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Niklas Daniel

NIKLAS DANIEL

WORLD CHAMPION SKYDIVER & INSTRUCTOR

Medals So Far

FAI:
USPA:
ISSA:

NIK'S APPROACH

"I am passionate about flying; be it my body, a parachute, or an airplane. It fills me with a great sense of fascination, curiosity, and purpose.

Coaching grants me the opportunity to share my skills and experience with those who have a desire to learn. I believe in building skills on a solid foundation and giving my students tangible evidence of their progress.

My coaching method is methodical yet holistic – incorporating physical as well as mental training, in a positive and constructive learning environment. I strive to find the perfect balance between ability and challenge for optimal engagement and enjoyment. My biggest reward as a coach is the joy of celebrating a student's "lightbulb moments" as they achieve their goals."

STATS

Nationality

USA

Languages

English and German

Occupation

Skydiver (Co-Founder / Owner of AXIS Flight School) and Photographer

Appointments

ISC Speed Skydiving Committee Member. USPA S&TA (Mountain Region).

Licenses / Ratings

USPA D License; Coach; AFF-I; Tandem-I; IAD; HAPS Certified; Tunnel Instructor; IBA Trainer LVL 4, IBA Military Instructor, IBA Coach Rating Assessor, IBA Coach Rating for FS, Static, Dynamic, FWE (flying with equipment); USPA PRO rated & HP Endorsement; Private Pilot (ASEL); USHPA P2 rated; Commercial Drone Pilot.

Number of Jumps

16,000+

Tunnel Time

Thousands of hours since 2004

Emergency Cutaway

Sport: 22, Tandem: 1

Intentional Cutaway

13

COMPETITION HISTORY

A decorated career in competitive skydiving

Peak Competition Performances

Speed Skydiving

  • Highest ISSA Eternal Ranking: #1 (since Dec. 2024)
  • Highest scoring round: 535.43 km/h (332.70 mph)
  • Highest average: 528.24 km/h (328.23 mph)
  • Highest total: 4225.90 km/h (2625.85 mph)
  • Highest scoring round Mixed Team (Team USA with Brianne Thompson): 493.52 km/h (306.67 mph)
  • Highest overall average Mixed Team (Team USA with Brianne Thompson): 488.74 km/h (303.69 mph)
  • Highest National Team total (Team USA with Kyle Lobpries and Anthony Landgren): 12048.84 km/h (7486.80 mph)
  • Performance Records: National: Max. Vertical Speed w/o Drogue: 546,839 km/h (339,79 mph). State: Greatest Freefall Speed: 563.829 km/h (350.348 mph)

Vertical Formation Skydiving

  • VFS 4-Way Open — Highest average: 21.00 points (FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships 2014)
  • VFS 4-Way Open — Single highest scoring round: 27 points (FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships 2014)

Vertical Formation Skydiving Indoor

  • VFS 4-way Open Indoor — Highest average: 26.1 points (2019 USIS National Championships)
  • VFS 4-way Open Indoor — Single highest scoring round: 46 points (2019 USIS National Championships)

Mixed Formation Skydiving

  • MFS 2-Way Open — Highest average: 12.0 points (USPA National Championships 2017)
  • MFS 2-Way Open — Single highest scoring round: 17 points (USPA National Championships 2017)

Formation Skydiving Indoor

  • FS 4-way Open Indoor — Highest average: 18.3 points (IBA US National Championships 2017)
  • FS 4-way Open Indoor — Single highest scoring round: 24 points (IBA US National Championships 2017)

Major Championships

FAI World Championships and World Cups

  • 1st in Speed (Open), Beaufort NC, USA (2024)
  • 1st in Speed (National Team), Beaufort NC, USA (2024)
  • 2nd in Speed (Mixed Team), Beaufort NC, USA (2024)
  • 2nd in Speed (Open), Prostějov, Czech Republic (2023)
  • 3rd in Speed (National Team), Prostějov, Czech Republic (2023)
  • 1st in Speed (National Team), Eloy, USA (2022)
  • 2nd in Speed (Open), Eloy, USA (2022)
  • 2nd in Speed (Male), Eloy, USA (2022)
  • 3rd in VFS 4-way, Eloy, USA (2019)
  • 4th in VFS 4-way, Saarlouis, Germany (2017)
  • 2nd in VFS 4-way, Prostějov, Czech Republic (2014)
  • 3rd in FS 4-way (video), Menzelinsk, Russia (2010)
  • 2nd in FS 4-way (video), Maubeuge, France (2008)

ISSA World Cup Series (WCS)

  • ISSA Speed Skydiving World Cup Series Champion 2024
  • 1st in Speed (Open), WCS 2025 Event #2 (Mar.), Skydive AZ, USA
  • 1st in Speed (Open), WCS 2024 Event #7 (Dec.), Skydive AZ, USA
  • 1st in Speed (Open), WCS 2024 Event #2 (Mar.), Skydive AZ, USA

