Sam Cullingworth (AKA Sammy Skygod)
Known to his friends as ‘Sammy Skygod’ after the cartoon character, which was modeled on him in Skywings magazine. He has been paragliding since the sport began in the 1880’s. After teaching the Wright brothers to fly, and fighting two world wars on a home made paraglider made out of tartan and sheep’s stomach, he then carved a name for himself flying in some outlandish conditions in a plethora of different countries, including: Nepal, Brazil, Austria, Spain, France, Italy, Tenerife, America, and for the past two years, all over Turkey. (Information supplied by Sam!)
Sam is literally obsessed with flying cross country and in Turkey is known as the ‘Arazi Pilot’, which translated, means the ‘lost pilot’ because he never lands in the same place twice! He is the current distance record holder for flying cross-country from Babadag in Turkey, the famous ‘paragliding Mecca’ and a notoriously hard place in which to fly XC.
He seriously competes in the sport of professional bodybuilding and has just been placed 4th in the WFF Pro World championships in Lithuania.
He has said - “I’m looking forward to the 2008 UK paragliding season, being a part of Team Niviuk UK and the opportunity to fly and learn from top pilots such as Neil, Steve and John.” Sam has set himself personal paragliding challenges for 2008 so don’t be surprised if you see his name appearing in the news section of a few paragliding magazines.
Sammy Skygod is without doubt the maverick pilot of the team and it’s anyone’s guess as to what he may do in 2008 but be assured he will raise eyebrows.
Watch this space!