Olav Zipser

Lore & Background

Zipser began skydiving in 1986 during the experimental phase of the Accelerated Freefall program and immediately started experimenting with non-traditional body flight. After four months of studying human aerodynamics in a wind tunnel, he developed the concept of FreeFly. He first trained friends, then created a professional FreeFly Training and Instruction Program to train others as instructors. In 1994 he founded The First School of Modern SkyFlying to research and advance human flight capability, and introduced Space Balls as measuring devices for constant speed and direction.

In 1995 Zipser made a high-altitude jump from an Ilyushin 76 at 41,667 feet over central Russia with Patrick de Gayardon, achieving FreeFly speeds of 750 kmh. That same year he performed and captured aerial cinematography at ESPN's inaugural X Games. He won gold at America's first official FreeFly National Skydiving Championships in 2000 and at the first official FAI FreeFly World Skydiving Championships in 2001.

Zipser founded the Space Games in 1997, the Atmosphere Dolphin FreeFly License Program in 1996, and the FreeFly Astronaut Project in 2009. He has logged over 22,750 skydives as of June 2015, trained 14 world champion skydivers, and won more than 51 gold medals. In September 2024 he was inducted into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame. In April 2025, after emergency surgery in Thailand, he underwent an above-the-knee amputation of his left leg and announced his intention to participate in an upcoming world record FreeFly attempt.

Reader's Guide

Olav Zipser's significance lies in his role as the founder of the freeflying movement, which transformed skydiving by introducing non-traditional body flight techniques. His development of the FreeFly Training and Instruction Program, the Atmosphere Dolphin FreeFly License Program, and the Space Games created structured pathways for training, testing, and competition that elevated freeflying to an internationally recognized sport under the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. His use of Space Balls as independent measuring devices established an objective standard for freefly performance. Beyond sport, Zipser's FreeFly Astronaut Project aimed to develop emergency return and rescue techniques for space travelers, reflecting his broader interest in human flight capability. His induction into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame in 2024 and his continued participation after a leg amputation in 2025 underscore his enduring influence and resilience within the skydiving community.

Did You Know?

• Zipser completed his 21,000th skydive at Skydive Dubai in 2012.
• He has flown in 25 of the world's wind tunnels.
• He was a test pilot and astronaut in training with Team Synergy Moon, a Google Lunar X-Prize official team.
• In 1995 he made a high-altitude jump from 41,667 feet over central Russia with Patrick de Gayardon.