For some people, jumping out of an airplane is a once in a lifetime opportunity, for others, it is their job.
KSEE 24 news caught up with Sgt. 1st Class Greg Windmiller and his colleague Chris Moore, of the U.S. Army Parachuting Team, Golden Knights, in Perris Valley, California. The Golden Knights are just one of many groups from all over the world that come to California to master their amazing skills. "Perris Valley skydiving is pretty much one of the Mecca's of skydiving in the United States, basically for one reason, the location," Windmiller says.
A member of the Canadian Military Team agrees, "right now back home, we've got about three to four feet of snow. The weather isn't conducive for parachuting the way we do it" he said

Because the valley is the perfect training grounds for skydivers, a British women's formation team is also on hand. They spend time in Perris Valley practicing on the ground before heading up in a plane.
The Golden Knights have one specific purpose during this annual, nearly month-long training session in California--they are learning how to compete in a form of parachuting that's brand new to this world-class team--it's called "canopy piloting" or "swooping." To assist them in their training, they've enlisted the help of a national champion, Nick Batsch.
Swooping is a growing spectator-friendly sport. Unlike most parachuting displays that can be difficult to see from the ground, swooping takes place on the ground, or just above.
"Trying to go as fast as humanly possible, as low as humanly possible, under the smallest parachute you can possibly fathom, things tend to go wrong. You can slide on your butt, dirt mud, things go flying,” Windmiller explains.
After canopy pilots first leaves the plane, his or her parachute deploys at five-thousand-feet. From there the pilot rotates quickly, diving towards a course. Speed can range from 50 to 90 miles per hour when they get within a few feet of ground. In competition, they're judged on speed, distance and accuracy. Golden Knights' coach Nick Batsch is one of the best in the nation at it.
Batsch says, "we're definitely pushing the edge and the envelope of what parachutes are capable of doing nowadays."