posted Jun 2nd, 2011 - The NSL News recently visited Homestead where Skydive Miami was hosting the first "FSL Going South" summer meet on May 21. The story on 22 May 2011 included an NSL Talk video clip with Fred Whitsitt and Pam Manos who are running the operation of the skydiving center.

The same story introduced John "Old Man" Browett, who is one of the oldest active skydivers in the world and from South Africa, as Fred Whitsitt is. Interview and story both also provided additional profile information of the South African 4-way bronze medalist at the World Meet in 1997.

Local videographer Lenny Wolf, who was filming the Miami Dropouts on the same weekend, now provided the NSL News with special footage. He was filming one of John "Old Man" Browett's recent skydives. Pam Manos and Fred Whitsitt were both helping to build this 4-way.

The same video shows a 4-way jump of three Teiwaz members that weekend in Homestead and Freddie Whitsitt filling the 4th slot at the end of the day. The earlier story mentioned that Fred Witsitt and Teiwaz member Kurt Gaebel had a reunion when they jumped together on Sunday. Their 4-way teams DeLand Equanimity and DeLand VNE had competed as an 8-way guest team at the World Cup in 1996.

The video eventually shows how the exit did not go too well and also the technical test of a forward rotation for Block 13. Fred Whitsitt took the Tail slot that he had when he trained and competed with Equanimity. Teiwaz members Robert Chromy and Jane McGuire continued in their center slots of the weekend, Lenny Wolf was filming this jump, as well.

The earlier story explained how Fred Whitsitt and Pam Manos transmit their own strong passion for Formation Skydiving competition to the skydiving community in Homestead: "Skydive Miami runs a very professional and successful tandem operation with business pouring in from tourist trap Miami. However, they still keep a good balance between recreational skydiving and tandem business."

It is not only their own passion that guides other skydivers. Fred Whitsitt and Pam Manos have a concept and a special business model. They try to keep each customer in the sport, and the pursuit of this goal begins with the tandem passengers.

It is not unusual for Skydive Miami visitors to turn from a tandem passenger into an AFF student and then continue as regular recreational skydivers in Homestead. Many local beginners have eventually become 4-way competitors, AFF instructors and tandem masters, packers and riggers, who take care of the professional operation.

The new and motivated staff then generates new business by recruiting new customers. Trevor Cedar is one of the many examples who started from the grassroots and was guided into the addiction by Fred Whitsitt and Pam Manos. Now he is full time Skydive Miami staff and wants to become a 4-way world champion one day. It's a good and well working business model.