USPA National Skydiving Championships

  • 1st in Speed Skydiving (2024)
  • 1st in Speed Skydiving (2023)
  • 1st in Speed Skydiving (2022)
  • 2nd in Speed Skydiving (2021)
  • 2nd in VFS 4-Way Open (2019)
  • 5th in Speed Skydiving (2019)
  • 2nd in VFS 4-Way Open (2018)
  • 3rd in VFS 4-way Open (2017)
  • 4th in MFS 2-way Open (2017)
  • 7th in Speed Skydiving (2017)
  • 3rd in VFS 4-way Open (2016)
  • 3rd in VFS 4-way Open (2015)
  • 1st in VFS 4-way Open (2014)
  • 1st in VFS 4-way Open (2013)
  • 2nd in VFS 4-way Open Alternate (2012)
  • 2nd in VFS 4-way Open Alternate (2011)
  • 8th in FS 4-way Open (2009, Video)
  • 5th in FS 8-way Open (2009, Video)
  • 2nd in FS 4-way Open (2008, Video)
  • 3rd in FS 8-way Open (2008, Video)
  • 2nd in FS 10-way (2007, Video)
  • 4th in FS 4-way Open (2007, Video)
  • 3rd in FS 16-way (2006, Video)
  • 3rd in Freefly Advanced (2006)

Other Skydiving Competitions

  • 3rd in VFS 4-way Open, USIS National Championships (2019)
  • 2nd in VFS 4-way Open (2017 Paraclete XP Indoor Championships)
  • 3rd in FS 4-way Open (2017 IBA USA Indoor National Championships)
  • 1st in VFS 4-way Open (2016 Battle of the Blades at iFly Seattle)
  • 3rd in VFS 2-way Open (2016 Battle of the Blades at iFly Seattle)
  • 1st in Freefly 2-Way (2012 at Skydive Arizona's Freefly Money Meet)

RECORDS

World, continental, national, and state records

4
World Records
13
Continental Records
13
National Records
17
State Records

World Records

  • FAI #20573 G-1 Speed (11 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed - Mixed Team (with Brianne Thompson): 491.87 km/h (305.63 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • FAI #20526 G-1 Speed (9 Oct 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed - Team (with Team USA): 491.84 km/h (305.62 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • FAI #20521 G-1 Speed (8 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed - Team (with Team USA): 495 km/h (307.58 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • FAI #20498 G-1 Speed (7 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed - Team (with Team USA): 494.75 km/h (307.42 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC) [eclipsed]

Continental Records (North America)

  • FAI #20553 G-1 Speed (11 Oct 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed - Team (with Mixed Team USA): 488.74 km/h (303.69 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • FAI #20549 G-1 Speed (11 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed - Team (with Mixed Team USA): 493.52 km/h (306.66 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • FAI #20534 G-1 Speed (9 Oct 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 522.51 km/h (324.67 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • FAI #20527 G-1 Speed (9 Oct 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed - Team (with Team USA): 491.84 km/h (305.62 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • FAI #20522 G-1 Speed (8 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed - Team (with Team USA): 495 km/h (307.58 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • FAI #20499 G-1 Speed (7 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed - Team (with Team USA): 494.75 km/h (307.42 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC) [eclipsed]
  • FAI #20493 G-1 Speed (7 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed: 525.44 km/h (326.49 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • FAI #20492 G-1 Speed (7 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed: 525.13 km/h (326.3 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • FAI #20546 G-2 Speed (6 Oct 2024) — Maximum Vertical Speed w/o Drogue: 535.41 km/h (332.689 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • FAI #20454 G-1 Speed (18 Sep 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 518.1 km/h (321.93 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Chicago (IL)
  • FAI #20456 G-2 Speed (17 Sep 2024) — Maximum Vertical Speed w/o Drogue: 531.936 km/h (330.531 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Chicago (IL)
  • FAI #20455 G-1 Speed (17 Sep 2024) — Highest Average Speed: 522.31 km/h (324.55 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Chicago (IL)
  • FAI #20041 G-1 Speed (23 Aug 2023) — Highest Overall Average Speed - Team (with Team USA): 478.78 km/h (297.5 mph) at FAI World Cup in Prostějov (Czechia) [eclipsed]
  • FAI #20038 G-1 Speed (23 Aug 2023) — Highest Average Speed - Team (with Team USA): 482.13 km/h (299.58 mph) at FAI World Cup in Prostějov (Czechia) [eclipsed]
  • FAI #20008 G-2 Speed (22 Aug 2023) — Maximum Vertical Speed w/o Drogue: 519.16 km/h (322.592 mph) at FAI World Cup in Prostějov (Czechia)
  • FAI #19867 G-1 Speed (24 Oct 2022) — Highest Average Speed: 520.87 km/h (323.65 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Arizona [eclipsed]
  • FAI #19832 G-1 Speed (24 Oct 2022) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 511.22 km/h (317.66 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Arizona [eclipsed]

