PARACHUTIST
MAGAZINE
JULY 2008
PROFILE
MERY ROSE
by Brian Giboney
Mery Rose was an 11-time Brazilian Style and Accuracy Champion with a big dream: to come to America and join the U.S. Parachute Team in hopes of winning an FAI World title. However, on the eve of Rose's departure for the United States, the Brazilian government confiscated all of the population's assets, including all of her life savings. Determined to pursue her dream, she moved to the US despite everything. In 2005, she realized her goal of becoming a member of the US Parachute Team at the FAI World Cup, helping the team win the bronze medal at the event.
Age:
53
Marital Status:
Divorced
Children:
Eduardo Castelo Branco Jr. 37
Occupation:
Cloud design and executive moving
Educatin:
High School and Art School
Hobbies:
My website MeryRose.com, skydiving, art, poetry, sewing, cooking, hiking, bicycling, reading, camping, skiing, music and dance.
Team Name:
2008 U.S. Parachute Team
Containers:
Jump Shack Racer
Main Canopies:
Classic 218, Classic 259 and Stilleto 135
ADD:
Airtec Cypress
Home Drop Zone:
Wherever the U.S. Team trains
Year of first jump:
1974
License:
D 24596
Championship meals and Records:
Eleven-time Brazilian classic parachute champion, Guinness World Record - 197 skydivers for the largest group of people jumping at once, 2005 FAI World Cup USA S&A Team bronze medal.
Total Jumpp:
5097
Accuracy:
3500
Styles:
1200
Total Cutaways:
Four
Life Philosophy:
Good health, good friends and good times. Live my skydiving dreams
How did you become interested in skydiving?
When I was eight, I saw a TV program about skydiving. From that moment, I knew it was my destiny. I made my first jump at 19 years old, and ever since, I have lived in the clouds!
Out of all your skydivers, is there one that stands out the most?
Make the U.S. Team at the 2004 USPA Nationals.
What do you like most about the sport?
Skydiving friends are the best friends in the world!
What do you like least about the sport?
Sometimes I border on being a fanatic, and it bores my non-skydiving friends.
What are your future skydiving goals?
To earn an FAI medal at the world meet and to help preserve the accuracy discipline for future skydiving generation.
What safety item do you think is the most important and/or often neglected?
Gear checks and mind checks. Don't get into the airplane unless you and your equipment are completely prepared to make a safe jump.
If you could make everyone on the planet do something to make earth a better place to live, what would it be?
Without a doubt, preserve the Amazon.
What has been your most embarrassing skydive moment?
I made an accuracy jump for a national TV program in Brazil on live television... and missed the target.
Some day I am going to own...
An athletic-casual fashion e-commerce for modern and stylish skydivers!
What's the toughest thing to do in the sport?
Get sponsored.
Of all your skydivers, is there one jump you would like to do over again?
​
​
​​​​​​​
Twenty-five years ago, I made a demo in São Luis, Brazil. I jumped into the Castelão soccer stadium on opening day, wearing my favorite team's uniform, carrying the game ball and with 100,000 spectators watching.
What do you consider your most significant life achievement?
Becoming a mother and an American citizen.
What has been your strangest thought while skydiving?
One time, when I almost lost my right accuracy shoe in freefall, it was accurate to me that I should practice with my left foot more often, just in case.
What has been your favorite period in your skydiving career?
Last February marked my 34th year as a skydiving competitor, and I also celebrated my jump number of 5.000. I still have a lot to learn, but day by day my accuracy jumps get better, which makes me really happy.
What has been your greatest competition moment?
At the 2005 FAI World Cup in Stupino, Russia, I had my personal best: a score of 10 centimeters total for 10 jumps. Among accuracy competitors, a one-centimeter-per-jump average is considered a world-class performance... and it helped the U.S. Team get the third place.
What quirks do you possess?
I only jump wearing a pink top, pink jumpsuit, pink shoes and pink canopy.
What makes you tick?
Scoring a beautiful dead center on a two-centimeter electronic disc in any competition. (In the last U.S. Nationals, I made five.)
How did you get to your current level of style & accuracy talents?
Lots of hard work and good coaching. I try to always jump with the best to elevate my performance.
Most people don't know this about me:
I made all my Jumpsuits, and most people don't know that 'Rose' is my last name.
What's the best thing about style & accuracy?
I'm always learning, so it's never boring. Accuracy is an amazing skydiving discipline that gives great gratification to its followers: Its practitioners are people eternally passionate about what they do.
How did you motivate yourself to work toward your goal of moving to the U.S. after the Brazilian government seized your life savings?
No matter what happened, I continued to believe in my dreams. I went where I wanted and became what I wanted to be.
How long do you plan on jump?
Probably "for the next 100 years.” After 34 years of skydiving, even if I wanted to leave this sport, it wouldn't leave me.
Sum up Mery Rose in justt a few woords
Artistic, 100-percent skydiver, pink, generous, accepting.
USPA.org July 2008
Get sponsored.
Artistic, 100-percent skydiver, pink, generous, accepting.
USPA.org July 2008
What is the best thing about style & accuracy?
I'm always learning, so it's never boring. Accuracy is an amazing skydiving discipline that gives great gratification to its followers: Its practitioners are people eternally passionate about what they do.
