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Skydivers Color Skies Over Pasco

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By KEITH MORELLI

kmorelli@tampatrib.com

Published: December 30, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - More than two miles above the flat east Pasco landscape, a twin-turbo Otter airplane disgorges two dozen spores. At least that's what they look like from the ground.

They fall separately, then, a mile from the ground, pop their nylon blooms that open into colorful petals drifting to the ground.

It's Christmas Boogie time at Zephyrhills Skydive City, and as usual, the celebration of warm weather, gravity and clean air is drawing people from around the world to jump out of airplanes.

General manager David "T.K." Hayes said 700 people representing about 40 countries are here. During the past 10 days, about 5,000 jumps have been logged.

"It's a good turnout," he said.

The center is host to three events every year, ones at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

"This weekend is about 15 percent of my annual business," he said.

But the colorful, breathtaking sport is in decline. The main reason is the cost.

"It's an expensive sport," he said.

Most here pay about $22 to board a plane and jump, and many jump a dozen or so times a day.

On Friday, a jumper was killed and another injured at Skydive City, according to the Zephyrhills Police Department, which is investigating the accident with the Federal Aviation Authority.

Deborah Laws, 48, of Zephyrhills was killed; Walter Huminski, 72, of Michigan was injured.

They were part of a 40-member group that jumped together.

In January, a 45-year-old man from Finland fell to his death after losing control of his parachute, Hayes said.

"It's rare to have two fatalities a year," he said. "But it's out of 70,000 jumps, too."

Still, the thrill of the jump carries a strong temptation.

Heidi Capuano, 36, is an employment recruiter who lives in Bermuda. She comes to all three big events at Skydive City. She keeps a trailer and a car parked in the camping area.

She jumps as many as eight times a day, "depending on how sore I am."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760.

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