posted Feb 25th, 2007 - The NSL News just uploaded the video of a live interview with Ian Bobo where he commented the results of the Valentine's Meet 2007. He also mentioned a recent trip to the Grand Canyon with the PD Factory Team and his plans to focus mostly on Canopy Piloting and these adventure trips.

The NSL News story on May 14, 2006 (Archives > 2006 > News), covered the PD Factory Team's last exciting trip to the Italian Alpes and included some breathtaking mid-air photos. The PD Factory Team members provided some of their experiences in a live interview with the NSL News by then. The video can still be viewed by clicking here.

The latest newsletter of the PD Factory Team included a new travel story, which covered the recent trip to the Grand Canyon. Ian Bobo was once again on the other side of his two-event skydiving career, and the PD Factory Team provided the following information for the public:

In late January, the PD Factory Team ascended upon one of the world's seven wonders - the Grand Canyon - with the ambitious intent of flying deep inside its rugged walls. This wasn't the first time that skydivers have flown in the Grand Canyon, but it was the first endeavor of its kind, where skydivers dared to navigate the canyon's jagged and merciless terrain with ultra high-speed canopies.

Blessed with five days of perfect weather and a passionate and resourceful production crew and ground crew, Factory Team pilots Ian Bobo, JC Colclasure, Jay Moledzki, Shannon Pilcher and Jonathan Tagle attacked the canyon's sharp ridges, sheer walls and treacherous ravines, successfully executing a variety of epic flights into the heart of the canyon. The camera team of Utah's Sundance Media Group was there every minute of every day to capture the action from all angles. Whether dangling from ropes 1800 feet above a razor sharp talus or simply manning a tripod in sub-freezing temperatures, the Sundance crew remained focused on the goal, and by week's end, had captured stunning images of the flights. Check the PDFT website for 'behind the scenes' photos captured with the talented eye of Justin Carmody.

By nature, expedition flights require careful planning, scouting, knowledge, skill and support. But the Grand Canyon adventure was exponentially more challenging in every aspect. For that reason, the PDFT would like to publicly recognize expedition leaders Ian Bobo and Jay Moledzki for their devotion and leadership. Bobo spent literally hundreds of pre-event hours tackling a long list of administrative and logistical hurdles, ensuring that the project flowed smoothly, and that the team's goals were achieved. Once on site, Moledzki stepped up as operations leader, decisively guiding the team through tireless days of scouting, making executive decisions when necessary, and generally keeping the team focused on its mission.

In the end, it was a huge success. In only eight jumps, the team successfully executed a wide selection of eye-popping flights, including stunning team formation flights into the canyon, BirdMan flights beneath the rim, formation toe-drags off the snow-capped rim followed by synchronous barrel rolls down the wall, criss-cross landings on the merciless canyon floor, solo high-speed barrel rolls into tight ravines, multiple BASE jumps, and more.

As always, many people and organizations made this event a success, and the PDFT would like to acknowledge those efforts. The biggest "THANK YOU," of course, goes to our PLATINUM partner Performance Designs, who not only make the most "super-bad-ass" flying machine on the planet (the Velocity!!), but who also believed in this dream enough to finance its exorbitant costs. Special thanks to former marketing manager Rob Wilson for his vision, and to John LeBlanc and Bill Coe for honoring that vision.