Ian Bobo
Languages
EnglishCredentials
Started Skydiving: 1989
Licenses/Ratings: D-13893, PRO Exhibition Rating
Total Skydives: 28,000+
Freefly: 500
RW/FS: 10,000+
Hop-n-Pops: 13,000+
Camera: 200
Other: 3,000+ (Wingsuit, Demos, CReW)
BASE Jumps: 43
Cutaways: 2 Freefall, 5 Subterminal
Title: 2005 Skydiver of the Year -Skydiving Magazine
Title: 2021 Skydiving Hall of Fame Inductee
World Records:
2009 – 4 Way (FS): 45 pts
2000 – 16 Way (FS): 19 pts
1994 - Largest Canopy Formation (47 way)
HP Canopy Expeditions:
2011-2023 Norway - Fjords
2010 Switzerland – Swiss Alps
2007 Arizona - Grand Canyon
2006 France - Mt. Blanc
2006 Italy - Dolomites
2003, 2005, 2006 Norway - Fjords
HISTORY/TEACHING EXPERIENCE
I have actively coached formation skydiving & canopy piloting at the national and international level for over 20 years. Having been involved in CReW for many years, I developed Flight-1’s canopy piloting Air-2-Air program. While working for Performance Designs I invented the R.D.S. (Removable Deployment System) to be used on high-performance wings in canopy piloting competition. I helped to pioneer the CP competition scene with the Mutant supine harness system, winning the first FAI Gold Medal on this system and developing the current UPT Mutant Ambassador program and Flight-1 curriculum in conjunction with Pete Allum & system inventor, Vince Reffett.
What advice can you give to someone wanting to improve their landing accuracy?
Never compromise good flare technique just so that you can be more accurate. Likewise, continually work on pattern skills realizing that to land where you want, you must be able to fly and adjust yourself in 3 dimensions with your canopy. Accomplish this by learning to fly your pattern in a neutral flight mode, giving yourself the range to speed up or float to hit your pattern reference points. Hitting your reference points will lead to landing on your target.
Occupation
Occupation: PD Factory Team Pilot, Flight-1 Instructor, 4-Way Formation Skydiving Coach, Wind Tunnel Coach, Business Owner
Education: BS in Industrial Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Hobbies: Movies, Travel, Golf, Basketball, Paragliding, R/C Modeling, Kiting, Air sports
Gear
Main Canopy: Valkyrie 90, Peregrine 67/71/84
Container: Javelin Odyssey / UPT Mutant
Reserve Canopy: PD Optimum 126
AAD: Cypres 2 - Speed
Helmet: Cookie Composites
Jumpsuit: LiquidSky
Altimeter: Alti-2 N3 audible and visual
Eyewear: Oakley Designs
CANOPY PROGRESSION
Manta 288 ~ Student Status (~25 jumps)
Fury 220 ~ 50-100 jumps
Fury 200 ~ 300 jumps
Express 175 (Comp CRW) ~ 750 jumps
Prodigy 200 (CRW Canopy) ~ 300 jumps
Nova 150 ~ 25 jumps
Nova 135 ~ 35 jumps
Nova 120 ~ 500 jumps
PD Stiletto 120 ~ 700 jumps
PD Velocity 120 ~ 100 jumps
PD Velocity 111 ~ 50 jumps
PD Velocity 103 ~ 200 jumps
PD Velocity 96 ~ 10,000 jumps
PD Comp Velocity 71-90 ~ 3000 jumps
PD Peregrine 64-84
PD Valkyrie 90
Accomplishments
2022 – FAI World Championships (CP) – Overall – 12th
2022 –US National Championships (Freestyle) – 9th
2019 –US National Championships (Freestyle) – 5th
2019 –US National Championships (Zone Accuracy) – 3rd
2018 – FAI World Championships (CP) – Speed – 8th
2018 – FAI SwoopFreestyle World Championships – 12th
2018 – US National Championships (CP) – Distance – 5th
2017 – US National Championships (CP) – Overall – 5th
2017 – US National Championships (CP) – Speed – 3rd
2016 – World Cup (CP) – Overall – 1st
2016 – World Cup (CP) – Speed – 1st
2016 – US National Championships (CP) – Overall – 3rd
2016 – US National Championships (CP) – Zone Accuracy – 3rd
2015 - World Cup (CP) – Overall – 7th
2015 - World Cup (CP) – Speed – 4th
2015 - U.S. National Championships (CP) - Overall - 9th
2015 - U.S. National Championships (CP) - Zone Accuracy - 5th
2014 - Tveir Tvӧ (CP) - Overall - 2nd
2014 - U.S. National Championships (CP) - Overall - 12th
2013 - Dubai International Parachuting Championships (CP) - Speed - 6th
2013 – U.S. National Championships (CP) – Overall – 8th
2012 – World Championships of Canopy Piloting (CP) - Overall - 9th
2012 - Tveir (CP) - Overall - 1st
2012 – U.S. National Championships (CP) – Overall – 5th
2012 – U.S. National Championships (CP) – Overall – 5th
2011 – U.S. National Championships (CP) – Overall – 3rd
2010 – U.S. National Championships (CP) – Overall – 3rd
2009 – World Air Games (CP) – Overall – 2nd
2007 – European Swoop Tour Championships (CP) – Overall – 1st
2007 – U.S. National Championships (CP) – Overall – 2nd
2007 – World Cup (CP) – Overall – 3rd
2006 – U.S. National Championships (CP) – Overall – 2nd
2006 – U.S. National Championships (FS) – 4-way Open – 1st
2006 – World Skydiving Championships (FS) – 4-way Open – 1st
2005 – World Cup (CP) – Overall – 1st
2005 – U.S. National Championships (FS) – 4-way Open – 1st
2004 – U.S. National Championships (CP) – Overall – 2nd
2003 – Red Bull Swoop Tour (CP) - New England – Overall – 1st
2003 – World Cup (CP) – Overall – 3rd
1991-1993 - Collegiate National Championships (FS) - 4-way Collegiate - 1st