B5
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Extreme Sports
Davis County Clipper
DUSTY HANKS of North Salt Lake is one of the top jumpers and skydivers in the world. In this series of pictures, Hanks is shown base jumping in Norway from different peaks. The bottom picture shows Hanks as he lands safely here in Utah after jumping from an airplane. Hanks is married with two children and jumps all over the world.
NSL man part of skydiving history BY SCOTT SCHULTE Clipper Sports Editor NORTH SALT LAKE — Man wasn’t met to fly...unless your name is Dusty Hanks. The North Salt Lake resident recently became part of history when he was part of the largest-ever skydiving head-down formation world record in Chicago during the city’s Summerfest Event. The jump brought in skydivers from all over the country and world. “It was great,” Hanks said of the event. “It’s real cool to be part of a world record. “Jumpers don’t get to go to the Olympics or win national championships. We do it because we love the rush of the sport.” Be that as it may, the historic jump in Chicago did land the 108 jumpers on CNN, ESPN and other major news networks all over the country. People all over the globe watched the 108 jumpers link up as they bolted toward
the earth at 200 miles per hour. Hanks, who is married and has two sons, moved to Utah after high school from Idaho to ski and skydive. In 15 years of jumping, Hanks has made more than 5,000...all landing just fine. “This is one of the safest sports there is as long as you respect the sport,” Hanks said.“You’re much more likely to die or be in an accident driving to our facility as compared to having a problem due to jumping. “People who have died or have been injured did so under a perfectly good parachute. The problems come from human error.” Hanks works with iFly Utah and is part of the Rockwell Airtime Skydiving Team and sponsored by Tricked Out Accessories. Along with practicing his jumping skills the old fashion way, Hanks spends time in the wind tunnel at iFly Utah. “That is the direction of the sport,” he
said.“Training in wind tunnels is what people do who want to become the best.” And it was only the best in the world who were invited to be part of the Chicago jump. “There were tryouts all over the world, and we didn’t find out if we made the team until about a month before the jump,” Hanks said.“It was such an honor.” Hanks doesn’t just jump out of airplanes. This professional thrill-seeker also enjoys the sport of base jumping, leaping off perfectly good mountains and bridges. In Norway, Hanks found a 3,000-foot perch and landed several jumps from it. “That was awesome because I could free fall for about 20 seconds and then throw my chute and ride down,” Hanks said. “Twenty seconds of free falling is an amazing feeling. “The views were spectacular.” Locally, Hanks is an instructor at the Skydiving Center and jumps for the events at Miller Sports Park as well the North Salt Lake fireworks show.