Up Close & Personal

name: Gary Smith

email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

age: 44

education: B.A. in Commerce and a Law Degree

family & marital staus: Married to Susanne in 2001 .

number of jumps: 8,400

years in Sport: 28

teams: Go Boys 1988 to 1991; Equanimity 1995 to 1997; Optic Nerve 1988 to present; DeLand Magic, 2001 to present.

slot(s): Was outside center, but now starting on point for DeLand Magic

favorite competition: Both World Championships in 1995 and 1997

funniest moment in skydiving: Although we’ve always been serious at all world meets we’ve competed in, we definitely enjoy a good party at the final closing ceremonies. We were involved in a fight with gypsies in Czechoslovakia throughout the meet. We had one of the members of the delegation held and asked to leave the country within 24 hours after the closing banquet. In hindsight I find that pretty funny, but it was quite serious at the time.

skydiving mentor(s): I could mention many names but don’t have any one mentor or hero. What I have enjoyed is that as I got closer to mentors and heroes, I’ve been amazed at their friendliness and sportsmanlike conduct.

hobbies: Golf, soccer, and most sports.

favorite book(s): Fiction books, John Grisham because of the law side to them. Non-fiction, “Hang Time: Days and Dreams with Michael Jordan??? by Bob Greene.

favorite music: Any music – based on the mood.

favorite movie(s): I like all movies with Morgan Freeman and maybe some with Denzel Washington.

favorite place: Wherever I’m happy is my favorite place.

Where will you be ten years from now? The honest answer is that I have no clue, but I hope to be still as happy as I am now.

best kept secret: I don’t have a secret.

favorite quote:

"Whether it’s life or sports, the effort you put in is what you get out."