<<Back to Listing>>

::Interviews::

Full Name: Juliana Se

Age: 31

Birthplace: Brasil

Current residence: Florida

Occupation: full-time flyer

Education: Studied marketing and Advertising. Going back to school next year... can't wait!!!

Hobbies: yoga, photography, music

Home DZ: Azul do Vento in Brasil

Home Tunnel: SkyVenture Orlando

First Jump: One of the best things I’ve done in my life!!!... 1992 in Brasil

First Tunnel Flight: 1997 in Las Vegas

Total Jumps: 6000+

Freefly: It's all freeflying to me.

Licenses and Ratings: AFF, Skydive U coach, AD#332

Skydiving Achievements or Records:

World Record largest formation 300 and 357-way
Women World Record (JFTC) 118way
3 times Brazilian record holder (large formation)
Brazilian Record - Head Down formation
AZ Challenge 84-way Rubick

Skydiving Competition History:

I've competed in Brasil and Austria in FF, FreeStyle and 4-way.
I can't wait for the Nationals this year and to be doing something totally different!

*Juliana and her teammates will be flying in the 4-way competition at Nationals by back flying all the skydives, while all the other 4-way RW teams belly fly the same skydives.

Current Teams: Black Magick - 4way backfly team

Tunnel Rats was a nice freefly team. We created most of our free round in the tunnel. We won the Nationals in Austria, got 5th place in the World meet in Gap with less than 200 jumps together!

Approx. Total Tunnel Time: 600

Body Flight Inspirations/Idols: I'm inspired by all flyers that really enjoy what they're doing.

E-mail Address: julianase@flyfactory.com.br

Quotes, flying philosophy, comments, etc:
Be present and enjoy the process

Juliana, you told me once that as a child, you used to dream of yourself flying. Could you explain again the story of how you first began to skydive?

I used to dream of flying all the time, so I knew I had to do something connected to it... One day, I was told that my neighbor was an instructor. After seeing for the first time some skydiving videos, I knew that I had to try it. I still had to wait a couple of years. (I was 16 at the time.) After my first jump, I was hooked! I even tried other aerial sports, but skydiving was the closest I got to my dreams...

Is skydiving or flying something that ladies in your country don’t get to do as much as the men? What is the skydiving/flying situation like for women in Brasil, South America?

Although most of the skydivers are male in Brasil, the situation is changing now. Maybe it’s because women are more independent, mentally and financially. There are many talented girls training for the Brazilian record attempt in December. We are organizing this event inspired by JFTC.

When did you first begin to fly in the wind tunnel in Orlando? How did your obvious love of flying become a full-time passion in both the sky and tunnel?

I was really impressed with the little girl flying in the tunnel (Flyway) on the "Travelling 3" tape by Patrick Passe a long time ago... so when I've heard there was a tunnel being built in Orlando, I was very excited. As soon as they opened, I was there to fly!

Were you addicted to the tunnel right away, and how did you begin coaching in the tunnel?

I really enjoyed the tunnel from the beginning...
Whenever I had some extra money, I would drive to Orlando to fly. Many times I took people there, just so I could fly the extra minute at the end of the session. In ’99, I was asked to fly camera for Joao Tambor. We wanted to compete at the World Championships, but we had no time to jump. We were both working during the day at the DZ. The tunnel became our only choice. We started to develop different freeflying technics and realized the tunnel was the best tool for skydive training. We understood the benefits of learning in this "controlled environment" and wanted to share with other flyers. It's been amazing since then.

Were there ever times when bettering your flying skills was a difficult process, either mentally, emotionally, physically or financially? Was there any part of being a professional skydiver that has been difficult for you?

There were a few things that took me a long time to learn, but I never gave up. I guess it helps when you enjoy the learning process. I laugh when I make a mistake and try again. There were times when money was an issue.

I ask this because you seem to be such a graceful and natural flyer, Juliana.

THANK YOU SWEETY!!!

You are also quite physically fit, Juliana. Do you do have an exercise routine or special diet that you keep to in order to be in better shape for flying?

Yoga has helped me a lot. Physically and mentally. I practice as often as I can. Lately the tunnel has been my gym. It's a work out!

