FAI	2x	3x
USPA	2x	4x
USIS		1x

Photo by Samantha Schwann.

I believe, that students learn best in an environment where they are relaxed. So my philosophy and approach is to make the learning process as fun as I can make it. I coach all types of students, in the tunnel and in the air, and I bring my passion and enthusiasm for my sport into my teachings.

My approach to teaching complex and advanced skills is to break them down into a series of simple, manageable, and achievable skills.

Because my passion for coaching also extends to the competition side, I still continue to do player-coach teams across multiple disciplines, and I continue to challenge myself at the World Level in Speed Skydiving.

Skydiving Stats

Nationality:	USA
Languages:	English
Occupation:	Skydiver (Co-Founder / Owner of AXIS Flight School)
Appointments:	USPA S&TA (Mountain Region).
Licenses / Ratings:	USPA D License; USIS Founding Member; Coach; AFF-I; IAD; HAPS Certified; IBA Tunnel Instructor LVL 3; IBA Coach Rating for FS, Static, Dynamic, FWE (flying with equipment); Pro rated for 75 sqft; Private Pilot (ASEL); USHPA P2 rated.
Number of Jumps:	15,000+
Tunnel Time:	Thousands of hours since 2003
Emergency Cutaway:	Sport: 12.
Intentional Cutaway:	5.

Competition History

Peak Competition Performances

Formation Skydiving

FS 4-Way Open (Women) — Highest average: 19.8 points
(FAI World Skydiving Championships 2008).
FS 4-Way Open — Competition record, female 4-way formation skydiving: 26 points (also national female record)
(USPA National Championships 2009).

Formation Skydiving indoor

FS 4-way Open Indoor — Highest average: 18.3
(IBA US National Championships 2017).
FS 4-way Open Indoor — Single highest scoring round: 24 points
(IBA US National Championships 2017).

Vertical Formation Skydiving

VFS 4-Way Open — Highest average: 17.8 points
(USPA National Skydiving Championships 2018).
VFS 4-Way Open — Single highest scoring round: 24 points
(USPA National Skydiving Championships 2019).

Vertical Formation Skydiving indoor

VFS 4-way Open Indoor — Highest average: 26.1 points
(2019 USIS National Championships).
VFS 4-way Open Indoor — Single highest scoring round: 46 points
(2019 USIS National Championships).

Mixed Formation Skydiving

MFS 2-Way Open — Highest average: 12.0 points
(USPA National Championships 2017).
MFS 2-Way Open — Single highest scoring round: 17 points
(USPA National Championships 2017).

Speed Skydiving

Highest ISSA Ranking: #30 (Aug. 2023).
Highest scoring round: 481.04 km/h / 298.90 mph.
Highest average: 472.77 km/h / 293.76 mph.
Highest total: 3782.20 km/h / 2350.15 mph (all achieved at the 2023 Speed Skydiving World Cup Prostějov, Czech Republic)

FAI World Championships and World Cups

n/a 0 n/a 2 n/a 3

2^nd in Speed (Female), Prostějov, Czech Republic (2023),
3^rd in FS 4-way (Female) and
3^rd in VFS 4-way, Eloy, USA (2019), making Brianne the first female skydiver ever to medal in both disciplines at an FAI World Competition,
4^th in VFS 4-way, Saarlouis, Germany (2017),
3^rd in FS 4-way (Female), Menzelinsk, Russia (2010),
2^nd in FS 4-way (Female), Maubeuge, France (2008),
4^th in FS 4-way (Female), Gera, Germany (2006).

USPA National Skydiving Championships

n/a 0 n/a 2 n/a 4

3^rd in Speed Skydiving Open and best female competitor (2023),
12th in Speed Skydiving Open and best female competitor (2022),
2^nd in VFS 4-Way Open (2019),
2^nd in VFS 4-Way Open (2018),
2^nd in Women"s Speed Skydiving (Test Event 2017),
3^rd in VFS 4-way Open (2017),
4^th in MFS 2-way Open (2017),
3^rd in VFS 4-way Open (2016),
3^rd in VFS 4-way Open (2015),
6 x Best Female Team, FS 4-way Open (2005-2010).

USIS National Championships

n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 1

3^rd in VFS 4-way Open (2019).

Other Indoor Skydiving Competitions

n/a 1 n/a 1 n/a 2

2^nd in VFS 4-way Open (2017 Paraclete XP Indoor Championships),
3^rd in FS 4-way Open (2017 IBA USA Indoor National Championships),
1^st in VFS 4-way Open (2016 Battle of the Blades at iFly Seattle),
3^rd in VFS 2-way Open (2016 Battle of the Blades at iFly Seattle).

Records

World Records, Female

FAI #18267 G-1 Speed (23 Sep 2017) — Maximum Vertical Speed: 384.66 km/h (239.02 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Perris (CA) [eclipsed].

North America Records, Female

FAI #20071 G-1 Speed (16 Sep 2023) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 473.76 km/h (294.38 mph) at FAI World Cup in Prostějov (Czechia) [claimed].

