National Kids Competition: Highlight #2 Daniel

The National Kids Competition is coming in October & we couldn’t be more excited for it! This event will be the first of its kind and is sure to be incredible.

In the next couple of months leading up to the competition we are highlighting various teams as they train. Read on Daniel's interview – a new flyer from Houston. Needless to say, these kids are a force to be reckoned with!

From the parents:

What first brought you & your family to the wind tunnel?

The first time Daniel flew was on his birthday. We had just moved to Houston a few days prior and it was the perfect way to do something unique to celebrate his special day since it was also the same day his dad left for a 12-month deployment to Afghanistan. We eventually decided to have his birthday party at iFLY a few weeks later so we could share the fun with family and friends. Everyone, including the parents, had a blast! Daniel kid's club instructor was the instructor for his party and the kids just loved him.

And what is it that made you return?

The one thing that keeps us coming back each week are the instructors. Mark and Ivan run the kid's club for our iFLY-Houston Memorial location and they are just fantastic. I couldn't ask for better teachers for my son. They have so much enthusiasm when they are teaching that you can just see the joy in their faces when one of the kids learns a new skill. It's contagious. 

I'll have to say, Daniel's progressed so much in the past two months because of him and all his other instructors. They're the absolute best. Daniel now follows the progression chart each week and can’t wait to start learning level 3 skills.

What is your favorite thing about watching your child fly?

I love watching Daniel fly. He beams with delight when he's inside the tunnel, especially when he's turning. It just makes me all sorts of happy to see him smile that way. Most people don't look forward to Mondays but we do because of iFLY.

How has the sport of indoor skydiving affected your child?

My son started competing in gymnastics this summer and I would say that indoor skydiving has helped him learn additional body awareness and control. He's been told that his gymnastics background will give him an advantage in this sport but I believe it's the other way around. Either way, he loves both so much and I will continue to fully support him. 

 

& what the kids have to say: 

How old are you and what grade are you in? 

I'm 9 years old and in 4th grade.  

Do you play any other sports? 

Yes, I'm a level 5 gymnast. I like tumbling and doing tricks on the trampoline. 

What is your favorite thing to do in the wind tunnel?

My favorite thing to do in the wind tunnel is turning super fast. My teachers now let me fly really high and I like to go up there and hang out. 

If you could fly with anyone in the world what would it be?

If I could fly with anyone in the world it would be my mommy. On my 18th birthday, we are skydiving for real. 

How are you feeling about competing against kids all over the country? Excited, nervous?

I'm excited about the competition. I'm only a little bit nervous because the prize is pretty sweet and I really want to win so I can fly more! 

What are your long-term goals for indoor skydiving? Where do you see the sport taking you?

I want to learn how to do layouts in the tunnel because they're my favorite thing to do in gymnastics. I also want to learn how to fly upside down! I just want to keeep flying.