Jerry Bird: The Making of a Skydiving Legend

Jerry Bird became the 20th century's most widely recognized skydiver during the evolution of sport skydiving in America. This book is a compilation of writings by many who knew and flew with Bird, and by Jerry himself-a skydiving life-and-times of Jerry Bird from 1963 into the 21st century. At the heart of the book are inclusions of Jerry's own oral storytelling transcribed in his inimitable voice. It is both a group sports biography and a personal memoir of one man whose name became legendary among jumpers around the world and whose influence on sport parachuting is evident today. Alongside accounts of record-setting dives and competitions are glimpses into the freewheeling skydiving subculture of the 1960s, '70s, '80s and '90s. The book includes many historical images, references, footnotes and bibliography. "A long-awaited salute to skydiving's most iconic and admired ambassador," writes Jan Works, editor with Pat Works of Parachuting: United We Fall and other skydiving publications. "They're all here--the colorful characters who imagined, designed, and practiced their art in the seminal stages of today's formation skydiving. This collection of stories from that time is a delightful memory for those who were part of it, and the tales of boogies, international adventures, and movie stunts that came later make for an entertaining read."

"This book is such an important part of skydiving history."-Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld, 6-time world champion skydiver, author and motivational speaker.

"Jerry Bird's skill and wisdom helped to make me the skydiver I am today!"-Kate Cooper-Jensen, skydiving coach, world record holder, co-founder of Jump for the Cause.

"Skydiving with Jerry Bird is like playing golf with Tiger Woods."-Mark Knutson, owner and CEO at STUNTS Adventure Equipment, LLC.

"A cornucopia of stories"-Dieter Kirsch, German 4 and 8-way champion. FAI World Record holder.

Linda Collison has worked as a registered nurse, a USPA skydiving instructor, a volunteer firefighter, a freelance writer, and other sundry occupations. Her articles, essays, and fiction have been published in a wide variety of general and trade publications, including Parachutist, Nursing, Sail, Owen Wister Review, and Ladies Home Journal. Her novels Looking for Redfeather (Fiction House, Ltd. 2013) and Water Ghosts (Old Salt Press; 2015) were both Foreword Reviews Finalists for Independent Book of the Year. The New York Public Library chose Collison's Star-Crossed, published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2006, to be among the Books for the Teen Age -2007.

Jerry Bird, born March 6, 1943: Multiple U.S. National Skydiving Champion, F.A.I. World Skydiving Champion and record holder, Special Forces Green Beret, one of the world's first formation skydiving coaches, F.A.I. Leonardo DaVinci Parachuting Diploma recipient, International Skydiving Museum Hall of Fame inductee, Class of 2010-the list goes on. But Jerry Bird is more than the sum of his skydiving firsts, his team victories and his many honors and contributions to sport skydiving. For decades, Bird has brought thousands of people from all over the world together in freefall in the name of friendly sportsmanship. Long before electronic social media, Jerry Bird was a skydiving influencer.

Sam Alexander, creator and contributor, is a retired specialty insurance innovator, community volunteer, original member of Jerry Bird's All Stars, POV cameraman, and hang glider pilot.