From the point in time of the club’s begging described by Pelon, the Latin Skydivers have gone through some changes.
During a trip back from Buckeye Arizona, after jumping with our friends, the Rebel Skydivers, Pelon described that not to long after the club formed, it became clear that a set of bylaws and other rules were needed for the continuing business, structure and activity of the club. Apparently some members felt that would be to constraining on the free wheeling nature of the group and decided to leave the Latins and form a group of their own. They did, and they were known as the Broad Jumpers.
The Latin Skydivers continued after this split with some original members leaving the sport of skydiving and other prospective members joining. Not necessarily in this order, Steve Saiz, Tom Vasquez, Alfred Gutierrez, Alex Pena, Henry Gonzales, Manuel Cabrerra, Bill Venegas and Pete Rodriguez became members up to the period of about 1971. After 1971, joining the club were Joe Garcia, Bob Celaya, Chuck Pickett, Eddie Lira, Bill Arvizu, and Pete Alarcon.
During the 1980’s some members left the club and toward the end of the decade two of the drop zone muchachos, Rico Gurerro and Greg Vasquez, grew up, learned to skydive and became the second generation of Latin Skydivers. In the 1990’s Raymond Pickett, also second generation, Steve Martizia, and the “Cuates” Charles and Cory Pickett joined as the third generation in the Latin Skydivers.
The club has shared many trips, adventures and jumps into unique demos, sites and plain ole drop zones. We have wonderful memories and stories of parandas with the Rebles, Vivas, Cochella Cochinos, and the Aguilas, great boracheras that we have shared, pendehadas, close calls and most of all, people that we have known and friendships that have endured throughout the years.
Back in 2002, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the beginning of the Latin Skydivers, At that great party, our then club president, Rico Guererro, reminded all members and guests that “tonight we are here to celebrate 40 years of club history. The Latins are the only active skydiving club with 40 years history still in existence”. Since 2002, we continue to celebrate the continuing existence of our club, it’s traditions, our friendships, and our continuing Skydiving together.
