Financial news wire reporter + freelance writer. Poet @jenthepoet {elsewhere}. #girlpowa
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Articles by Jennifer Booton
Top US Swooper Proves Female Canopy Pilots Can Be as Good As Men
Jeannie Bartholomew is one of the best freestyle swoopers in the world, proving that women can compete on the same level as men in a skydiving discipline known for elevated levels of risk as parachutes plunge at high speeds towards the ground. Bartholomew won silver behind husband Curt, the most decorated canopy pilot in history, in the canopy freestyle division of the 2023 USPA Nationals.
Choreographer of Dance Routines Suspended in Air
Inka Cagnasso went from a dancer learning how to skydive on a small Cessna dropzone in northern Finland to a world champion in six years, leveraging the same drive, precision and grace that made her successful as a ballerina to cultivate a rewarding indoor skydiving career. Cagnasso, whose maiden name is Tiitto, is a wind tunnel coach, performer, choreographer, two-time indoor skydiving freestyle world champion and outdoor skydiving angle coach with leading organization Fly4Life.
Meet Curt Bartholomew
Curt Bartholomew earned the title of the most decorated swooper in history in 2023 at the age of 37 after sweeping the USPA Nationals and clinching gold overall at the FAI World Cup; and the athlete, whose flying career began as an airplane pilot, shows no signs of slowing down. The pro athlete has racked up more than 12,000 jumps since he started skydiving in July 2006, averaging more than 750 jumps per year.
The Guy Who Landed a Parachute on an Accelerating Jet Ski
From James Bond-like swoops into Las Vegas to a technical landing on a zipping jet ski in a river in Pittsburgh, Jeff Provenzano has carved out a successful career as one of skydiving's first sponsored athletes. Jeffro, as he's often called, rose onto the sponsorship scene long before social media blossomed into what it is today. As one of Red Bull's earliest skydivers, he helped carve out the sponsorship path in the sport and solidify skydiving as a viable marketing channel.
How 'Competitive Drive' Led Betty Bennett to a Skydiving Big Way World Record at 80
It wasn't so usual for a girl born in the 1940s to play a bunch of sports. But that's the way Betty Bennett's mother raised her and her sisters. The upbringing set Bennett on a lifelong path of extraordinary achievement, which included a skydiving world record just shy of her 80th birthday.
Kim Knor, at 84, Seeks USPA 'Gold Wings' in Lifelong Dream to Reach 1,000 Skydives
Our Spotlight series features interviews and conversations with pro skydiving athletes and game changers in the sport who are pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Message us on IG @skydivingfn for a feature. This is Part 1 of a two-part series on Cadillac Kim. In the second part, she shares about how skydiving changed her life and why it's important to upset the apple cart.
Why Kim Knor Keeps Coming Back For More
This is Part 2 of a two-part series on Cadillac Kim. In the first part, she shares about her effort to earn the USPA 'Gold Wings' with 1,000 skydives. Kim Emmons Knor, or "Cadillac Kim," is about 70% done with her goal of reaching the USPA "Gold Wings," a merit give to skydivers who make 1,000 jumps. The 84-year-old began skydiving when she was 20 years old and made history in 1962 as a member of the first US Women's Parachute Team.
Elderly Skydiver Urges Other 'Older Folks' to Jump Out of a Plane
With 611 jumps and 84 years under her belt, Kim Emmons Knor, or "Cadillac Kim," isn't planning on slowing down anytime soon. On her quest to achieve the USPA "Gold Wings," a merit awarded to skydivers who have made 1,000 jumps, she plans to make another 200 jumps in her mid- to late-80s. For Knor, the goal is personal. She's dreamt of skydiving since age 5 when her uncle brought home a military parachute from World War II.
Women Seek to Set Wingsuit World Record at Skydive Perris
A team of 20 female experienced skydivers will attempt to set the world record for a no-grip flat wingsuit formation Nov. 2-5 at Skydive Perris in California. In order to achieve the FAI Women's Wingsuit World Record, the team will need to fly in a predetermined formation with each jumper slotted in their respective quadrant. They then must hold the perfect formation while flying at around 110 miles per hour for a few seconds without taking any grips.
