The Women's Skydiving Leadership Network (WSLN) Announces #WomenCanFlyParachutes to Expand Access to Professional Training for Women Skydivers and #BeyondTheBucketList to Increase Awareness About Female Sport Jumpers

CHICAGO, Oct. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women's Skydiving Leadership Network (WSLN), an international network of more than 2,300 women from all over the world, today announced #WomenCanFlyParachutes to expand access and increase financial support to professional training for women skydivers. According to the United States Parachute Association (USPA) only 13 percent of USPA members are women.  Despite this, women participate at all experience levels, from students to world champions.

"It's time to dispel some lingering misperceptions about women skydivers and skydiving in general as a 1x bucket list type of event," said JaNette Lefkowitz, who co-founded the WSLN with Christy Frikken, both of whom are world-class competitive jumpers with more than 23,000 jumps between them. "Since the inception of our network, our membership has climbed steadily.  There is a need for more women instructors, role models and mentors at drop zones. Through the WSLN's programs we are supporting this unmet demand and directly increasing the number of women who achieve leadership positions in one of the most exhilarating and fun sports on the planet."

#WomenCanFlyParachutes is dedicated to raising awareness and financial support for female skydivers. The WSLN supports the professional development of women skydivers through a ratings scholarship program and other educational initiatives. Their goal is to increase the number of women in all levels of the sport.

As part of #WomenCanFlyParachutes the WSLN will host a series of training sessions at specific drop zones around the country. Each session will be led by WSLN's Mobile Mentors - all of whom are female skydivers who have been professionally trained by the WSLN to encourage, coach and train women who jump.

The first two events will be hosted in California at Skydive California and Skydive Elsinore on October 6-7th, 2018 and will feature a number of notable women skydivers and trainers.

To raise money that will help take more women skydivers to the next level the WSLN has teamed up with GIRL BE GREAT to offer custom designed discounted merchandise for the Women's Skydiving Leadership Network. To purchase merchandise please go to #WomenCanFlyParachutes.

Even though women have been involved with skydiving since its inception more than 200 years ago, there is a lack of awareness about the many accomplishments of women sport jumpers. #BeyondTheBucketList is about helping to set the record straight and increase awareness about women involved in skydiving as a sport. 

About the Women's Skydiving Leadership Network (WSLN)

Formed in 2016, The Women's Skydiving Leadership Network has more than 2,300 members who enjoy the most exhilarating sport on the planet. The WSLN is dedicated to increasing the number of women in US skydiving through promoting women leaders in the sport and providing a network and resources for all female jumpers. around the globe who love to jump. Learn more at wsln.org.

About GIRL BE GREAT

Girl Be Great makes t-shirts and accessories for girls age 6 to forever and is 100% committed to bringing out the best in #EveryGirlEveryDay by encouraging girls to be curious, active and kind.  Our #EveryGirlEveryDay initiative is designed to help small scale groups and nonprofits raise money and awareness by offering custom-designed, discounted merchandise to support girls and women across a broad range of issues. To learn more, visit girlbegreat.com.

Location: Skydive Elsinore, 20701 Cereal Street, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Date/Time: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. PST, Saturday, October 6, 2018 
Notable attendees: Mary SantAngelo, WSLN Mobile Mentor and Skydive Elsinore events coordinator; Jeanna Billings, WSLN Mobile Mentor and guest organizer for the event. 
Location: Skydive California 25001 Kasson Road, Tracy, CA 95304
Date/Time: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. PST, Saturday, October 6-7, 2018 
Notable attendees: Karen Woolem, event organizer; Tamara Bartlett, WSLN Mobile Mentor and guest organizer for the event who also received a WSLN Tandem scholarship and just took her ratings course.  Women make up only 4% of tandem instructors.

The #WomenCanFlyParachutes events in California will coincide with Skydive Elsinore's Chicks Rock Boogie and Skydive California's 2018 Unicorn Boogie, which are two fun and amazing events designed by and for women jumpers.

Contact:
Courtney Lee, Manager, Women's Skydiving Leadership Network, 1+ 815-735-8138, [email protected] 

Sheryl Kravitz, Girl In Charge for GIRL BE GREAT, 1+ 773-414-5480, [email protected]

SOURCE The Women's Skydiving Leadership