I started skydiving in Skopje, North Macedonia, back in 2020. My dad used to be a skydiver a long time ago, so the interest was always somewhere inside me. From my very first jump, I completely fell in love with it.
Sadly, skydiving in Macedonia isn’t in great shape. There aren’t many opportunities, the equipment is outdated, the prices are crazy high, and the learning curve is painfully slow. Most of what I learned there came from digging things out on my own, reading online, or getting advice from my dad and few other people. The school and the system felt like they were stuck twenty years in the past. I learned some accuracy tips and basic stuff, but nothing close to what modern skydiving really is.
In about four years, I managed to do around 70 jumps, which is very low for that amount of time. I also had issues getting my license, which made things even harder.
Everything changed when I moved to Villach, Austria, and started jumping in Slovenia thanks to some contacts from my home DZ. The first thing I noticed was how different everything was. The level of organization, the people, the mindset, and the approach to safety and progression were all on another level. It was a complete culture shock in the best possible way. Since I started jumping from higher altitude (unlike the miserable 1500-2500 meters on a good day in Skopje) I learned how to be more stable in freefall, basic body control, some relative work, and I had the chance to jump smaller canopies. That’s when I realized how much I actually love canopy flight.
After skydiving in Slovenia for a few months and getting to the ~100 jumps mark, I got my A license, and shortly after my B license there. Around that same time, I started following more skydivers from the region on Instagram, and came across Ivona. I instantly liked her content because it felt real. It wasn’t just pretty cuts or staged videos, but pure, honest, and often funny posts that showed the real side of the sport. Her content was both educational and entertaining, and you could feel how passionate she was about skydiving and tunnel flying.
For a few months, I kept following (basically "stalking") her to learn things from her posts. For some reason, my inexperienced brain thought she was a tunnel coach, and I wanted to reach out to her for coaching, but was too shy and stupid to do it. That changed when I saw both Ivona and Faris in Metlika.
After collecting enough courage, I went to talk to them, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made in the sport. We clicked immediately, bonded over the same struggles, mindset, love for skydiving, and of course they laughed their asses off when they realized I had thought that they were coaches. A few beers later, they “kidnapped” me to Zagreb, and we ended up talking until early morning. I remember thinking the whole time how amazing they were, both as people and skydivers, and that I’d give anything to be a part of their club.
According to them, the feeling was mutual, although I think I was way more stoked about it than they were. The very next day they sent me an official invite to join Skydive AirIK. Ivona even added a message saying something like, “You don’t have to fill this out now, think about it.” But I didn’t even finish reading it, I was already filling out the form.
After becoming a member, I quickly realized that I didn’t actually know much about the sport, but at the same time, I learned that the things I once thought were impossible were actually very reachable. I started understanding more theory, building confidence in the skills I had, and most importantly, changing my entire mindset. I stopped seeing things as “too advanced” or “for professionals only.” I learned that almost anything is possible if you plan it right and put in the work.
One of the biggest differences I noticed in the club was how they approach safety and planning. Every jump, every event, and every idea is thought through, not just for themselves but for everyone in the load. And what makes AirIK really special, they think bigger. They don’t just organize events and camps like every other club. They look beyond that, constantly coming up with creative and educational ways to help people understand the sport better. Their ideas go far beyond the usual “fun jump” events. They focus on knowledge, awareness, and safety, and that shows how much they truly care about developing better, more confident skydivers.
Not long after joining, I went to their first tunnel camp in Sweden. Up until then, I had maybe two hours of tunnel time in my life, all in basic belly flying. Before the camp, they told me I’d be flying head-up by the end of it. Of course I laughed thinking it was impossible. For me, anyone who could fly freefly positions, even basic things was a mythical creature. But as usual, they were right. In just three hours, I was flying my first wobbly, but real, sit-fly. That was the moment that it hit me, all those “advanced” things are not out of reach. They’re just skills that need the right approach and support.
The atmosphere within the club is something special. It is hard to describe it without sounding cheesy, but it really feels like being part of one big family. Sure, there are ups and downs like anywhere else, but the sense of community, understanding, and support is always there. The first time I met most of the members in person was in Stična, and it was just pure good vibes, laughs, and knowledge sharing all day long. Even though it was the first time I met most of the members, I had the sense that I have known them my entire life.
For me, skydiving is much more than a hobby. I see myself one day becoming an instructor and contributing to the sport in a more professional way. And I know for a fact that AirIK will be a big part of that journey. Even if they don’t yet have the facilities to train instructors directly, the knowledge, mindset, and network I’ve gained from them are already shaping my path there.
I honestly wish there were more clubs like AirIK and more people like Ivona and Faris both in and out of the sport. Their way of thinking, bold, creative, and sometimes a bit radical, is exactly what skydiving needs. They are not just trying to grow a club, they are trying to grow the entire sport. They act locally, but think globally, and the impact they are already making stretches far beyond Croatia.
Joining Skydive AirIK wasn’t just the right decision. It was one of those rare moments in life that actually changed everything.