Since the inception of Team Fastrax in 2002, the team has performed thousands of exhibition skydives at every entertainment venue imaginable.
Team Fastrax has performed as far away as Moscow, Russia and Normandy, France. The team is approved to jump into highly-restricted airspace and is the only team to have performed over Ground Zero on 9/11 in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA and over the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. We jump at balloon festivals, air shows, NASCAR, Indy Race League, Formula One, symphony performances, golf courses, amusement parks, tennis courts, the Red Bull Air Races and veteran support events. In addition, we have performed at various sports venues such as Major League Baseball, the National Football League, Major Soccer League, NCAA baseball, football and lacrosse, high school sporting events and others; sometimes dressed in mascot costumes and franchise uniforms. We perform in movies, commercials and do stunts for television shows. We know that the breadth and depth of exhibition skydiving venues is deep and wide and we have not seen it all, sometimes people surprise us with new and unusual venues, so surprise us. Reach out to us today to learn more about America's skydiving team performing for you. On Time, On Target!
Team Fastrax has performed as far away as Moscow, Russia and Normandy, France. The team is approved to jump into highly-restricted airspace and is the only team to have performed over Ground Zero on 9/11 in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA and over the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. We jump at balloon festivals, air shows, NASCAR, Indy Race League, Formula One, symphony performances, golf courses, amusement parks, tennis courts, the Red Bull Air Races and veteran support events. In addition, we have performed at various sports venues such as Major League Baseball, the National Football League, Major Soccer League, NCAA baseball, football and lacrosse, high school sporting events and others; sometimes dressed in mascot costumes and franchise uniforms. We perform in movies, commercials and do stunts for television shows. We know that the breadth and depth of exhibition skydiving venues is deep and wide and we have not seen it all, sometimes people surprise us with new and unusual venues, so surprise us. Reach out to us today to learn more about America's skydiving team performing for you. On Time, On Target!
Meet Team Fastrax
GENE NEWSOME
Team Fastrax Manger Gene Newsom and has the Professional Exhibition (PRO) Rating, decorated veteran US Army Ranger and Green Beret. With over 15000 Skydives, he serves as an Accelerated Free Fall Instructor Evaluator, Tandem Instructor Examiner, Instructor Examiner, Pilot and a Master Rigger licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration at Start Skydiving in Middletown OH. Gene also was the Test Pilot For all the Flags.
Founding Member
Demo Team
USPA # 81706
14,000 Jumps
Founding Member
Demo Team
USPA # 81706
14,000 Jumps
JOHN HART
Team Project leader, John is a Formation, Freefall photography, Pyrotechnic, Large Flag, and Canopy Relative Work Specialist. John is a US Army Special Forces Veteran from Cincinnati, Ohio with over 14,000 skydives. John has earned two silver and one bronze World Cup medals, three silver and one bronze US Nationals medals and was on the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 US Skydiving Team. John has AFF Instructor rating as well as a PRO Rating and provides expert videography for jumpers at his home drop zone, Start Skydiving in Middletown, Ohio
Founding Member
Demo Team
USPA # 173444
12,000 Jumps
Founding Member
Demo Team
USPA # 173444
12,000 Jumps
ALEX HART
Alex Hart specializes in Competitive Canopy Piloting. He has over 3,500 skydivers, with over half of those training as a canopy pilot. In 2012, he won silver medal at the United States Canopy Piloting National Championships. He currently jumps a 79 sq.ft. parachute. He has only been in the sport for 3 years. Alex is from Cincinnati, Ohio and currently attends the University of Cincinnati working towards a Business Management degree as a sophomore.
Demo/Swoop Team
USPA # 237753
4,000 Jumps
Demo/Swoop Team
USPA # 237753
4,000 Jumps
ALEX LUPSON
Alex Lupson is a former Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps serving from 2004 until 2008 as a Forward Observer, and spending 22 months deployed in Iraq. Alex lives in Middletown, Ohio and works as a Private Security Consultant all over the world. Alex has accumulated over 1,300 skydives in the past 9 years and his skydiving specialties include Pro demonstration jumps, AFF and Tandem Instruction, Big way formation skydiving, and also holds a Coach rating at Startskydiving in Middletown, Ohio. Alex recently competed in canopy piloting nationals along with two of his team mates on the Pro Team, Fastrax.
