CouchFreaks Boogie Lights Up Iowa

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Monday, November 17, 2025

Above: Photo by Cody Workowski.

In 1980, in Dallas Center, Iowa, skydivers could catch a ride to altitude on the local club’s beloved Cessna 206 for just one dollar. Small gatherings at the airport quickly grew into something bigger, and eventually turned into Dollar Daze Boogie, which for decades was a staple of skydiving in the Midwest. Skydivers came from around the country to join the “CouchFreaks” of Iowa for the jumps, the parties and, most of all, the feeling of community.

Fast forward to 2024, when Des Moines Skydivers in Knoxville, Iowa celebrated its 50th anniversary and brought the CouchFreaks Boogie back to life. The revival honored the original CouchFreaks and the pioneers of the sport, while celebrating members and visiting jumpers who had formed lifelong friendships. The first year of the revival was a hit, reminding veterans and newcomers why the tradition mattered.

The 2025 CouchFreaks Boogie carried that momentum forward. From August 29 to September 1, jumpers of all disciplines filled the skies on aircraft including a Twin Otter, a Caravan and an R-44 helicopter. Loads flew from morning to sunset, from casual fun jumps to ambitious formations. On the ground, evenings featured bonfires, games, stories and the long-standing couch-burning ceremony. As Cody Workowski of Now Call Photography put it, the weekend felt “as close as you can get to the old school boogie vibes,” capturing the essence of what makes CouchFreaks so special.

Greg Nore and Bridget Mahoney pose with their officiant (and rigger) Jon Frederickson after their wedding. Photo by Mike Wohlhutter.

That same energy carried into the skies thanks to the lineup of load organizers who brought their skill, creativity and passion to every jump. This year’s crew was outstanding: Mikey Silva kept the stoke high in freefly, Frankie Rose led fast and focused movement jumps, Alex Bucevičius and Steve Lefkowitz built beautiful relative-work formations, Sophie Schmidt brought style and stoke to wingsuiting, and The Raw Dogs kept the canopy relative work party going. Jumpers of all levels pushed their skills, tried new things and created lasting memories. 

For many, CouchFreaks’ magic lies in the people. As Lefkowitz shared, “I loved the opportunity to skydive with, and better get to know jumpers I don’t usually get to fly with. The more experienced jumpers have great stories to tell about the past, and the newer jumpers are super enthusiastic to learn.” Schmidt added, “I started skydiving at a 182 drop zone in the middle of nowhere, Wichita, Kansas. Growing up, all I ever heard were stories of the CouchFreaks. When I finally had enough experience as a wingsuiter to look for LO positions, Des Moines Skydivers were the first to take me in and give me a chance. To be able to carry the Air Capital drop zone name into the CouchFreaks world for a new generation is an honor. To see the poetic image of the couches stacked and burning, hanging out with salt-of-the-earth people who love each other and the sport and making jumps that mean something to someone—that’s why I go every year, and why I’ll continue to go. CouchFreaks will always be a family and a home away from home for me.”

The drive to push limits produced some remarkable achievements. The Raw Dogs set a new Iowa CRW record with a 9-way, 1-point canopy formation, the largest ever completed in the state. It showcased skill, teamwork and pure CouchFreaks spirit.

The event was a homecoming for longtime members, but beyond that, it gave newer club members a chance to connect with the tradition firsthand. Together, all attendees celebrated the club’s—and the sport’s—evolution.

The CouchFreaks Boogie isn’t just a nod to history, but a living tradition, one that will continue to bring skydivers together, celebrate the sport and carry the legacy forward for many years to come.

Lindsay Walton C-44820
Des Moines, Iowa