FAI #20070 G-1 Speed (16 Sep 2023) — Highest Average Speed: 481.75 km/h (299.35 mph) at FAI World Cup in Prostějov (Czechia) [claimed].

FAI #20068 G-2 Speed (16 Sep 2023) — Max Vertical Speed w/o Drogue: 485.676 km/h (301.786 mph) at FAI World Cup in Prostějov (Czechia) [claimed].

FAI #20045 G-1 Speed (22 Aug 2023) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 472.77 km/h (293.77 mph) at FAI World Cup in Prostějov (Czechia).

FAI #20034 G-2 Speed (22 Aug 2023) — Max Vertical Speed w/o Drogue: 485.35 km/h (301.583 mph) at FAI World Cup in Prostějov (Czechia).

FAI #20032 G-1 Speed (22 Aug 2023) — Highest Average Speed: 481.04 km/h (298.91 mph) at FAI World Cup in Prostějov (Czechia).

FAI #18262 G-1 Speed (23 Sep 2017) — Maximum Vertical Speed: 384.66 km/h (239.02 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Perris (CA) [eclipsed].

FAI #18261 G-1 Speed (23 Sep 2017) — Highest Average Vertical Speed: 347.05 km/h (215.65 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Perris (CA) [retired].

National Records, Female

USPA #400143 G-2 Speed (15 Sep 2023) — Greatest Freefall Speed: 485.676 km/h (301.786 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Paraclete XP (NC).

USPA #400129 G-1 Speed (15 Sep 2023) — Highest Average Speed: 481.75 km/h (299.35 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Paraclete XP (NC).

USPA #400128 G-1 Speed (15 Sep 2023) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 473.76 km/h (294.38 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Paraclete XP (NC).

USPA #400085 G-1 Speed (22 Aug 2023) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 472.77 km/h (293.77 mph) at FAI World Cup in Prostějov (Czechia) [eclipsed].

USPA #400084 G-1 Speed (22 Aug 2023) — Highest Average Speed: 481.04 km/h (298.91 mph) at FAI World Cup in Prostějov (Czechia) [eclipsed].

USPA #200061 G-1 FS (14 Oct 2009) — 4-Way Longest Sequence: 26 points at USPA Nationals at Skydive Spaceland (TX) [eclipsed].

State Records, Female

North Carolina: USPA #400142 G-2 Speed (15 Sep 2023) — Greatest Freefall Speed: 485.676 km/h (301.786 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Paraclete XP (NC).

North Carolina: USPA #400126 G-1 Speed (15 Sep 2023) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 473.76 km/h (294.38 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Paraclete XP (NC).

North Carolina: USPA #400124 G-1 Speed (15 Sep 2023) — Highest Average Speed: 481.75 km/h (299.35 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Paraclete XP (NC).

Arizona: USPA #100130 G-2 FS (27 Dec 2010) — FS Large Formation: 27-Way at Skydive Arizona.

Texas: USPA #100110 G-1 FS (14 Oct 2009) — 4-Way Longest Sequence: 26 points at USPA Nationals at Skydive Spaceland (TX).

Achievement: 180-Hour Freefall Badge (2020) to Brianne Thompson

Achievement: 12,000 Jump Wings (2020) to Brianne Thompson

Regional Achievement Award 2015 to Brianne Thompson

Chesley H Judy USPA Safety Award 2015 to Brianne Thompson

Awards and Recognitions

USPA 180-Hour Freefall Badge (2020) for completion of 180 hours of freefall in accordance with the Basic Safety and Requirements of the USPA.
USPA 12,000 Jump Wings (2020) for completion of 12,000 skydives in accordance with the Basic Safety Requirements of the USPA.
USPA Regional Achievement Award (2016) for her work in teaching disabled veterans to skydive through Operation Enduring Warrior; for developing highly customized curricula to instruct and train mulitple wounded verterans through to their A licenses, allowing them to enter the sport of skydiving despite many obstacles.
Chesley H. Judy USPA Safety Award (2015) in recognition for having, through example, deed, training, or innovation, promoted safety in the sport of skydiving.

Body Flight Theory—Part 1:
A Skydiving Coordinate System
By Niklas Daniel. Photos and illustrations by Niklas Daniel.

In order to fully exploit our body’s maneuvering potential in the air, we have to understand what is aerodynamically and physically possible and which underlying principles apply. This paper will eventually cover theory and application for all human flight disciplines, whether for training purposes or general inquiries.

The goal of part 1 of this paper is to establish a more elegant and convenient way to visualize body-flight movement with the purpose of creating order by introducing AXIS systems. You will be introduced to aerodynamic fundamentals and principles of a person in freefall – be it skydiving, base jumping, or flying in a vertical wind tunnel.

AXIS Coach™
Brianne Thompson

Photo by Niklas Daniel

Photo by Samantha Schwann.

Skydiving Stats