Demo Team
USPA # 217075
900 Jumps
Demo Team
USPA # 217075
900 Jumps
DAN PAGANINI
Dan is a former US Army paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne. He has 35 years of experience and over 7500 jumps. A native of Virginia Beach, VA, Dan now splits his time between Versailles, KY & Middletown, OH. Dan is a PRO RATED demonstration jumper and has been a member of Team Fastrax since 2008. As a member of Team Fastrax, Dan participated in the jump over New York City on 9/11/08, the D-day remembrance in Normandy France in 2009, and many Wounded Warrior functions. A Pyrotechnics Specialist, Large Flags Specialist, Mascot Specialist, Canopy Relative Work (CReW) Specialist. He has also done large group formations (100+), was a Member of the POPs (Parachutists Over Phorty Society) World Record Team, and holds the Kentucky and Ohio State Records. Dan is also a Coach, Freefall Photographer and Tandem Specialist at Start Skydiving.
Demo Team
USPA # 108118
6,000 Jumps
Demo Team
USPA # 108118
6,000 Jumps
DAVE FRENCH
Dave French is the Freefall Photographer Specialist and Pyrotechnic Specialist. Dave, who hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, and lives in Arizona, is an 13-year veteran in the sport and is an instructor at start skydiving in Middletown OH. With over 2,000 jumps, Dave instructs people to make their first jump, and is also an accomplished canopy pilot. Dave is a very talented freeflyer, in 2009 was part Ohio State Freeflying Head-down Formation Record. Dave is a member of the demonstration team with his Professional Exhibition (PRO) Rating, as well as Accelerated Freefall Instructor and photographer in Arizona.
Demo Team
USPA # 159181
1,700 Jumps
Demo Team
USPA # 159181
1,700 Jumps
DAVID HART
David Hart is a Flag Jumper, Formation Skydiving Specialist, Pyrotechnic Specialist, and Tandem Specialist. He is a native of Dayton and resident of Mason, Ohio, and is a Veteran US Army Ranger, Pathfinder and Master Parachutist. David has over 4,000 jumps. David along with teammate Bob Akers completed 100 skydives each in 13 hours to show their support of our soldiers currently serving their country. Dave is a member of the demonstration team with his Professional Exhibition (PRO) Rating, as well as Tandem Instructor at Team Fastrax’ home drop zone, Start Skydiving in Middletown.
Fastrax Demo/Tandem
USPA # 98929
2,500 Jumps
Fastrax Demo/Tandem
USPA # 98929
2,500 Jumps
DERICK CREECH
Derick Creech is a Tandem Specialist and a Flag Specialist. Derick has more than 700 skydives in his 4 years in the sport. Derick is a native of Somerset, KY but now hails from Middletown, OH. Derick is a Tandem Instructor at Start Skydiving in Middletown, OH.
Demo Team
USPA # 239920
800 Jumps
Demo Team
USPA # 239920
800 Jumps
Dewey Vinaya is a Large Flag Specialist, Tandem Specialist, Pyrotechnic Specialist, Canopy Accuracy Specialist, and Canopy Relative Work Specialist. Staff Sgt. Dewey Vinaya is a native of Alexandria, Va. He joined the military in 1992 as a parachute rigger. His first assignment was with the Airborne Test Facility, Yuma Proving Grounds, Yuma, Ariz. Also in 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Army Special Operations Command, both at Fort Bragg, N.C., 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky. He is also a Tandem Instructor, Accelerated Freefall Instructor. Also Dewey is a Professional Exhibition (PRO) Jumper.
