Welcome to your new Parachutist.
July 2007

By now you’ve already noticed the magazine has a drastically new look. We hope you like it. A lot has happened since the last redesign a decade ago. In 1997, the formation skydiving world record was 200, the IRM didn’t exist, and most jumpers never dreamed 4-way VRW would be possible. The sport has come a long way since then, and it was time for Parachutist to make some changes, too.

How We Got Here
Redesigning Parachutist is no small task. Members were asked for input through random surveys, ads in Parachutist and USPA’s MySpace page. E-mails and letters poured in. USPA’s staff and board also provided feedback and suggested ways to improve the magazine. We listened, took notes and researched trends in leading magazines. It was a project several months in the making, and it’s still ongoing. While this is a huge start, you’ll continue to see new sections in the months to come.

Finding Your Way
Many of the departments were combined, some were expanded and others condensed. Each department is unique with its own color tab, although all sections share the same look and feel.

Contents—We created a cleaner and more contemporary Table of Contents section. It’s easier to quickly find what you’re looking for, and each feature includes a small image to give you a glimpse of what’s to come.

In Your Words—This department, formerly Letters, was expanded to showcase the individuality of our members. It now includes skydiver art, poems and unique jump stories.

Five-Minute Call—Formerly This Just In, Five-Minute Call (FMC) includes industry news, boogie reports, a historical section, stolen gear, a profile … it’s a bunch of short pieces compiled for entertainment and to let you know what’s going on in the sport. To keep it light, we’ve added cartoons and fun statistical data.

DZ Update—The format of the USPA Group Member list has changed slightly to provide you with more pertinent information. We’ve also included a featured DZ (randomly chosen each month), as well as a list of upcoming boogies and events. To New Heights—Whether you just received your A license or your 360-Hour Freefall Badge, it’s a great accomplishment and deserves recognition. This section, formerly Wings & Things and Rising Fallers, showcases your accomplishments. Safety and Training—This section includes incident reports, safety check, tips for rating holders and a list of rating courses. New additions include a featured instructor or coach each month and an Ask Your Rigger column.

The Exchange—Search the classifieds to find gear, drop zones or services. A complete list of Parachutist advertisers is also located here.

We hope you like the new Parachutist. Drop us a line and let us know what you think! After all, this is your magazine.

—Shonda Smith

What do you think? Click here to send USPA your comments.

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