5 minutes with our Instructor, Cameraman and Coach: Ally!

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

What’s your name and where are you from?

My name is Ally Tebbutt and I’m from Leeds in the UK.

When did you start working for the Swallows?

I started working for the Swallows in the May of 2016 as ground crew at Skydive Hibaldstow.

When did you come to Skydive Algarve and what’s your position here?

I started working here in September 2019. I’m an instructor, cameraman and coach.

How and when did you get into skydiving?

I joined the skydiving club in my first year at Kingston University. I did my ground school and first jump in October 2012

Explain a bit about your progression in skydiving?

It took me about 6 months to get my licence – starting to skydive in winter in the UK is not the best time! After managing only 3 jumps in nearly 5 months I decided to go on a trip to Skydive Spain with some friends to finish my licence off. As luck would have it March 2013 became the wettest in Spain since records began! But eventually the rain stopped and I managed to complete all my remaining jumps in a week to gain my A licence. I managed around 250 jumps (mainly FS) over the next 3 years. When I started working at Hibaldstow my jumps became a bit more focused – I started learning how to fly camera for tandems and working more on my freefall skills that would help for future instructor ratings, as well as fun jumps with other staff and friends when we had the chance. After about a year as ground crew I started doing paid tandem camera and then a year after that in 2018 I got my tandem rating and became full time ‘jump staff’. Since then it has been a lot of work jumps with fun jumps thrown in when I can. Since coming to Skydive Algarve I have been working much more on my freeflying and it is coming on (slowly)!

What’s a typical day like at SA for you?

There isn’t really a ‘typical day’ as it varies so much but my day always starts with a coffee at SkyCafe at the airfield. After that my day can be any combination of coaching, tandems, instructing, camera and fun jumps or maybe even helping out in the manifest office.

How many jumps do you have?

I currently have about 2100 jumps.

What’s one of your most memorable skydives?

For me I still remember my AFF level 7 jump as one of the best – the satisfaction and happiness I felt, getting a high 5, at the end of the freefall, from my instructor Jonno, and knowing that after that I would be jumping solo, is hard to beat.

What do you like about being an instructor at Skydive Algarve?

Of course I have to say the number 1 thing for me is the weather! Having ‘done my time’ in the UK for 3 years it is amazing to get up for work in the morning and have the sun shining more or less every day. As well as that all the people here, both customers and colleagues, have been super friendly and welcoming. And the food, the coffee and the beach are all amazing too!

What do you do outside of work, in your free time?

I have a 1 year old daughter so she takes up a lot of my time outside of work! But I do also love cooking, spending time on the beach and exploring the beautiful country of Portugal.

What makes SA such a special dropzone for tandems and students?

I think for tandems it has to be the view, your first jump is always going to be an experience to remember wherever you do it but the views here are just the cherry on top – I’m still getting used to it myself! For everyone else I think the area where we are is the best, you can enjoy the beaches, bars, restaurants, surfing etc. as well as lots of skydiving.

Try to describe skydiving to a non skydiver.

I don’t think I can! Just give it a go, you won’t regret it!

What’s something you’re proud of in your skydiving career?

My proudest moment was getting my first instructor rating (category system instructor) almost a year to the day after taking the plunge into working full time in skydiving. I don’t think anyone imagines they could be an instructor themselves, when they first start skydiving, and I was no different. It takes a lot of effort and commitment to get any instructional rating and the feeling when all that work pays off is something else.

Leave us with a life lesson from Ally.

The best things in life aren’t things.