A group of senior skydivers, ages 60 to 80, is set to prove that age is just a number with the premiere of the documentary, “Skydiving Over Sixty,” premiering at the Old Mill Playhouse Epic Theatres in The Villages, on Friday, June 14. This documentary, showcasing their incredible journey and record-breaking feats, will later be available nationally on PBS.

Event Details:

• When: Friday, June 14
• Where: Old Mill Playhouse Epic Theatres, The Villages, Florida
• What: Premiere of “Skydiving Over Sixty” documentary, featuring behind-the-scenes footage of over 100 senior skydivers breaking two world records by building a 101-way giant formation in the sky.

The documentary chronicles the skydivers’ achievements, including a 105-way formation jump from 18,000 feet, where they reached speeds of 120 mph to form a 150-foot snowflake formation. This remarkable feat set a world record not only for the size of the formation but also for executing two formations on the same jump.

The record-breaking formation included two Florida residents, who will be featured in the documentary.

Patty Woods began skydiving in 1983 and has been passionately involved in the sport ever since. Originally from Tampa, Patty was inspired by the TV show “Ripcord” as a child and finally realized her dream of skydiving at the age of 27.

“As a little girl, I kept looking at the TV show ‘Ripcord’ and thought, wow, that looks so neat and looks like something I’d want to try one of these days,” she says.

Patty and her husband, who had been skydiving longer than she had, competed in the U.S. Nationals for 20 years and have continued to participate in large formation jumps and world records. Patty emphasized the significance of the documentary, saying, “It’s about not so much the record, but the fact of the age. This is called SOS, that stands for skydivers over 60.”

To date, she has logged more than 10,000 jumps.

Michael Anderson, started skydiving in 1980 after being inspired by an exhibition by the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights. Michael, originally from Rockford, Illinois, now resides in Cooper City, Florida. He shared his excitement about the premiere.

“How many times do you get to go to a premiere of a movie that you’re in?” Michael, who will be 73 in December, says. “When I’m skydiving, I don’t feel over 60, and that’s one time I don’t feel like an old person.”

Michael retired in 2015, which allowed him to fully immerse himself in large formation skydiving, a passion he couldn’t fully pursue while working in education.

The documentary will offer viewers an exhilarating glimpse into the lives and achievements of these incredible seniors, showcasing their dedication, passion, and the camaraderie that comes with skydiving.

Additional Information:

• The premiere event will include a question and answer session with Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld, the organizer of the world record jump.
• Tickets for the premiere can be purchased at the Old Mill Playhouse Epic Theatres box office or through their website.