Jay Stokes: USPA / UPT Tandem Course at Skydive Skydown
At Skydive Skydown, instructor training isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about building the future of the sport. By hosting a USPA / UPT tandem instructor course led by industry legend Jay Stokes, Skydive Skydown brought world-class training to Idaho, investing in the next generation of professionals who will shape first impressions, inspire new skydivers, and raise the standard for safety and instruction statewide.
Raising The Standard With Michael Wadkins
Skydive Skydown kicked off the season with a proper foundation—hosting a full coach course led by industry legend Michael Wadkins. With decades of civilian and military experience, Wadkins brought a level of depth our candidates hadn’t seen before. Across hands-on drills, real-world scenarios, and plenty of laughs, our crew earned their Coach Ratings the right way: through skill, standards, and a community that backs each other. This course didn’t just build new coaches—it helped shape the future of Idaho skydiving.
The Night Skydown Hit National Television
In 2016, Skydive Skydown was tapped by The Tonight Show to fly Hashtag the Panda into the Farmstead’s Jimmy Fallon corn maze. A nationally televised demo, a perfect landing, and one of the coolest moments in Idaho skydiving history.
A New Future: SKYDOWN 2.0
2024 was the year Skydive Skydown was rebuilt from the ground up. A core group of Treasure Valley skydivers came together to clean, restore, and re-envision what a drop zone could and should be, laying the foundation for Skydown v2 and the future of skydiving in Idaho.
Before the New Chapter
Long before today’s momentum, Skydown was the beating heart of Idaho skydiving—a place built by legends, fueled by passion, and carried by a community that refused to let the sport fade. This is the story of the dropzone that came before us.