Cattlemen’s Days Demonstration Parachute Jump 2013
The Cattlemen’s Days crowd will enjoy watching two female parachutists jump from approx. 3,500 feet and land in the
middle of the arena. The jumpers are local Gunnison resident Chris Christenson and Nancy La Riviere from DeLand,
Florida. Both women have been on several US Parachute Teams and have competed in parachuting worldwide. The
airplane will be flown by Mark Warren who is a long time resident of Gunnison.
Thursday evening for “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” both women will be jumping with 45’ long pink streamers. Friday
evening one woman will jump with red/white/blue streamers and the other will jump in the US Flag.
Mark W. Warren
Flying Bio
Mark Warren was born and raised in Gunnison and the Warren family founded Gunnison Airport. Mark began his flying
career at the Gunnison Airport, parking, fueling, and moving airplanes as a linemen for his father, Rocky Warren. After
high school, Mark continued to work for Western State Aviation under new ownership, and was soon flying air taxi in
single engine Cessnas. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Western State College, Mark
began flying for Trans-Colorado Airlines making scheduled runs between Denver and western Colorado cities.
Mark holds an Airline Transport Pilot license with 5 type ratings for
Boeing, Airbus, and Fairchild aircraft. He has accumulated over
17,000 hours of flight time and is currently flying over 1,000 hours
per year. Mark is also a licensed Airframe and Powerplant
mechanic with Inspection Authorization. He held management
positions at three airlines, flown the Alaskan bush, and has many
years of experience in the high mountain areas in Colorado.Mark
owns and is restoring the very same aircraft he soloed in, a 1956
Cessna 172 as well as a 1953 Cessna 180 and a 1944 Beechcraft
Staggerwing.
Today, Mr. Warren is the Captain of an A319 for US Airways and is
the father of two college children.
Chris Christenson
Parachuting Bio
Chris Christenson was raised in Colorado, graduated from Pomona HS in Arvada and attended WSC. Chris began her
skydiving career jumping in Littleton, Colorado and then moved to the east coast to further pursue the sport. Chris
graduated from Eastern Connecticut University with a B.S. in Business Administration and an M.S. in Organization
Management. She moved back to Gunnison over 7 years ago where she currently resides.
Chris been an active member of the United States Parachute Association since 1978 and has accumulated over 3,400
parachute jumps during that time. Chris has competed in the U.S. Style & Accuracy Nationals since 1984 and was a threetime member of the United States Style & Accuracy Parachute teams, competing internationally in 1984, 1988, and 1996
and accumulated numerous trophies and ribbons during this time. Additionally she founded the first ever all-women’s
parachute demonstration team called the “Misty Blues” which is still active today.
Chris's devotion for the sport of parachuting, took her to even higher levels of accomplishment besides jumping. She
became a certified FAA Senior Parachute Rigger, followed by her certification as an FAA Master Parachute Rigger. Chris
also holds USPA Static Line and Accelerated Freefall Jumpmaster
Certification. In addition, Chris holds several World Records including
the World Record Group Accuracy in 1986 and the World Record for
Women's Freefall Formation in 1989 which involved 80 of the top
female skydivers creating the largest all women’s freefall formation.
Ms. Christenson has been an active member of the Parachute
Industry Association, (PIA) since 1986 and has co-chaired on several
various committees. Chris has worked in the parachute industry
since 1978 for several major parachute manufacturers, including
owning her own parachute company for 8-years, New England
Parachute Company; specializing in the manufacture of the
"Challenger" accuracy parachute sold worldwide.
Today, Chris has her own company, Ballenger International, LLC and
specializes in working with foreign military and law enforcement for
their parachute and ancillary equipment requirements.
Nancy LaRiviere
Parachuting Bio
Nancy began skydiving in 1975, at the age of sixteen, in Orange, Massachusetts. From then on skydiving and general
aviation remained at the center of Nancy’s personal and professional life. She is a Licensed Commercial/Multi-Engine Pilot,
Master Rigger, Test Jumper, a USPA AFF Instructor Examiner, Tandem Course Director/Examiner on the Racer Tandem
System, a Freefall Videographer, Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver, avid snow skier and water skier.
Ms. LaRiviere is president of a parachute design and manufacturing company; Parachute Laboratories, Inc. located in
DeLand, Florida. Her company specializes in sport and military parachute systems. She was instrumental in the
development of the Racer Tandem System as a test jumper and previously experienced Tandem Instructor. Nancy is also
the Central and North Florida FAA Designated Parachute Rigger Examiner.
Nancy has held numerous Skydiving World Records including the worlds’
first 100 Way, the first 200 Way, the first 216 Way, and every Women’s
World Record Formation from 1982 to present. She has represented the
United States as a member of U.S. Parachute Team seven times
competing in World Championships around the globe including the recent
Dubai Mondial.
Additionally, Nancy has made several movie and television appearances
doing stunt work and hosting spots on the Learning Channel, NBC’s How’d
They Do That?, and To The Edge on the Outdoor channel. She appeared
in the 1995 Paramount movie, “Shadow Ops”, and the 2006 motion
picture, “The Good Shepherd”.
She served as Editor of ParaNews Brief, the Parachute Industry
Association newsletter, also as Secretary of the PIA from 1993-1996, and
has served on several PIA committees. She has published several articles
relating to rigging, parachuting safety and canopy control. Nancy is a
Canopy Control coach and has run seminars at numerous U.S. Drop
Zones, and for several overseas military and police organizations.
Nancy is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a B.A.in Fine
Arts. She routinely uses her skills as an artist and illustrator in the creation of manuals and technical drawings.