National Records

  • USPA #400329 G-2 Speed (7 Dec 2024) — Maximum Vertical Speed w/o Drogue: 546.839 km/h (339.791 mph) at Skydive Arizona
  • USPA #400301 G-1 Speed (9 Oct 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 522.51 km/h (324.67 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • USPA #400305 G-1 Speed (7 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed: 525.44 km/h (326.49 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • USPA #400306 G-2 Speed (6 Oct 2024) — Maximum Vertical Speed w/o Drogue: 535.41 km/h (332.689 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC) [eclipsed]
  • USPA #400289 G-1 Speed (18 Sep 2024) — Highest Average Speed: 522.31 km/h (324.55 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Chicago (IL) [eclipsed]
  • USPA #400284 G-1 Speed (18 Sep 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 518.1 km/h (321.93 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Chicago (IL) [eclipsed]
  • USPA #400287 G-2 Speed (17 Sep 2024) — Maximum Vertical Speed w/o Drogue: 531.9 km/h (330.508 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Chicago (IL) [eclipsed]
  • USPA #400144 G-2 Speed (15 Sep 2023) — Greatest Freefall Speed: 522.252 km/h (324.513 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Paraclete XP (NC) [eclipsed]
  • USPA #400031 G-1 Speed (24 Oct 2022) — Highest Average Speed: 520.87 km/h (323.65 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Arizona [eclipsed]
  • USPA #400012 G-1 Speed (24 Oct 2022) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 511.22 km/h (317.66 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Arizona [eclipsed]
  • USPA #201163 G-1 Speed (24 Oct 2022) — Highest Average Speed: 517.78 km/h (321.73 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Arizona [eclipsed]
  • USPA #400091 G-1 Speed (21 Sep 2022) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 505.45 km/h (314.07 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Chicago (IL) [eclipsed]
  • USPA #100276 G-2 FS (3 Dec 2013) — Head Down Large Formation, Female: 63-Way (as videographer) at Skydive Arizona [eclipsed]

State Records

  • North Carolina: USPA #400302 G-1 Speed (9 Oct 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 522.51 km/h (324.67 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • North Carolina: USPA #400303 G-1 Speed (7 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed: 525.44 km/h (326.49 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • North Carolina: USPA #400304 G-2 Speed (6 Oct 2024) — Maximum Vertical Speed w/o Drogue: 535.41 km/h (332.689 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Crystal Coast (NC)
  • Illinois: USPA #400288 G-1 Speed (18 Sep 2024) — Highest Average Speed: 522.31 km/h (324.55 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Chicago (IL)
  • Illinois: USPA #400285 G-1 Speed (18 Sep 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 518.1 km/h (321.93 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Chicago (IL)
  • Illinois: USPA #400286 G-2 Speed (17 Sep 2024) — Maximum Vertical Speed w/o Drogue: 531.9 km/h (330.508 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Chicago (IL)
  • Arizona: USPA #400207 G-2 Speed (20 Apr 2024) — Greatest Freefall Speed: 563.829 km/h (350.348 mph) at Skydive Arizona
  • North Carolina: USPA #400145 G-2 Speed (15 Sep 2023) — Greatest Freefall Speed: 522.252 km/h (324.513 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Paraclete XP (NC)
  • North Carolina: USPA #400127 G-1 Speed (15 Sep 2023) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 508.9 km/h (316.22 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Paraclete XP (NC)
  • North Carolina: USPA #400125 G-1 Speed (15 Sep 2023) — Highest Average Speed: 513.54 km/h (319.1 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Paraclete XP (NC)
  • Arizona: USPA #400030 G-1 Speed (24 Oct 2022) — Highest Average Speed: 520.87 km/h (323.65 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Arizona (AZ)
  • Arizona: USPA #201162 G-1 Speed (24 Oct 2022) — Highest Average Speed: 517.78 km/h (321.73 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Arizona (AZ) [eclipsed]
  • Arizona: USPA #201161 G-1 Speed (24 Oct 2022) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 511.22 km/h (317.66 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Arizona (AZ) [eclipsed]
  • Illinois: USPA #201068 G-1 Speed (21 Sep 2022) — Highest Average Speed: 509.45 km/h (316.56 mph) at USPA Nationals at Skydive Chicago (IL)
  • Arizona: USPA #400081 G-2 Speed (6 Aug 2022) — Greatest Freefall Speed: 538.5 km/h (334.609 mph) at FAI World Meet at Skydive Arizona (AZ)
  • Arizona: USPA #100293 G-2 FS (3 Dec 2013) — Head Down Large Formation, Female: 63-Way (as videographer) at Skydive Arizona [eclipsed]
  • Illinois: USPA #100326 G-1 VFS (15 Sep 2013) — 4-Way VFS Longest Sequence 25 Points at USPA Nationals at Skydive Chicago (IL) [eclipsed]

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Honors and achievements in the sport

  • USPA 216-Hour Freefall Badge (2025)

    For completion of 216 hours of freefall in accordance with the Basic Safety and Requirements of the USPA.

  • USPA 16,000 Jump Wings (2025)

    For completion of 16,000 skydives in accordance with the Basic Safety and Requirements of the USPA.

  • Chesley H. Judy USPA Safety Award (2017)

    In recognition for having, through example, deed, training, or innovation, promoted safety in the sport of skydiving.

  • USPA Day 4-Stack (2012)

    For completion of a 4-stack during the day in accordance with the Basic Safety Requirements of the USPA.