FAA Bill Won't Increase Skydiving Safety But Will Threaten Smaller Operators, USPA Says
A proposed Federal Aviation Administration bill will place onerous aircraft maintenance regulations on dropzones, pricing some operators out of the market and making skydiving more expensive, even though the underlying data doesn't support its safety claims, according to the United States Parachute Association. The Air Tour and Sport Parachuting Safety Act is currently tucked away within the FAA reauthorization and awaiting Senate approval.
Danny White Eyes Other 'Speed' Disciplines After USPA Wingsuit Gold
US Parachute Team member Danny White is considering adding other speed disciplines to his repertoire after placing gold in the wingsuit performance speed category at his second USPA National Championships appearance. "Having just completed my first full year in performance competition, any progress is great," he said in a recent interview with Skydiving FanNation.
Championship Spotlight: What is Speed Flying?
As the 2023 FAI European Speed Skydiving and Wingsuit Flying Championships and World Cups kick off this week in the Czech Republic, US Parachute Team athletes are preparing to represent the nation in competition. In the speed skydiving category, the objective is for competitors to fly their body as fast as possible to achieve the highest average vertical speed in a three-second period through the competition window.
Championship Spotlight: What is Wingsuit Performance Flying?
As the 2023 FAI European Speed Skydiving and Wingsuit Flying Championships and World Cups kick off this week in the Czech Republic, US Parachute Team athletes are preparing to represent the nation in competition. In the wingsuit performance flying category, athletes will compete in time, distance and speed. Each task is performed on a separate jump and all three are completed within each round. There are three rounds and nine skydives in total.
Sara Curtis’ Next World Record Masterplan is in Motion
Our Spotlight series features interviews and conversations with pro skydiving athletes and game changers in the sport who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Send a message to us on IG @skydivingfn for a feature. This is the first-part of a two-part Q&A with pro skydiver Sara Curtis. In the second part, she talks about demo jumps, military contracts, skydiving misconceptions, and how to lead a life of your own design.
Skydiving Neuroscience Professor: Stay Connected to Your Passions After Becoming a Mom
Our Spotlight series features interviews and conversations with pro skydiving athletes and game changers in the sport who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.Email us tips or message IG @skydivefn for a feature. To some, Vanessa Shirazi is a neuroscience lecturer. To others, she’s a skydiving teammate, mentor and world record holder. And to two tinies, she’s a mom.
Pro Skydiver Vanessa Shirazi: Project 19 ‘Was Bigger Than Ourselves’
Our Spotlight series features interviews and conversations with pro skydiving athletes and game changers in the sport who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.Email us tips or message IG @skydivefn for a feature. Fresh after finishing her Ph.D in neuroscience at the University of Illinois in Chicago, experienced skydiver Vanessa Shirazi quickly found a way to incorporate her passion into her career: she joined a team of academic researchers studying stress responses in skydivers.
Watch as 54 experienced canopy pilots break a world record over Florida.
What's it like to watch humans gather in a massive diamond-shaped formation under parachutes thousands of feet above the Earth? Skydiving photographers Gustavo Cabana and Michael Tomaselli capture the incredible moments experienced skydivers set a new world record for largest two-point sequential canopy formation. What does that mean?
54 Parachute Pilots Set Two-Point Formation World Record
A group of skilled canopy pilots from 11 countries set the world record for largest two-point canopy formation last November in Florida. The skydivers from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and US clustered together in a large diamond shape several thousand feet in the sky above Jump Florida Skydiving in Lake Wales. To break the two-point record, the skydivers then broke apart and rebuilt into another formation. The Nov.
How Skydiving Prepared NASA Astronaut Mary Ellen Weber for a Career in Space
Our Spotlight series features interviews and conversations with pro skydiving athletes and game changers in the sport who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Email us tips or message IG @skydivefn for a feature. It was 1983 when Mary Ellen Weber, then a chemical engineering undergraduate at Purdue University, saw an ad in the school paper that would change her life.
Advice on Smashing Comfort Zones From a Skydiver-Turned-NASA-Astronaut
Our Spotlight series features interviews and conversations with pro skydiving athletes and game changers in the sport who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Email us tips or message IG @skydivefn for a feature. In 1983, Mary Ellen Weber, a chemical engineering undergraduate at Purdue University, stumbled upon a life-changing ad in the school paper.
