Taking a dive: Jay Gile has made more than 4800 jumps in the past 44 years

With his chiseled face, abundant red hair and strong physique, few would guess that Jay Gile is 64 years old - or that his idea of fun includes jumping out of an airplane at 13,000 feet.

"It keeps me sane," he said.

The Corvallis man is part of the international group Skydivers Over Sixty, which recently set a world record for the number of people over the age of 60 who formed a linked formation while skydiving.

The April 16 record included 55 participants who jumped above Southern California. The group had about 60 seconds to complete the formation while plummeting at 120 mph before separating from each other and opening their parachutes.

"It took us eight jumps to do it, but it was fun," Gile said.

For him, days like that are one of many. He has a total of 4,800 jumps under his belt over the last 44 years.

"For me, it's a way to relax," he said. "You have to forget about everything else and do what needs to be done."

He credits skydiving for some of his more memorable experiences and for finding like-minded people who also live for the thrill of a 125 mph free fall.

He rattled off countries all over the world - all places where he has skydiving friends.

In fact, one of his fondest memories with the Skydivers Over Sixty club came four years ago, when the group was invited to the Dominican Republic to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the country's air force. The skydivers formed a "6" and a "0" shape in the sky for the president of the country, Leonel Fernández Reyna.

Gile's love of skydiving began when he was a student at Central Washington University and friends talked him into taking that first leap.

"The first jump, you're scared to death," he said. "Anybody who tells you otherwise is lying."

Gile said he isn't scared of the risks - "It's a dangerous sport, but we manage the risk." He's not superstitious either; he doesn't take any good luck charms with him. "I take my parachute; that's it," he said.

And although Gile has taken all three of his children skydiving, the sport has taken hold the most in his son, Bryan, who is a skydiving instructor in San Diego.

"He has more jumps than I do now," Gile said.

Gile credits his good health to doing what you enjoy and staying active. Gile also rides motorcycles, scuba dives, kayaks and hikes. Quit? Not while his health holds up and his interest remains keen.

"At some point you have" to quit, he said, adding, "If you don't have to, you shouldn't.

Sky Diving In Southern California |

Where to go Sky Diving in Southern California

For people who enjoy the sport of sky diving, they are likely familiar with the many areas for sky diving in Southern California. This appears to be a very popular location for sky diving fanatics. Then again, if given the chance to sky dive anywhere, why wouldn’t people want to do so in sunny Southern California? This state provides excellent conditions for sky diving, and plenty to when not taking part in this exciting sport.

The Internet is a great place to find information about sky diving in Southern California. In searching the individual will find details about the location, directions, lodging, equipment rentals, nearby attractions and all sorts of information about the surrounding area. These sites also provide details about the types of sky diving they offer, as well as they aircrafts they use. Many of these locations for sky diving in Southern California offer specials for weekend getaways. They also offer people an opportunity to buy gift certificates that could be given to a sky diving enthusiast for their birthday, a gradation or any for any other special occasion.

Many sites related to sky diving in Southern California provides a list of various locations where individuals can go to jump into this thrilling activity. Adrenaline Air Skydiving is one example of a great sky diving business. Located in Santa Rosa, it offers the visitor an opportunity to view beautiful scenery and the sky diver a view of the Sanoma Valley which boasts of many rolling hills and a large amount of vineyards. With the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background, this is a perfect place to go sky diving in Southern California.

There are many beautiful places to go sky diving in Southern California. Some other great locations are Bay Area Skydiving in Byron, Perris Valley Skydiving, Skydive Elsinore, Skydive Santa Barbara, Skydive Monterey Bay and Skydive San Francisco. These are a few of the excellent locations for skydiving in Southern California a person will discover when researching. Each of these businesses or locations offers people various onsite services and details about the surrounding area regarding sites, attractions and lodging. If researching on the Internet, these places will definitely pop up. By visiting their individual websites, a person can learn more about the specific location including what is offered in a sky diving package.

Sky diving is no doubt a thrilling activity for all those who participate. The idea of jumping from an aircraft, from thousands of miles in the air does not interest everyone but there are many people who live to sky dive. There are many locations for sky diving worldwide and it seems that sky diving in Southern California is one people’s favorite places. If you are an avid sky diver and have been wondering about sky diving in Southern California, log onto the Internet. Using Google or Yahoo you’ll be able to find all the material you need regarding sky diving in Southern California.

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