Sound Shore

Jumping out of an airplane with a parachute isn’t just a thrill for Mamaroneck native Amy Chmelecki — it’s a job.

“During competition I love the intensity; it’s the most focused I ever feel,” said the 33-year-old.

Since Chmelecki began competing across the globe five years ago, she has become one of the top sky divers in the world. This month her 4-member team, Arizona Arsenal, won a silver medal in Vertical Formation Skydiving at the World Parachuting Championships in Russia.

“The team was upset about the silver, but we were happy with how we flew; it has given us the push to work even harder,” said Chmelecki, who has made 11,000 jumps during her career.

Read more about this in an upcoming Thursday edition of the Sound Shore Express.

(Amy Chmelecki and her team, Arizona Arsenal, compete at the 2010 World Parachuting Championships in Russia. Credit: U.S. Parachute Association.)