Demo Team
USPA # 194179
2,000 Jumps
Demo Team
USPA # 194179
2,000 Jumps
Doug Park is a Freefall Photographer Specialist, Formation Skydiving Specialist, High Speed Canopy Pilot Specialist and Pyrotechnic Specialist. Doug is from Burlington Vermont but now hails from DeLand FL. Doug is a Business Owner and Competitive Skydiver with numerous Championships and records. 1998 - 2004 World Champion, World Cup Champion, US National Champion, US National Overall Champion just to mention a few. Doug has over 17,000 skydives in his 20 years. Also Doug is a Professional Exhibition (PRO) Jumper.
Jay Stokes is a Large Flag Specialist, Tandem Specialist, Pyrotechnic Specialist, Canopy Accuracy Specialist, and Canopy Relative Work Specialist. Jay Stokes, retired from the U.S. Army as a CW-4 after 24 years and began a career as a professional civilian skydiver. Jay is the world record holder for the most skydives in a 24 hour period with 640 skydives. Jay a decorated military veteran and former US Army Green Beret has over 21,200 skydives. Jay is the Chairman of the Board of United States Parachute Association and a Accelerated Free Fall Instructor Examiner, Tandem Instructor Examiner, Instructor Examiner, Master Parachute Rigger and Designated Parachute Rigger Examiner (DPRE) licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Also Jay is a Professional Exhibition (PRO) Jumper and a private pilot.
Demo/Tandem
USPA # 8493
21,400 Jumps
Demo/Tandem
USPA # 8493
21,400 Jumps
Jim “Fang” Fangmeyer
Jim Fangmeyer is a Freefall Photographer Specialist, Formation Skydiving Specialist, Pyrotechnic Specialist, Mascots Specialist, Large Flag Specialist, and is a Canopy Accuracy Specialist. Fang who hails from Cincinnati OH has accumulated more than 8000 skydives in his 40 years. Fang has over 2000 Demonstration Jumps and he has his Professional Exhibition (PRO) Rating. In 1979 he was in the World Record Canopy Relative Work Stack of 12. At the United States National Championships in 1986, his team placed second in Open 4 Way Freefall Relative Work. In 1987, his teams placed third in Open 8 Way RW and 10 Way Speed Star.
Demo Team
USPA # 1412
7,450 Jumps
Demo Team
USPA # 1412
7,450 Jumps
John “Rudder” Harth
John Harth specializes in High Speed Canopy piloting, Canopy Relative Work (CReW), Free-fall Video, Tandem instruction and Pyrotechnics and has accumulated over 2,800 skydives over the past 13 years. He is originally from the Cincinnati area but currently resides in Columbus, Ohio. John is employed as a pilot at a major airline and spends his time off as an instructor at Start Skydiving teaching both Accelerated Free-fall students and Tandem Students. John is a medal winning high performance canopy pilot taking first place in the advanced division in Zone Accuracy at the USPA nationals in 2013. John has participated in many meaningful demos including the Ten-Flag jump on 9/11/11 and the Wounded Warrior Project jumps in Lynnville, Tennessee and Walter Reed National Military Medical center in Washington.
Demo/Swoop Team
USPA # 182149
1800 Jumps
Demo/Swoop Team
USPA # 182149
1800 Jumps
Kyle Sward is a Ground Control and flag specialist. Kyle has more than 500 skydives and hails from Lexington KY. Kyle holds a Static Line Instructor rating and currently serves as a Skydiving Coach and competition videographer at Start Skydiving in Middletown, OH.
Matt Harvey
Matt Harvey is one of the newest additions to Team Fastrax specializing in Flags and Tandem Skydives. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Matt has made over 1,000 skydives over the past 5 years. He has his Coach, Tandem and Professional Exhibition (PRO) ratings. He holds state records in Ohio for the highest altitude skydive as well as longest sequence in 4-way formation. Matt is a coach and tandem instructor at Start Skydiving in Middletown, Ohio where he is a two-time coach of the year award recipient.
Demo Team
USPA # 225952
1,100 Jumps
Demo Team
USPA # 225952
1,100 Jumps