Karine Joly D-34141
Profiles
Friday, October 31, 2025
Above: Photo by Ewan Cowie.
Twenty-one years after beginning her jumping career in El Paso, Texas, Karine Joly is one of the premier skydivers in the world. As a member of AirWax Freefly, she is a two-time world champion who is also a passionate emissary for the sport, traveling the world as a skydiver, author and public speaker. When she’s not dancing high above the ground, she is likely passing on her expertise to others, either in the sky or in the tunnel. Most recently, Joly participated in the world-record, head-down 174-way at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois.
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“To watch Karine in the sky is to witness poetry in motion. On the ground, she embodies the essence of simply being—graceful, authentic and present. Her professionalism, infused with passion for our sport and a humble, compassionate spirit of sharing, makes Karine one of skydiving’s finest ambassadors.” — Omar Alhegelan, Parachutist profilee #206
Age: 44
Height: 5’10”
Birthplace: Lyon, France
Marital Status: Domestic partnership with Greg Crozier
Occupation: Keynote speaker, professional skydiver, author
Education: Master’s degree in interior design
Pet Peeves: People who are overly strict about rules without applying any common sense
Hobbies: Skiing, scuba diving, motorbiking, hiking, kite-surfing
Favorite Food: Vegetarian moussaka. Cheese and veggies are always a win.
Life Philosophy: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
Jump Philosophy: Send it, but in a safe way!
Team Name: AirWax Freefly
Sponsors: Airtec CYPRES, Jyro, Larsen & Brusgaard, Tonfly, United Parachute Technologies, Veloce and XproAr
Container: UPT Vector 303
Main Canopy: Jyro Anna 69
Reserve Canopy: Performance Designs Optimum 106
AAD: CYPRES 2 speed
Home Drop Zone: Very hard to say—I move a lot.
First Jump: 2004
Championships/Medals/Records: 30 competitions and 30 podiums, along with three nationals golds and 13 world records.
Total Number of Jumps: 7,650
Freefly: Almost all of them
Largest completed formation: Head-down 174-way
Cutaways: 2
Most people don't know this about me:
I walked away from a stable career in yacht design to chase the sky.
Is there one particular jump that stands out the most?
Many, actually. Moments where I felt overwhelmed by the spectacle unfolding before my eyes. But the one that felt different, and will stay with me for the rest of my life, was the last jump of the world championships in Australia. I reached a rare level of awareness that made me feel indestructible.
How long do you plan on skydiving?
As long as I feel joy doing it.
What do you like most about the sport?
The feeling of freedom, the point of view, the rush, the temporary superpowers, the international community and the extraordinary adventures we get to live together.
What do you like least?
Running into patronizing skydivers—those who act like they’re too good to mix with others.
Who was your skydiving mentor?
I always looked up to Omar Alhegelan. The first day I met him, I was a rookie at the Skydive Arizona Christmas Boogie. He joined my friend and me for a jump—I had no idea who he was or his level—and suddenly, he was hovering around like an angel. Only after we landed did he tell me his number of jumps. I was impressed that he came to have fun with us, and his attitude stuck with me as the kind of skydiver I wanted to become.
How did you become interested in skydiving?
My family surprised me with a tandem jump for my 18th birthday, and that first freefall flipped my whole world upside down. The sensations were so new and powerful that I couldn’t stop wanting to explore and understand this completely new world.
If you could do a fantasy 2-way with anyone, whom would it be with and where would it take place?
I would take Nikola Tesla for a freefly over the Great Pyramids of Egypt.
If you could make everyone on the planet do something to make earth a better place to live, what would it be?
I’d guide them toward meditation and self-love. For me, learning to find peace within changed everything—it made me less reactive, more patient and more compassionate. When you’re at peace with yourself, you naturally bring more peace to others.
What do you consider your most significant life achievement?
Writing my book, "Horizons of Possibility."
Weirdest skydiving moment?
When people at different drop zones congratulated Greg (my teammate) on winning at worlds—and then, 10 minutes later, asked me if I was also a skydiver …
What is your perfect day like?
Wake up to witness a beautiful sunrise with a cup of coffee, take time to stretch and meditate. Then meet friends for outdoor adventures—in the sea, on a hike to a breathtaking view or in the sky for a fun or technical freefly jump together.
What drives your competitive spirit?
I love the personal growth that goes with it: Knowing yourself better and unlocking new abilities. Winning is a goal and a recompense but what’s more important is knowing you’ve given your best.
What advice do you have for freeflyers looking to reach the next level?
For me, the best way to gain a level is to start competing: Start an MFS or freefly team in the sky or 2-way dynamic in the tunnel and go in the arena. You might not hit the podiums your first year, but it will definitely boost your level big-time.
What does the future look like for vertical world records?
For future world records—with this new design inspired by belly formations—I can imagine hitting a 200-way in head-down and a 100-plus-way in head-up. The hardest part is the logistics of these mega-big-ways: They are hard to set up and even harder to keep affordable for the participants. That’s why sequentials are a great way to keep pushing forward, in a smoother and more accessible way. What I’d really love is to see, or even develop, is a mixed formation where some flyers are head up and others head down. It would open new horizons … and would be very nice to fly.
Explain Karine Joly in five words:
Optimistic, free, daring, resilient, compassionate.