“Mountain flying is my passion. It makes me feel alive.”
LIZ FREEMAN
LIZ FREEMAN
28 year-old professional sky diver, wingsuit BASE
jumper, and dōTERRA essential oil enthusiast
ō: Why do you do it?
Liz: I never had great ambition to be a
skydiver or wingsuit BASE jumper, but once
I tried it, I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Mountain flying is my passion. It makes me
feel alive. I feel a sense of super-heightened
awareness after a great wingsuit BASE
jump. Plus, I get to explore the planet in a
unique way. The friends you meet and fly
with are pretty great, too. I guess this sport
makes you appreciate life more.
ō: Do you remember what your
first jump was like?
Liz: Oh yes, I did my first BASE jump in 2012
off of the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho.
On the drive up from Salt Lake City I was so
freaked out. My stomach had butterflies.
Climbing over the bridge railing was the
scariest part. I kept asking my friend if I was
going to be OK. He laughed and tried to
encourage me because how much can you
promise someone they will be OK BASE
jumping? Once I was over the railing, I
leaned over the 500ft edge and I just
wanted to jump! I took a deep breath,
stepped off, and deployed my parachute. It
was exhilarating! Best four seconds of my
life! I don’t think I stood up on my landing,
but I didn’t care. All the small stuff didn’t
matter anymore and I felt a surge of
personal achievement. My first wingsuit
BASE jump was with my best friend (also a
wingsuit pilot) in northern Italy. It was the
ultimate girls’ trip. I would not be the
woman I am today without her.
ō: What was the most dangerous
jump you have ever done?
Liz: I try to avoid dangerous jumps. I like
technical flights because it challenges me
and the exit points tend to be less crowded.
Parachute Jumps Completed: 4,500
Switzerland • France • China • Western USA
One of my favorite wingsuit jumps is in
Moab. It’s definitely more of a “black
diamond” wingsuit BASE jump. Only a
handful of pilots jump it. It’s always a special
experience to fly there. The jumps in France
are extreme as well, but in a different giant,
steep, jagged rock way. Vive le France!
ō: What is the wingsuiting
experience like?
Liz: My friends and I assess the winds every
minute, because strong winds could be
dangerous and we need to hike down. If the
weather is clear, we gear up and high five,
with a “See ya at the bottom!” When I was a
baby bird, I never wanted to jump last.
Recently, I started enjoying the silence on
top of a mountain. It puts you in Zen place
before you fly. There is a customary
countdown before jumping that calms the
mind. Everything slows down and I count;
“3, 2, 1, see ya!” I push off and it’s fighter
jet time! I have never felt more focused
than I do when I wingsuit. Ultimate state
of concentration. I only feel the adrenaline
rush when I land.
ō: If you could jump at one place
in the world where you haven’t
already, where would it be?
Liz: I have always wanted to go to Norway;
it has some of the largest cliffs in the world
to fly. Some of them are twice the size of
the Wasatch Mountains with pristine fjords.
Makes it look like heaven on earth!
ō: What do you normally do to
prepare for a jump, both mentally
and physically?
Liz: Most of the wingsuit jumps I do take
some preparation, whether its driving to the
middle of the desert or hiking 4000 vertical
feet in the mountains. First, I always hydrate
and get a good night’s sleep before early
morning adventures. Prior to the jump, I
apply essential oils, have a cup of coffee,
and eat a banana. It takes a couple hours
to hike to most of the exit points with our
packs on. When we reach the top, I always
take in the environment and express
gratitude to the universe for such an
amazing world.
ō: What are your favorite
dōTERRA products and how do
you normally use them?
Liz: I have a routine I practice before every
jump, which includes applying essential oils.
I use dōTERRA On Guard® and Elevation oil
blends to help keep me going on those long
hikes. A calm mind is a focused mind, so I
typically apply dōTERRA Serenity® and Past
Tense® Tension Blend on the neck to quiet
the mental chatter. When my body is sore
from hiking, I use Deep Blue® Rub from
Deep Blue products. It’s magic to tight
muscles and a stiff neck! When needed, I
use the dōTERRA Breathe® essential oil in
my diffuser. Doesn’t everybody do this?
ō: What advice would you give to
someone who wants to try
BASE jumping/wingsuit flying?
Liz: A great mentor can change the game
for a baby bird. I had the best teachers
because they really wanted me to succeed
and fly well. My teachers were always
patient but brutally honest with me.
It’s a personal progression. Everyone is
different. I think if you want to BASE jump
or fly a wingsuit, you need to start at the
foundati