Matt Serikaku started jumping on the last day of the 2023 season. Here’s what he had to say about his journey so far:Skydiving had been sitting on his bucket list until one of his friends got a group together to go—a wholesome adventure designed to keep sober people on the straight and narrow!On jump run, when Matt’s instructor, Carlos, yelled “Door!”, Matt thought to himself that he had made a mistake. But then his parachute opened, and he experienced… silence. When Carlos finally said, “Welcome to my office!”, it flipped a switch for Matt. He realized skydiving wasn’t just a hobby—it could also be a career. From that moment, he was hooked. He immediately started researching how to become a student, reached out to Omar over the winter, and began saving up his money.Matt’s most memorable skydiving experience so far was during the Independence Day Boogie in 2024. With only about 30 jumps under his belt, he felt he had “no business” joining the raft jump that he saw exit the Skyvan. But when the 4th of July came around again, he jumped at the chance. He went up to the load organizer and said, “Russ! I want to do a raft jump!” The jump itself didn’t work out—it “went to shit,” in Matt’s words—but his perspective had shifted. He no longer saw himself as just a novice. Instead, he realized he was becoming an asset on group jumps. Now, Matt is stoked to be in a place where he can pursue the jumps he wants to do.Matt chose Freefall University because he saw CSC as a professional operation. He especially appreciated Omar answering all of his questions and being able to attend a dedicated summer camp. Not only did he have a great experience, but he also found everything he had hoped for and more. What keeps him coming back to CSC are the people—whom he describes as truly special—from the jumpers to manifest, the pilots to the ground crew. While he could skydive anywhere in the world, CSC has a “special sauce” that keeps him grounded here.For Matt, CSC is more than just skydiving. The community has a camaraderie that’s hard to find anywhere else. He loves being around people who get to work in the same place where they do what they love. His goal is to continue being part of this community: supporting others the way he was supported and helping maintain the welcoming vibe.Matt gives a special shout-out to all of his instructors at Freefall University, describing them as phenomenal—“everyone gets 5 stars!” One instructor who stood out was Lauren Pfeifer, who understood the challenges of being “light and floaty.” Her guidance, both as a student and beyond, helped Matt enjoy jumping with his friends. She even taught him one of the most practical lessons for a skydiver with long hair: how to use a buff!Sound like an experience you want to be part of? Sign up today!