Wingsuit – La passion de Cath Vaillancourt-Roy

Do you dream of flying like a bird, for as long as possible, as far as possible? Have you ever had dreams bigger than life? Catherine Vaillancourt-Roy, who will represent Canada in the wingsuit discipline at the 2024 World Parachuting Championships , has already been in your shoes! 

If you’ve ever crossed paths with her, you’ll undoubtedly remember her infectious laughter and the impression that nothing could stop her! Catherine (let’s call her Cath) understood long ago that no dream is too big if you give yourself the time , the tools , and the necessary steps to achieve it. It’s easy to forget, but athletes also started with their very first parachute jump !

1. Portrait of a passionate skydiver

A passionate skydiver, she holds numerous certifications: Tandem Skydiving Instructor , Accelerated Freefall (AFF) Instructor, Wingsuit Instructor, Examiner, Classroom Instructor, and Jumpmaster. She is also a rigger (certified to pack reserve parachutes) and can manage the operations of a drop zone. At 36, with nearly 6,000 skydives , including 700 wingsuit jumps, she has made the most of each one by participating in advanced training camps worldwide and surrounding herself with specialists in her field. Today, her involvement in the sport allows her not only to achieve her dreams but also to share her passion for wingsuit flying !

“At Voltige, it’s special: in all skydiving disciplines, we have extremely qualified and dedicated mentors who pass on their passion and knowledge. I want to offer that same thing in wingsuit flying!”

2. 2022-2023: Expertise acquired and expertise offered!

Having jumped at Voltige since 2015 and determined to get involved in the sport in Quebec, in 2022 she honed her knowledge and technique by logging nearly 9 hours in the Wingsuit tunnel in Stockholm . The tunnel is unforgiving of mistakes; it’s the ideal place to push your limits. She then flew to Florida where she completed her first-jump wingsuit instructor training with the company Squirrel.

In 2023, she participated in the Canadian Parachuting Championships and secured a spot on the Canadian team for the 2024 World Championships. There, she won a silver medal in women’s performance wingsuit flying . She organizes an advanced training camp at Voltige for wingsuit enthusiasts, where the latest flying techniques are taught to enhance the safety and performance of participants. Leading coaches from the United States and Sweden come for this three-day intensive course of seminars and personalized training for each participant. Among others, she invites Val Sobol, an accomplished wingsuiter, as she wants to provide a concrete role model for Canadian wingsuiters .

“I don’t think women lack interest in wingsuit flying, quite the opposite! I think we lack role models, because as soon as we have some, we see an increase in requests from female skydivers for wingsuit training!”

Photo credits: photo 1 – Philippe Boisjoli, photo 2 – Charles Racicot-Hébert

His objectives :

• To transmit the latest knowledge and techniques in safety, flying and navigation in order to enable more wingsuiters to fly in large groups.
• Motivate the involvement of parachutists in the discipline.
• To encourage more women to discover and perform in the discipline of wingsuit flying .
• To train wingsuiters properly in order to establish a vertical record in Canada .

Are you a wingsuiter and want to participate in the 2024 wingsuit camp ? There are still a few places left: visit the Voltige skydiving events calendar !

3. Start Wingsuiting – Cath and Parachute Voltige are waiting for you!

That same year, she created “Flying Geese – First Wingsuit Course” to provide the necessary training for those wanting to begin in the discipline. This training, both theoretical and practical, covers the knowledge and management of equipment both on the ground and in the air, the analysis of wind currents at altitude, navigation, aircraft exit techniques, flight techniques, and much more.

This training, offered at Parachute Voltige , is aimed at skydivers holding a B license and 200 jumps, including at least 50 jumps in the last year.

“Wingsuit flying can be accessible to anyone who dreams of it. The important thing is to have the right mindset and support to manage fear and the equipment. I would add that the importance of good physical fitness for successful training is often underestimated.” – Cath

So, dear Cath, we would like to congratulate you on your accomplishments and thank you for your involvement in our wonderful school and community! Summer 2024 is shaping up to be exciting for all of us, and we can’t wait to see your smile again! To all of you reading this, whether you aspire to become a skydiver or visit us as a tandem guest, we look forward to meeting you!