XPG4 Athlete Brenn Richards Talks Team Training, How Skydiving is Evolving
Our Spotlight Q&A series features interviews and conversations with pro skydiving athletes and game changers in the community who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Email us tips or message IG @skydivefn for a feature. In Part Two of this week’s Spotlight (we highly encourage you to read Part One if you missed it), we feature an interview with XPG4 athlete Brenn Richards, who recently represented the US at the Indoor World Championships.
XPG4 Athlete Brenn Richards: Channel Your Fear, Try The Impossible
In this Q&A series, we feature interviews and conversations with pro skydiving athletes and game changers in the community who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Email us tips or message IG @skydivefn for a feature. In this week’s Spotlight, we feature a two-part interview from XPG4 athlete Brenn Richards, who recently represented the US at the Indoor World Championships.
XPG4: 4-Way Champions Clinch Silver at FAI World Indoor Championship
XPG4 has been tearing up the scene for four-way formation belly flying this winter and is gearing up for the outdoor season. The all-woman team placed first in February among all-female teams and 6th overall at Indoor Nationals, hosted by Paraclete XP in North Carolina. After 10 rounds, XPG4 concluded the meet with a total of 254 points. First place, the all-male Arizona Speedway, won gold with 340 points.
Introducing Skydiving FanNation, part of the Sports Illustrated Media Group
What is Skydiving FanNation? We’ve come a long way over the last few years as a skydiving community. Boogies and competitions were delayed, dropzones were closed, travel was suspended, and life happened as we jolted through some hazy pandemic days. But here we are, jumping into the 2023 skydiving season with our RSLs connected and our reserves freshly repacked. In many ways, things have never been better. Our quirky blue-sky sport has been brewing incredible things these recent years.
Senior Skydivers Break Big-Way World Record in California
A group of 101 licensed skydivers between 60 and 80-years-old broke the world record for largest formation of seniors in the sky last month above Perris, California, the latest world record set in the sport as skydivers of all ages continue to push the bounds of what’s possible. In order to break the previous record, which was set at Skydive Chicago in 2018 by the same organization, Skydivers Over Sixty, or SOS, they needed to build a big-way formation with at least 76 people.
'They're not required to tell you that, but you should know.' 4 questionable, but legal, things some financial advisers do with your money
There are many people out there who will offer to give you financial advice. And while most of them are ethical and trustworthy, sometimes you'll find that some advisers take action on your behalf that you might consider unethical, even though it's totally legal. It's important to be aware of these possible scenarios so that you can protect yourself as an investor.
If you don't do this before meeting your financial adviser, you're wasting time
So, you've finally decided to hire a financial adviser - or you're thinking about hiring a new one ( you can use this tool to get matched with a financial adviser who might meet your needs). But before you even have the first meeting, pros say there are things you should think about and prepare.
7 red flags that signal it may be time to dump your financial adviser in 2023
Rougly one in three American adults have sought the help of a professional financial advisor, according to a survey of 2,381 U.S. adults released in 2022 by Northwestern Mutual. But, of course, some financial advisers are better than others - a lot better. So we asked five pros to identify red flags that should give you pause when looking for a financial adviser to guide you toward your goals. If you see any of these seven signs, it might be time to dump your current advisor for a new one.
FlexIt’s Head of Training & Innovation: Virtual Training Is Here to Stay
Samuel trained NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens on the FlexIt platform. By Jen Booton September 2, 2021 It has never been easier to work out with the tier of trainers that keep celebrities like Jennifer Lopez in shape. The pandemic ushered in a new normal of exercising with licensed professionals from the comfort—or discomfort, depending on the preferred intensity—of your home. And celeb trainer Ebenezer Samuel doesn’t see the trend reversing course after the pandemic.
Vald Performance CEO Laurie Malone: Computer Vision Is the Future
Vald Performance CEO Laurie Malone eventually found his way into sports technology after studying law and finance as an undergraduate in Brisbane and working as a lawyer for five years. Then, after his best friend brought him into a project anchored by academic researchers in Australia studying hamstring injury and prevention, Vald Performance was born in January 2015.
Disc Golf Pro Ricky Wysocki: The Pandemic Created Lifelong Fans
Ricky Wysocki is a two-time Pro Disc Golf Association world champion who has overcome personal tragedy and Lyme disease to become one of the best players in the world. The South Carolina-based athlete, 28, ended disc legend Paul Mcbeth’s four-year streak in 2016 to finish first at the PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships. He beat the five-time champion again to win it in 2017.
