Inspiring 'A Leap of Faith' Documentary Features Adventurous Skydivers Over Sixty

A group of experienced skydivers, all above age sixty, continue their love for adventure in this inspiring new film.

Maria Aldrich | Jan 3, 2025

Skydiver silhouettes / Unsplash

For many, getting older is associated with living a sedentary lifestyle with a lack of independence, but it doesn't always have to be that way. If you don't believe us, check out the seniors who are actively involved in the Skydivers Over Sixty (SOS) organization.

This remarkable group of skydivers are all over sixty years of age, with some even over 90-years-old.

The SOS organization falls under Parachutists Over Phorty Society (POPS) and includes over 2,200 members.

The 'Skydiving Over Sixty: A Leap of Faith' documentary follows 110 senior skydivers as they set out to break a new, and astonishing, world record of the largest free fall skydiving formation of people over 60-years-old.

The crew can proudly say that they've set the record for 95 skydivers completing a sequential formation in 2023, beating their previous record of 57.

Filmmaker Bob Compton, a skydiver and United States Parachute Association (USPA) member himself, was inspired to work on this documentary with such an impressive group of skydivers.

"He thought it would be great for people to see what we do. SOS is a great group of people," skydiver Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld told a news source. Many of them would not have found each other anywhere else if it wasn't for their passion for flying."

"They just have one shared passion: the dream of flight. That's what connects everybody. We are all little kids who dreamed of flying. Skydivers are the ones who had the courage to see it through because the passion was so strong," he stated.

The 55-minute film is an opportunity for all to remember that our love for adventure doesn't fade away as we age. Whether we are 18 or 80, a new adventure is right around the corner.

"The pure joy of skydiving is that, whatever our age, when we go out the door and hit the air... we're all 18 again," Compton wrote on the SOS website.

A trailer for the film can be found on HearingLife, where you can also sign up to watch the documentary.

Published Jan 3, 2025

MARIA ALDRICH

Maria Aldrich graduated from SUNY Potsdam with a degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Wilderness Education. While earning her degrees, she learned the fundamentals of climbing, wilderness travel, and leadership in the backcountry. These skills built upon Maria's lifelong passion for the outdoors. Following graduation, she began working in the outdoor recreation field, serving individuals with disabilities to help them access outdoor pursuits including hiking, paddling, horseback riding, and snowshoeing. The following year, Maria moved to the Adirondack Mountains in New York State to continue working towards a life of adventure and writing. She has continued rock and ice climbing, hiking in the High Peaks of the Adirondacks, and paddling through various rivers while documenting her experiences through writing. When Maria isn’t adventuring in the mountains, she can be found reading a book, fishing on a shoreline, or spending time with family.