Raising The Standard With Michael Wadkins
Raising the Standard: Skydive Skydown Hosts Coach Course with Industry Legend Michael Wadkins
From March 7–9, Skydive Skydown kicked off the season with a milestone event that would set the tone for our entire year of progression: a full USPA Coach Course led by Michael Wadkins, founder of XCEL Skydiving, USPA Board Member, and one of the most respected examiners in the world.
Bringing Michael to Caldwell wasn’t just a training weekend—it was a strategic move to build the future of our instructional talent from the ground up.
Because when you’re building a world-class dropzone, you start with world-class foundations.
“I thoroughly enjoy teaching instructors how to instruct skydiving. With my extensive military training background and years of instructional experience in both skydiving and the military, I have the experience needed to prepare candidates for success, regardless of the discipline they choose.”
- Michael Wadkins
Why We Brought in Michael Wadkins
For decades, Michael Wadkins has shaped skydivers at every level—civilian, military, competitive, and professional. His experience training specialized military groups, developing curriculum, and coaching instructors across the country makes him one of the most well-rounded educators in the sport.
Having him at Skydive Skydown meant our candidates weren’t just checking a box.
They were learning from someone who has lived, taught, and elevated skydiving instruction at the highest levels.
The Importance of a USPA Coach Rating
A Coach Rating is the first instructional step in a skydiver’s professional journey. It’s the bridge between being a skilled jumper and becoming someone trusted to guide students through progression, stability, safety, and confidence-building.
Coaches assist with:
• Early AFF-level training
• Ground instruction and student briefs
• Teaching canopy patterns and procedures
• Reinforcing safety fundamentals
• Helping new jumpers develop good habits early
This certification establishes the foundation for future instructional paths like AFF-I, Tandem-I, canopy coaching, and examiner ratings.
Strong coaches build strong students.
And strong students build a stronger skydiving community.
Inside the Three-Day Course
Day 1 — Classroom, Concepts & Communication
The course opened with education fundamentals: teaching methods, student psychology, safety culture, emergency procedures, and the communication techniques that great coaches use to make information stick.
Michael’s teaching style is direct, clear, and deeply rooted in decades of real-world experience. Our candidates didn’t just learn what to teach—they learned how to teach it effectively.
Day 2 — Practical Drills & Teaching Evaluations
Day two transitioned into hands-on application. Candidates completed teaching assignments, practiced student briefs, walked through malfunction procedures, and demonstrated their ability to break down complex topics into simple, safe, repeatable steps.
This is where confidence begins to form—through repetition, feedback, and clarity of instruction.
Day 3 — Final Evaluations & The Coach Mindset
The last day tied everything together. Candidates finished their teaching evaluations, demonstrated understanding of student training flow, and wrapped up the weekend with the mindset shift every coach must make:
From “How do I skydive?”
to “How do I teach someone else to skydive safely and successfully?”
What This Means for Skydive Skydown
This course was more than a certification opportunity—it was an investment in the long-term strength of our dropzone and the Idaho skydiving community as a whole.
By training our team under Michael Wadkins, we’ve:
• Strengthened our student program
• Elevated our instructional standards
• Expanded our future coaching capabilities
• Reinforced safety and consistency
• Built a deeper foundation for AFF, license training, and beyond
We are committed to raising the bar in every corner of the operation—from first-time tandem students to seasoned jumpers pushing for their next rating.
The result is a safer, stronger, more capable dropzone built for growth.