Meet the Youngest Skydivers in the World
Pint-sized free flyers are beating pro skydivers with years of experience.
Feb. 6, 2008— -- Kayla and Justin Tinucci can't wait until they turn 18, because that's when they will finally be able to fulfill their dreams of becoming skydivers.
The siblings are the world's youngest professional free fliers. They practice and compete in wind tunnels, doing complicated routines in winds as fast as 170 mph.
Click herefor a slideshow of these pint-sized free-fliers.
"We've got totally different styles. She's smooth and graceful, and I go fast," 9-year-old Justin told ABC News.
Justin and his 12-year-old sister began indoor skydiving 18 months ago, when a wind tunnel opened near their home outside Denver. These wind tunnels are opening across the country, available to anyone who craves the feeling of skydiving and flight, without actually jumping out of a plane.
Once Kayla and Justin checked it out, they were hooked. They, along with their coaches and teammates Brad Cole and Dan Perry, began working as Team Future, creating complicated two-person and four-person routines, and competing in national competitions. And although they started in the sport fairly recently, they are already beating professional skydivers with years of experience.
Cole — who, along with Perry, coach the Tinuccis — said he sees only good things in the pint-sized fliers' competitive future.
"Right now, there are some good fliers, and these little kids are chomping right at their heels. Another year or two, flying at this level, and they are going to be the level that people want to get to, and they still won't be old enough to jump out of an airplane," he said.
Their parents, Jennifer and Bob Tinucci, said they are concerned about their kids training to jump out of planes, but more than that, they are excited by what their son and daughter are doing.
"Some people say 'You know, are you guys crazy? You're preparing your kids to sky dive.' We don't really look at it like that," Jennifer said. "You know, this is sort of a different sport. They are pioneering a new sport, in a way, and tunnel flying is extremely safe. To me, they're in no danger at all."
Kayla and Justin have more competing to do. They go to England next month to take part in an international competition.
Beyond that, Justin is counting down the days until he turns 18, when he will be legally allowed to jump out of an airplane at age 18. The day he spoke to ABC News, the count was at 3,256. In the meantime, he said he's ready to make up lots of new tricks.
Kayla wants to jump out of planes, too, but she also has other ambitions — she said she wants to study to be an aerospace engineer.
Until they are old enough to legally skydive in the United States, they are both trying to convince their parents to take them to New Zealand, where there is no age minimum to skydive. So far, their parents aren't convinced.