Moonlit Madness
by Scott Roberts

Bright lights illuminate Chris Hayes as he flies across the pond.

It’s a cool evening at Skydive City in Zephyrhills, Florida. Instead of the usual scene of jumpers grabbing beers and reminiscing about a day of good jumps, a group of swoopers gears up. A crowd is starting to build, and light poles are steadily appearing around the evening’s centerpiece, Lake Mottski—Skydive City’s swoop pond.

Co-organizers Kaz Sheekey and Scott Roberts believe the March 19 Moonlit Madness to be the first-ever night pond swoop meet. It boasted a $1,000 cash purse and drew seven competitors for three rounds of freestyle. Organizers roped off Skydive City’s pond and aimed more than 5,000 watts of lighting at it. The swoopers dove unseen into the light and sped across the brightly lit pond.

The spectators, both skydivers and local residents, cheered the swoopers’ best tricks. In addition to their performance over the pond, judges scored each competitor on a safe approach and controlled landing. Eric Hildebrand served as chief judge, with Robin Miller and Carrie Brandt also scoring.

Jay Moledzki, the reigning 2004 Pro Swooping Tour champion, took first place, with Roberts in second and IPC World Cup champion Jonathan Tagle in third.

Sheekey and Roberts held the event as a benefit for the Skydivers Supporting Thailand tsunami disaster relief fund. More information on Skydivers Supporting Thailand appears at www.thaiskyfestival.com. This effort shows yet another example of how skydivers can come together to help a good cause, put on a great show and have lots of fun in the process.