08/05/2026
We are happy to have James on the US Parachute team competing in 8-way Formation Skydiving 🤩
⚠️ XP8 Athlete Profile Alert! ⚠️
Today we're spotlighting the one and only Mr. (Dr.) Candyman - James Hall!
Slot: Inside Rear
Number of jumps: 2,200
Years in the sport: 18
Years on the team: 2
Where did you start jumping: I started jumping with the Georgia Tech Skydiving Club at Skydive Atlanta in Thomaston, GA.
History with other teams:
I started my skydiving career in 2008, competing in 2way formation skydiving and sport accuracy at USPA Collegiate Nationals. I got hooked on 4way at Collegiate Nationals two years later with GT Wreckless. Over the next 11 years, I trained and competed with progressively more capable teams: Deland Momentum, Fast 4ward, Redline XP, Vega XP, Lightspeed XP, and now XPerimental.
2019 was a big year for me. Redline XP won the Advanced class of the USPA National Championships. Later that year, I got my first taste of competing on the world stage, competing with The French 8way Team (a US team comically named after the team's organizer and my Redline XP teammate, Louis French), at the 2019 FAI World Cup.
My 8way career also started that year with Erratic8, a project that eventually grew into Bra Nok XP. Bra Nok is Norwegian for "Good Enough". That name was chosen because our goal was to qualify for the next World Cup. We managed to qualify and in 2023 I got to compete in Norway with both Lightspeed XP (4way) and Bra Nok XP (8way).
Other disciplines you've tried: My career has been almost exclusively 4way and 8way. In the tunnel, though, I've enjoyed learning vertical, but still haven't figured out how to fly head down...yet.
Favorite training day snack: Candy!!! Just kidding... kind of. I'd have to say Quest Protein Chips. (Author's note: he's not kidding, bring him candy and he'll love you forever)
Other jobs: I'm an independent financial advisor with Black Raven Investments, LLC.
Other hobbies: Speedflying, speedriding, skiing, kite boarding, running, swimming, general athletics
Ask me for help with: Anything! I'm usually pretty good with engineering questions.
Favorite Skydiving Memories:
Norway 2023 is probably one of the most memorable trips for me. In addition to getting to compete in both 4way and 8way next to the best teams on the planet, the local community was incredibly supportive and welcoming, and the scenery was unbelievable. Before and after the meet, Skydive Voss took us on a couple mountain jumps, where we got to fly our canopies into this giant, amazingly beautiful fjord. I will never forget flying just over the edge and diving my canopy next to the waterfall.
Skydive Paraclete XP Paraclete Xp SkyVenture Sun Path Products, Inc Performance Designs CYPRES TonySuits LB Altimeters Cookie Helmets US Parachute Team Carpe S&S Precision