GSE Worldwide CEO: ‘If You Can Think of a New Way to Exploit Technology, Raise Your Voice’
Mike Principe graduated from Washington University in St. Louis then found his way to law school. For a while, he worked as a transactional lawyer who focused on mergers and acquisitions, a path that would lead him to sports and eventually his current role: CEO of the sports marketing agency GSE Worldwide.
The Next (Brain) Wave of Innovation: Controlling Video Games With Your Mind to Boost Performance
By Jen Booton November 25, 2020 Imagine playing the FIFA video game with only your mind. An Israeli sports tech startup has developed a way to do just that in an effort to give athletes an edge on the real-life pitch. Using i-BrainTech, athletes play a realistic sports game simulation by imagining movements wearing an EEG cap.
Eleven Buys Streaming Technology Company MyCujoo
Fans Investments & Partnerships Media & Platforms Eleven Buys Streaming Technology Company MyCujoo By Andrew Cohen November 10, 2020 International sports broadcaster Eleven has acquired live sports streaming platform MyCujoo. Eleven plans to launch a new global sports streaming service in 2021 that will be powered by MyCujoo’s Live Services streaming technology.
DraftKings Will Open Gaming Innovation Studio at UNLV
Brands Investments & Partnerships Sports Betting DraftKings Will Open Gaming Innovation Studio at UNLV By Andrew Cohen November 9, 2020 DraftKings signed a multi-year agreement to sponsor the Center for Gaming Innovation at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The deal will see the opening of the DraftKings Gaming Innovation Studio on-campus at UNLV.
USA Basketball to Form National NBA 2K Esports Team
Fans Teams & Leagues USA Basketball to Form National NBA 2K Esports Team By Joe Lemire November 6, 2020 USA Basketball is launching a national NBA 2K esports team to represent the U.S. at the FIBA Esports Open II, a competition of gamers from North and Central American countries being held Dec. 19–20. Trials will be held virtually this weekend featuring 30 NBA 2K players (23 men and seven women) who primarily compete professionally in the NBA 2K League.
Election Day at Stadiums, Horses in Water, and Baseball Fans in Taiwan
We share some of the best photos from the worlds of sports and technology every day in our newsletter. Subscribe to the SportTechie Daily here. Ciaron Maher leads his horse, Sir Dragonet, to water during a beach trackwork session in Melbourne on Monday. The Melbourne Cup, Australia’s most famous thoroughbred horse race, was held Tuesday at Flemington Racecourse. The race has been held annually on the first Tuesday of November since 1876.
Fitnescity’s Laila Zemrani: The Human Body Is Kind of Like a Black Box
Our Startups series looks at companies and founders who are innovating in the fields of athlete performance, fan engagement, team/league operations and other high-impact areas in sports. If you’d like to be considered for this series,tell us about your mission. * * * * * World’s Shortest Elevator Pitch: “We’re an aggregator of lab tests and a platform that helps you get results you can understand and apply.” Company: Fitnescity Location: Los Altos, Calif.
Australian Sportsbook PlayUp Raises $25 M to Enter U.S.
Fans Investments & Partnerships Sports Betting Australian Sportsbook PlayUp Raises $25 M to Enter U.S. By Joe Lemire November 5, 2020 PlayUp, an Australian sportsbook and fantasy sports operator, announced a $25 million funding round to expand into the U.S. The company has secured approval to launch its mobile sports betting app in Colorado and New Jersey. Former Sportradar U.S. deputy president Laila Mintas is serving as PlayUp’s U.S. CEO.
How Accuracy Technologies Are Evolving the Sport of Skydiving
On a scorcher in July, deaf skydiver Ashraf ul Hossain explained through a sign language interpreter what it was like during his first few days as a student at Skydive the Ranch in Gardiner, N.Y., where all new jumpers must sit through an eight-hour ground course before they’re allowed in the sky.
