Age : 30

Jumps : 1,400

Occupation : Corporate Accounting Manager

Education : B.S. in Accounting, Bradley University

Certification : Certified Public Accountant

Sign : Pisces

Favorite Place: reefs of Cozumel,Mexico

 

“My earliest memories are of living near an army base in Poland as a child. During the summers, I would take a blanket out to the balcony and watch the army parachuters come down under their red canopies. I believe that’s when it all began.” Her first jump didn’t happen until 2002, but Gosia was instantly addicted to the adrenaline kick and continuous learning. “Accounting was challenging, but I needed something different to give my life the well rounded edge.” The day of her first jump she wasn’t sure what to expect. “I was scared and excited, but I never thought it would be more than a one-time thing. I saw it as just entertainment, like a roller-coaster ride.” When she landed, her view had changed dramatically. “I turned to my friend and screamed, ‘we have to do this again!.’” Gosia made her second tandem jump that day, and even though she still thought solo training was out of the question, the idea kept nagging her throughout the week. “Somehow I found myself heading to the drop zone the following weekend, setting up a tent I hadn’t used in ten years, starting AFP [freefall course], and eventually camping out and skydiving that whole summer. Before I knew it I was making wonderful friends and starting a four-way team. I had no idea skydiving would be a whole new life for me.”

Like many, Gosia has seen herself change since skydiving has become a part of her life. A more confident, outgoing, independent person, she considers herself more at ease with her own abilities, and more willing to try new things. “Before, I wouldn’t even join a volleyball team because I had never played before. Now I know that there are beginners at everything, and that’s just a part of learning and growing. Everybody starts somewhere, and just taking that first step is huge.”

About flying her position as Outside Center, Gosia says, “it’s a tough position. I’m turning 45, 90, 180 degrees, and I have to know where each girl is going to be before I even start to move. It’s about forseeing the coming formation from the current conditions. Every time I go up it’s a new challenge.” When not training with the Furies, freeflying, or doing large formation skydives, Gosia enjoys volleyball, indoor soccer, scuba diving, watching movies with friends, and reading Robert Jordan in a hammock on a late summer day.

Skydiving Philosophy : Never ever give up.

Life Philosophy : There are no coincidences; pay attention and appreciate each moment!