Jarod "J-Rod" Thompson

GET TO KNOW ‘J-ROD’

How many jumps do you have?

5000

How long have you been in the sport?

Since 2007

What were the circumstances that led you to the dropzone to make your first skydive?

I always had the urge to fly since I was a little kid. I convinced my kid brother and Grizzle Freeman to take AFF and that was all she wrote.

What made you want to continue skydiving after your first jump?

Everything about skydiving drew me in. The way it made me feel, my sky family, the smell of Jet A, the clouds, the smiles, the energy that buzzed around the dropzone…..EVERYTHING! The fact you have to be in the moment every jump leaves you forgetting about all the bull crap on the ground!

What’s the best / most memorable skydive you’ve ever made?

That’s a toughy because every jump is the best-est! There are two jumps that stick out in my mind that I will never forget. I got the amazing pleasure of taking my wife on a tandem. It was awesome to see her have fun building a round with my buddies. She was super stoked afterward. The second most memorable was honoring my mother in laws fiancé by taking his best friend on an ash dive. We celebrated his life be releasing him into the clouds to forever watch over us! RIP Brian

If you could jump with anyone in the world, who would it be?

That’s a hard one. I can’t wait to jump with my son Kruse, sorry mom 😉 !!! It will be such a thrill to share the world of skydiving with him.

What advice would you give someone thinking about skydiving for the first time?

Don’t think about it, just do it! Let skydiving change your life.