The Lunatic Fringe Podcast

Raised in Mexico City along with his three siblings, it was a pretty normal childhood all and all; with one exception. At a very young age, along with the motorcycles and outdoor adventures, Norman Kent found what would become his lifelong passion. Photography. Making his first skydive at the age of 19, he will be the first to tell you the its as standard a first jump story as any, but his love of photography showed him a side of skydiving that most people don't get; or at least not on their first jump. He saw the incredible potential skydiving had to offer - a dramatic and awe inspiring view  through his lens. That was pretty much all it took. From a first attempt was nothing more than a motorcycle helmet, a wind up camera and way too few jumps, to heading up multi-million dollar productions for Hollywood blockbusters, Norman Kent will be the first to tell you it has been one hell of a ride. 49 years into the game, he still possesses as much passion for photography and skydiving as he did at the start, and his desire to continue innovating and learning is what's kept him at the top of the Lunatic pyramid the whole time. 

It's been an interesting mix for Evan Santangelo. Like most kids of a certain disposition, he would go out of his way to try and find new and creative ways to have fun. From trampolines onward, he found a real joy in body awareness; so when skydiving entered the mix... well, there was little doubt that he was all in (even after getting sick on his first tandem.) Balance that with his work as a professional musician, and a pretty solid presence online and you get a guy that not only keeps it coming from all angles, but actively looks forward to the next phase in his Lunatic Fringe travels.

Back in the can after a busy "summer" off, Jamie Webster brings us up to speed on what it's been like chasing his Lunatic Fringe dreams of flight... A recap of round 1 - Absolutely horrible. Having passed on the idea of a tandem and gone straight to AFF, Jamie Webster's instructors told him upon landing from his first jump that perhaps skydiving just might not be for him. Luckily, Jamie isn't exactly the type to take no for an answer, and from jump number two on things started looking up. Thousands up jumps later, and years of experience as instructor behind him he's solidly proved those first impressions wrong. Not that he hasn't had his close calls… In one of the most intense experiences shared on the podcast to date, Jamie fills us in on what it's like to spend time staring at the bottom of a 182, snagged, suspended and terribly threatened by gear designed to save lives, not take them. Jamie will be the first to tell you it is all about learning from your mistakes and close calls, proving why sticking with the Lunatic Fringe is his preferred path.

A second generation skydiver, there was never any doubt in Gonçalo Resende's mind that jumping was the thing for him; or more specifically, that the dropzone was where he belonged. Even from a very young age, it was the organization itself and the inter-workings of a dropzone that truly intrigued him. Small for his age at the time, jumping wasn't an option for him as young as he would have liked, yet that didn't stop him from racking up thousands of jumps by the time he grew out of his teen years. Wanting nothing more than to completely immerse himself in our world, Gonçalo thrived on everything from packing and rigging, through camera flying and instruction, and well into competition. A champion in his own right, his goals might not be what you would expect… Yet it's his goals and his drive to excel in every aspect of our sport that solidifies his place deep within the Lunatic Fringe. 

With aviation as the dream, but without the means, there was a real chance that becoming a pilot would have remained out of reach for Chris Rosenfelt, but he simply wasn't that kind of person. Working multiple jobs and having a mother willing to match dollar for dollar, Chris pushed hard towards his dream of becoming a pilot. Yet in modern aviation in the United States, simply having your pilots license doesn't mean much without opportunity. It was the world of skydiving that offered him a real shot at the career he dreamed of, even though it offered a fair amount of hardship and trouble. Now, after almost countless drop zones and a myriad of different aircraft, Chris not only works as a professional pilot, but helps mentor those looking to take the same path. With websites like skydiverdriver.com, he's working hard to give back to the lunatic community that has allowed him to move forward with his dreams.