Symposium 2026 Speakers

At ESS you’ll find presentations, workshops, fireside chats and interviews with people whose experience is a source of knowledge for all of us. Meet experts, engineers, instructors, inventors or fun jumpers with a story to share. 

Albert Berchtold

Skydive Spain

Executive Director at the United States Parachute Association (USPA) with more than 20 years of experience in the sport, representing the US in Canopy Piloting.

Angie Aragon

Skydive Spain

7500+ jumps, USPA National Director, USPA Coach, AFF & Tandem Instructor Examiner with 400+ graduates to date, UPT & Firebird Tandem ExaminerCoach, AFF & Tandem Instructor, FAA Senior Rigger.

Armando Fattoruso

Skydive Spain

Flight-1 Instructor, +13 000 jumps, CP competitor, Top 5 world ranking, Top 3 European ranking, multiple record holder, 24 years in the sport.

Ernesto Gainza

Skydive Spain

Globally recognized skydiver, BASE jumper, wingsuit pilot, and four-time Guinness World Record holder.

James La Barrie

Skydive Spain

Jumper and founder of the first marketing agency dedicated to the skydiving community.

Julian Barthel

Skydive Spain

The Canopy Flight Shool Instructor and founder, +9 000 jumps, AFF Instructor, Coach, Tunnel instructor, Tandem Instructor, flocking enthusiast and evangelist.

Kate Cooper-Jensen

Skydive Spain

+14 000 jumps, 40+ years of experience, multiple records holder and big-way organizer. The only female skydiver to participate in all the “even number” FS World Records – 100, 200, 300, and 400. Kate organized also Jump For The Cause organizer, and numerous other national and women’s records globally.

Lesley Gale

Skydive Spain

Organizer and participant of many skydiving world records, Hall of Fame 2021 inductee. Founder and editor of Skydive Mag.

Martin Mall

Skydive Spain

Parachute jumper and record holder in FS formations, performer and juggler that will set the mood for the After Party!

Maxine Tate

Skydive Spain

10 000+ jumps, Flight-1 Instructor, Demostration Jumper, AFF Instructor, multiple record holder.

Neil Wilcox

Skydive Spain

UPT and CPS Tandem Program Director Neil holds all of the USPA Examiner ratings across all methods and is a USPA Examiner Rating Course Director (ERCD), He is a master parachute rigger and IBA Tunnel Instructor.

Norman Kent

Skydive Spain

32 000+ jumps, 50+ years in skydiving, world-class skydiving photographer and cameraflyer, the Skydiving Hall Of Fame inductee, the Path Of Excellence award winner, multiple record holder and educational movies creator.

Pete Allum

Skydive Spain

Flight-1 instructor, coach, 36,000+ jumps, 40 years of experience, multiple FS-4 medalist.