Was your diminutive size ever an issue or problematic when flying or coaching? What advice can you give to women about staying “strong” when flying with the bigger guys?

When I started to fly head down formations, I had a hard time getting on level with people. I was so used to looking up to everybody that in freefall my mental picture would put me always a little "higher" then everyone else... hehehe! But being "solid" in the air is a state of mind.

Do you have a preference between skydiving and tunnel flying? If you could only do one, would you be able to choose between those two options?

The tunnel will give you unlimited flying time in a limited space. In the sky you have unlimited space in a short time. I think that they complement each other. I hope I never have to make that choice!!!

What if you could no longer tunnel fly or skydive? What would you devote yourself to instead?

I'd like to study Naturopathy (natural therapy, like herbs, massage etc.)

How does tunnel flight and/or tunnel skills transcend or translate into the world of skydiving?

The feeling of flying is pretty much the same. The walls make the difference. They are a good reference. You can see what's going on as you fly. You learn to fly very precisely. The biggest difference, of course, is the visuals and limited space.

Out of all of your tunnel sessions and competitions, are there any that stand out more than others and why?

In the beginning, when they first opened, we had amazing late night sessions. A group of flyers, who were learning with each other, having a great time, enjoying themselves. Those were great sessions, pure fun flying.

You are going to be one of the most talked about 4-way teams at National’s, since this is the first time that a team will be performing competitive 4-way dives, while flying completely on their backs. How much interest has there been to see your back flying 4-way?

We've had many people interested in our back fly team. I think especially because that is not a new concept. We are just the first ones that actually did it. During the NSL meet in Z-Hills, people really enjoyed watching our videos, and we got a lot of support to go on with this project.

Can you please tell me more about Black Magick and your teammates? Whose idea was it to competitively fly 4-way dives on your back, and how did you become a part of the team yourself?

Joey Jones thought about putting a team together a couple of years ago. He saw the possibility after flying a lot in the tunnel and watching all the freeflying and back flying going on. He thought about Thomas Hughes, Eliana Rodriguez and myself. The commitment with Majik and Eliana moving to Arizona held the project back for a while.

This year seemed like a good moment for everyone to put the energy and time into the project. Joao Tambor joined the team, sharing all his freeflying and backflying experience. (You can check him out on the Back Fly DVD from the Skydive University's Learning to Freefly series). For me, it's an honor to be part of a team with so many talented flyers!

Have you flown much with the others on Black Magick? What kind of competition background do you and the others have/share together?

We have so far about 60 training jumps and 6 hours in the tunnel as a team, although we have all flown with each other a lot in different occasions, especially in the tunnel. Joey and I, for example, competed as a 2-way during the first tunnel challenge. As a whole team, we have only been part of one competition...

Where have you been training, and how has the training been going?

We've been flying at the SkyVenture Orlando and jumping in DeLand. It's been fun and challenging. Joao and I have to do a lot of home work, studying the points, as we don't have a lot of 4-way experience. The biggest challenge is getting used to the visuals, completely upside down!

Are you competing in any other competitions or involved in any upcoming record jumps/events that you would like to share with us?

I'll be competing at the Nationals in Brasil, probably in freefly and swooping. We just broke the Brazilian freefall record with a pretty 80-way, and I hope to join the World Team again for the 400-way in Thailand. Also, along with a couple of other ladies, I'm organizing the Brazilian female record attempt, which is inspired by the JFTC. That is next December.

Of course, I have to mention the Tunnel for the Cause on the 15th of October in Orlando that I'm proud to be a part of!!!

To you, what is the best part of flying? Is it the competitions, the coaching, the shared passion of flight, the friendships?

The possibility of learning about life itself. Sharing the feeling of freedom and joy with friends! I love every aspect of it!

Do you have any parting advice, quotes or final words for fellow female tunnel flyers?

Just enjoy it! We are very blessed people to be able to fly and to have each other!

Thank you for your support in our organization, and thank you very much for allowing me to have this interview with you, Juliana.

~ By Rosa Alva

<< TOP >>
<<Back to Listing>>