Joe Ridler and his wife Natalie at the 2024 USPA National Skydiving Championships
““Wingsuit flying pushes your body and brain to the max. You have to be in peak physical condition, mentally locked in, and—let’s be honest—a little bit crazy.””
Joe Ridler: Pushing the Limits, One Flight at a Time
Falling from the sky is easy. But flying—really flying—at a record-breaking 239.4 MPH? That’s an art, a science, and a test of sheer will. For Joe Ridler, wingsuit flying isn’t just a sport; it’s an obsession, a relentless pursuit of speed, precision, and innovation.
From tearing up BMX tracks as a kid to freefalling from the stratosphere, Joe has always been drawn to the rush of speed and the challenge of mastering the extreme. Now, as a world-class wingsuit pilot and Managing Director of WOWS (Wide Open Wingsuit Series), he’s not just competing—he’s shaping the future of the sport.
“Wingsuit flying pushes your body and brain to the max,” Joe says. “You have to be in peak physical condition, mentally locked in, and—let’s be honest—a little bit crazy.”
But Joe isn’t just about breaking records—he’s about breaking boundaries. He sees wingsuit racing as an evolving frontier, where cutting-edge technology from aerospace, motorsports, and even military applications can take human flight to the next level.
“The sport is still in its infancy,” he explains. “There’s so much untapped potential, from advanced suit materials to new aerodynamic innovations. The future of wingsuit flying is wide open, and I want to be at the forefront of that evolution.”
At the end of the day, Joe’s journey is about passion, precision, and pushing the limits of what’s possible. He’s found his calling—flying at insane speeds, chasing the next big leap in wingsuit technology, and inspiring others to take the plunge.
Because really, what could be better than soaring through the skies like a fighter jet?