History, threatened with extinction
Jun 23, 2021
For over 60 years parachutes have floated and people have flown over the skies of Kamloops, BC. As any resident of Brocklehurst can tell you, the gliding canopies and whooping cries of excited skydivers can be heard on almost every weekend. As one of only 3 remaining clubs in Canada and the only remaining Canadian Western Skydiving Club, Kamloops Skydivers Sport Parachuting Club (KSSPC), better known as “Kamloops Skydivers”, has been playing a significant role in the success of the sport of Parachuting and helping people in Kamloops realize of their dreams of experiencing flight for the very first time.
It all started at Schiedam Flats back in the days when the old race track was operational. Over the years Kamloops Skydivers has developed a legacy... a legacy throughout North America as safe skydivers and excellent canopy pilots. It never has mattered if it’s a World-Record holding skydiver like Reg Hurlburt (wingsuiting) or Don Campbell (8-way) who attended the World Championships in Dubai in 2013, some novice skydivers attending Provincial Championships or even a group of friends headed out for some fun jumps - safety, first. Skydiving Clubs steer away from being a business and driving sales; instead they focus on building Community and teaching and growing the next generation of skydivers into instructors and coaches to continue the very foundation of the sport. To each other, we are known as “Sky Family”; our dropzone is truly our home away from home.
Sadly, all of the success realized over the last 60 years is about to come to a close. For over 30 years Kamloops Skydivers has called Fulton Field home... up to the beginning of 2020. No longer able to land at Fulton Field, Kamloops Skydivers has been hanging by a thread to maintain operations by landing on a sandbar by the river. They are in desperate need of a landing zone and without one, Kamloops, and the entire skydiving community is going to lose one of the few, precious clubs and the experience and history it brings to the world of skydiving.
It all started at Schiedam Flats back in the days when the old race track was operational. Over the years Kamloops Skydivers has developed a legacy... a legacy throughout North America as safe skydivers and excellent canopy pilots. It never has mattered if it’s a World-Record holding skydiver like Reg Hurlburt (wingsuiting) or Don Campbell (8-way) who attended the World Championships in Dubai in 2013, some novice skydivers attending Provincial Championships or even a group of friends headed out for some fun jumps - safety, first. Skydiving Clubs steer away from being a business and driving sales; instead they focus on building Community and teaching and growing the next generation of skydivers into instructors and coaches to continue the very foundation of the sport. To each other, we are known as “Sky Family”; our dropzone is truly our home away from home.
Sadly, all of the success realized over the last 60 years is about to come to a close. For over 30 years Kamloops Skydivers has called Fulton Field home... up to the beginning of 2020. No longer able to land at Fulton Field, Kamloops Skydivers has been hanging by a thread to maintain operations by landing on a sandbar by the river. They are in desperate need of a landing zone and without one, Kamloops, and the entire skydiving community is going to lose one of the few, precious clubs and the experience and history it brings to the world of skydiving.
Company Contact Information:
Company: | Kamloops Skydivers |
Contact Name: | Heather Sutherland |
Contact Phone: | 2502993876 |
Contact Email: | [email protected] |
Company Website: | www.skydivekamloops.com/ |