NFL Hosting Madden Tournament for HBCU Students
Fans Sustainability & Social Impact Teams & Leagues NFL Hosting Madden Tournament for HBCU Students By Luka Vasic November 4, 2020 The NFL has announced the inaugural Madden NFL 21 x HBCU Tournament, an esports competition designed to connect communities and students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Italian Soccer Club AC Milan Signs First Esports Deal
Fans Investments & Partnerships Teams & Leagues Italian Soccer Club AC Milan Signs First Esports Deal By Luka Vasic November 3, 2020 Serie A club AC Milan has partnered with Italian esports organization QLASH, marking the soccer club’s first entry into esports. The clubs will compete under the name AC MILAN QLASH across games such as FIFA and Brawl Stars.
Under Armour Sells MyFitnessPal for $345 Million
Brands Health & Fitness Media & Platforms Under Armour Sells MyFitnessPal for $345 Million By Andrew Cohen November 2, 2020 Under Armour has agreed to sell fitness tracking app MyFitnessPal to private equity firm Francisco Partners for $345 million. MyFitnessPal was originally acquired by Under Armour in 2015 for $475 million. MyFitnessPal has more than 200 million users and was among several platforms owned by Under Armour as part of its connected fitness division.
Michelle Tumolo: ‘At Athletes Unlimited We, the Women, Get the Power’
Michelle Tumolo is a professional lacrosse player and U.S. National Team member who was recently named to Athletes Unlimited’s inaugural lacrosse season. She was a member of the gold medal U.S. team at the 2017 World Cup and currently serves as head coach of women’s lacrosse at Wagner College. Tumolo, an All-American player at Syracuse and a former assistant coach there, is one of the most decorated players in school history.
Clear Hires Former Secret Service Agent/NBA Chief of Security to Head Sports Division
Fans Safety & Security Venues Clear Hires Former Secret Service Agent/NBA Chief of Security to Head Sports Division By Jen Booton October 30, 2020 Biometric identification company Clear has hired Jerome Pickett, most recently the NBA’s EVP and chief security officer, to lead its sports and entertainment division. Pickett had a steady hand in the NBA’s coronavirus protocols that led to the league’s successful bubble in Orlando.
NFL Plans for Reduced Fans at Super Bowl LV in Tampa
Fans Teams & Leagues Venues NFL Plans for Reduced Fans at Super Bowl LV in Tampa By Jen Booton October 29, 2020 The NFL is planning to host fans in Tampa for Super Bowl LV at a reduced capacity of 20%, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Reported safety protocols include mandatory wearing of masks and fans sitting in pods six feet apart. On Wednesday, the NFL rebuffed Schefter’s report by saying “there is no set capacity at this time” for Super Bowl LV.
Appetize Adds Mobile Ordering to Five Venues, Including Dodger Stadium
Fans Startups Venues Appetize Adds Mobile Ordering to Five Venues, Including Dodger Stadium By Joe Lemire October 28, 2020 Appetize has been selected to integrate its mobile ordering system into five more sports venues: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, San Antonio’s AT&T Center (Spurs) and Toyota Field (soccer), Children’s Mercy Park (home to MLS club Sporting Kansas City), and Holt Arena at Idaho State University.
Indianapolis Colts Add Caesars as Sports Betting Sponsor
Investments & Partnerships Sports Betting Teams & Leagues Indianapolis Colts Add Caesars as Sports Betting Sponsor By Jen Booton October 27, 2020 Caesars Entertainment and William Hill have partnered with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are the first NFL team to sign a sports betting deal with Caesars and William Hill since Caesars acquired U.K.-based gambling firm William Hill in September for $3.7 billion.
DraftKings Parlays Baseball, Politics and ‘The Bachelorette’
More than 20 years ago, Johnny Avello was building entertainment games for Las Vegas casinos based on live shows like American Idol and the Oscars. The games were “for entertainment purposes only,” says Avello, currently the director of race and sports operations at DraftKings. Now, the gambling industry veteran is doubling down on that strategy for DraftKings in an effort to open new gaming markets and appeal to more women and casual fans.
World Series Goes Cashless With Reverse ATM
Fans Teams & Leagues Venues World Series Goes Cashless With Reverse ATM By Andrew Cohen October 26, 2020 Reverse ATM has installed several cash-to-credit kiosks at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, for fans to access at the World Series. The venue, which also hosted the NLCS, has gone cashless in hopes of reducing COVID-19 spread. Reverse ATM’s self-service kiosks allow fans to exchange cash for a card that can be used at retail locations and concessions stands at Globe Life Field.
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