As soon as 4-way VRW hit the competition scene, the members of Elsinore Jedi knew they were going to get involved, it was just a matter of time. Melanie Curtis and Steve Simar, former members of the 4-way FS team, Elsinore Gravity, have wanted to compete in both FS and freefly for a few years now, and this year they’re finally making it happen. Both doing FS teams as well, every other weekend, Coach and Coach trade their booties for minimum drag and a solid daffy to finally compete on the vertical plane. Meili Modini-Ernst has been voracious for freeflying since she began skydiving January 1st, 2003, and has done over 50 hours (and counting) of tunnel training and sought out the best coaches in the sport to very quickly improve her skills. She quit her job and moved all the way across the country for the team— now that’s what you call commitment. THE Elsinore regular, Ryan Simpson is out every weekend partaking in all disciplines of skydiving. Having already shot video for a 4-way FS team, this year he is getting in on the action itself on 4-way FS team, Elsinore Eleven, while also flying with Jedi, putting his upside-down video skills to the test. Veteran 3-way freefly competitor, freefly coach, and Jedi master, Andrew Staich (aka, Mr. Steak, Beef Coach, Jiggy Juice, etc) brings his long-term vertical experience and know-how to the team, along with his unwavering enthusiasm to fly with his friends and give back to the future of our sport, by teaching those who come after him. Combining Andrew’s freefly knowledge, Mel and Steve’s 4-way engineering and exit know-how, and Ryan and Meili’s willingness to throw themselves head first (literally) into the sport— you’ve got a team that’s ready to work together through this new and exciting discipline.

Team Bios

Melanie Curtis

• Current Slot: Inside center
• Number of Jumps: 4500+
• Years of Competition: 1st year of freefly competition, 6th year total
• Gear: Mirage G4, PD Katana 97, PD 113R, Liquid Sky Jumpsuit, Sky Systems Oxygn A3, ProDytter, Viso
• Sponsors:

Skydive Elsinore
Performance Designs
Mirage Systems
LiquidSky Jumpsuits
Sky Systems USA

• Skydiving Influences: Lou Ascione, Steve Simar, Andrew Staich aka the Jedi master, Jack Walter
• Something most people don't know about me: Middlebury College is my alma mater.
• Favorite block: Still deciding...
• Freefly goals: Continue to push and improve my freefly skills, participate in Andy’s Elsinore Echelon Pow-wow days, and eventually be invited on the head-down records.
• Personal goals: Positively impact the sport of skydiving by continuously learning, sharing knowledge with young jumpers, and kicking a**
• Advice to new skydivers: Jump, jump a lot, then jump some more and love every single one. Always keep learning, seek knowledge, and know there is always more to know. (Come to Excel!!)
• Favorite non-skydiving activities: Laughing with friends, singing, chilling by the pool, movies, reading, biking and tunnel freeflying.
• Favorite quote: “To live your life in your own way... to reach for the goals you have set for yourself... to be the you that you want to be-- that is success. Let success be measured by the happiness in your heart.”

Meili Modini-Ernst

• Current Slot: wherever Andrew, Coach or Coach puts me
• Number of Jumps: 1500+
• Years of Competition: 0
• Gear: Infinity, Spectre 120
• Skydiving Influences: Tube Master, Jessie Farrington, Melanie Curtis, Andrew Staich, Steve Simar, Ryan Simpson
• Something most people don't know about me: Formally trained pastry chef, Served 7 years in the US Army
• Favorite block: Arrowhead
• Personal goals: Have fun, Finish Graduate School, Place top three at 2007 Nationals (intermediate)
• Advice to new skydivers: Stay current, pay attention, pay attention, if it feels unsafe then it probably is......
• Favorite non-skydiving activities: Watching my cats hack up hairballs, taking care of drunks and hypochondriacs in the ER, eating and insuring that I never become an anorexic......
• Favorite quote: "I could not at any age, be content to take my place in a corner by the fireside and simply look on..."--Eleanor Roosevelt

Andrew Staich aka Mr. Steak

• Current Slot: Coach/ Player
• Number of Jumps: 6000+
• Years of Competition: 4
• Gear: Odyssey, 89 FX, PD Reserve, Cypres
• Sponsors: Liquid Sky, Skydive Elsinore
• Skydiving Influences: the Freefly Clowns, Olav Zipser, Charles
Bryan, Omar Alleghan, the FlyBoyz, Eli Thompson, Fritz Pfnur, Mike
Ortiz, the whole skydive Orange and Skydive Elsinore family
• Favorite block: arrow head
• Personal goals: to fly my slot
• Team goal: top three at nationals
• Advice to new skydivers: follow your dream, ask questions, don't quit
• Favorite non-skydiving activities: surfing
• Favorite quote: "It is better to have lived one day as a tiger than a thousand years as a sheep"

Steve Simar

• Current Slot: Point
• Number of Jumps: 2500+
• Years of Competition: 4, 1st freefly
• Gear: Javelin, Velocity 103, PD 113, Cypres, Liquid Sky Suits
• Skydiving Influences:
• Something most people don’t know about me: I’m famous
• Favorite block:
• Personal goal: To demolish the competition…in the name of Jesus.
• First jump: May 2002, static–line Laurel, Montana
• Skydiving Influences: Melanie Curtis, Lou Ascione
• Favorite block: There are blocks?
• Advice to new skydivers: Pray a lot
• Favorite non-skydiving activity: Thumping my Bible
• Favorite quote: Pave the rainforest

Ryan Simpson

• Current Slot: Video
• Number of Jumps: 1500+
• Years of Competition: 2
• Gear: Mirage, PD, Liquid Sky, 2K Composites, L&B
• Skydiving Influences: Everyone I've jumped with
• Something most people don't know about me: If you have to ask...
• Favorite block: 11
• Personal goals: To have a good time while I cut my teeth at one of the most challenging slots in skydiving
• Advice to new skydivers: Keep getting better
• Favorite non-skydiving activities: D&D (not really, but would it surprise you?)
• Favorite quote: "Aww... Maa-un..."

Photos by Danilo Dadic

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