Olav Zipser

Olav Zipser
Zipser freeflying with his Sports Emmy Award
Born (1966-03-12) 12 March 1966 (age 58)
Siemern, West Germany
Other names'Father of FreeFly'
OccupationInternational Master FreeFlyer
Known forFounding and developing Freeflying, Space Games
AwardsSports Emmy 1995 X-Games

Olav Zipser (born 12 March 1966, Simmern, West Germany) is a German professional skydiver.[1][2]

Zipser launched the freeflying movement of the early 1990s [3] when he began experimenting with non-traditional forms of body flight.[4][5] Since then, he has been part of the worldwide sport of FreeFly and has helped it grow to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale competition level that it is at today.[6][7]

Zipser is the founder of the FreeFly Training and Instruction Program, The First School of Modern SkyFlying, the Atmosphere Dolphin FreeFly Licence Program, the Space Games, and The FreeFly Astronaut Project. He was also the first to make use of Space Balls to train and test free flyers to an international standard.[8]

Zipser completed his 21,000th skydive at Skydive Dubai in 2012.[9][10] As of June 2015 he has logged more than 22,750 skydives.[11] He has flown in 25 of the worlds wind tunnels,[12] won more than 51 gold medals from various international skydiving competitions,[13] has trained 14 world champion skydivers from around the world,[14] and has flown his human body the equivalent of almost three times around the Earth at the equator.[15][16]

Zipser is a member of the Human Synergy Project, and was a test pilot and astronaut in training with Team Synergy Moon (a Google Lunar X-Prize official team).[17][18]

In September 2024 Zipser was inducted into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame, which honours legends, leaders and pioneers of the sport of skydiving.[19]

Zipser is known as "the Father of FreeFly" [20][21] and regarded as one of the best skydivers of all time.[22]

  1. ^ British Parachute Association article, retrieved 10 Sep 2012
  2. ^ http://parachutistonline.com/columns/profiles/olav-zipser-d-11733 Archived 15 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine Parachutist Online Olav Zipser Profile, retrieved 4 June 2015
  3. ^ http://parachutistonline.com/columns/profiles/olav-zipser-d-11733 Archived 15 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine Parachutist Online Olav Zipser Profile, retrieved 4 June 2015
  4. ^ Tara, Wood. "Skysurfer seeks challenge (page1)". Arizona Daily Star. No. 6 August 1995. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  5. ^ Tara, Wood. "Skysurfer seeks challenge (page2)". Arizona Daily Star. No. 6 August 1995. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  6. ^ Pilots Post article Archived 13 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 10 Sep 2012
  7. ^ [1] Olav Zipser Amazers interview, retrieved 15 March 2014
  8. ^ British Parachute Association article, retrieved 10 September 2012
  9. ^ "Emirates News Report 20 000th jump 2010". Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  10. ^ "Emirates News 2012 - watch from 15 min 40 sec". Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  11. ^ http://parachutistonline.com/columns/profiles/olav-zipser-d-11733 Archived 15 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine Parachutist Online Olav Zipser Profile, retrieved 4 June 2015
  12. ^ [2] Olav Zipser Amazers interview, retrieved 15 March 2014
  13. ^ "Olav Zipser Awards and Medals". Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  14. ^ "First School of Modern SkyFlying". Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  15. ^ [3] Olav Zipser Amazers interview, retrieved 15 March 2014
  16. ^ http://www.spacesafetymagazine.com/2014/01/10/interview-olav-zipser-freefly-astronaut-project/ Archived 13 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety Interview with Olav Zipser, retrieved 15 March 2014
  17. ^ Synergy Moon Team Archived 23 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 31 October 2012
  18. ^ FreeFly Astronaut Project Archived 8 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 31 October 2012
  19. ^ "Olav Zipser - Germany". Skydiving Museum. Skydiving Museum. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  20. ^ Doug, Garr. "Elite Sextet—The International Skydiving Hall of Fame's Newest Members". United States Parachute Association. USPA. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  21. ^ Brian, Giboney. "Olav Zipser D-11733". Parachutist.com. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  22. ^ Rev, Nisay. "14 Best Skydivers of All Time". Sports Foundation. Retrieved 1 October 2024.