parachutes are in the air keeping everyone safe. Lynn is everybody's DZ mom and she's also always giving out free hugs.