Roberta Mancino is a model who has graced the skies with thousands of base jumps and sky dives.

ROBERTA MANCINO is an Italian skydiver, BASE jumper, wingsuit flyer and international model. She has participated in almost 9,000 skydives and won several awards and world records.

In this exclusive interview she talks to us about some of her most daring jumps as well as what it felt like to sky dive naked for a photo shoot.

Read on to find out where in the world her sports have taken her and some of her plans for the future.

When did you first gain an interest in human flight and what was it that sparked your passion in the sports?

 I always wanted to fly since i was very young. I started to fly at the age of 19 with paragliding and the year after i went to skydiving. I saw a beautiful video of a friend and he was base jumping from a cliff in the north of Italy and when i saw it immediately i thought it was amazing.

Tell us about how you were able to first start out in skydiving and how this led you to BASE jumping?

To skydive it’s easy – you just have to find a skydiving centre and go for the course. Only after thousands of jumps did I decide to start to base jump. I wanted to be able to fly with my body really well before I started to wingsuit or base jump.

photo Arto Saari

What have been some of your most memorable jumps and where in the world have they taken you?

For sure the Volcano in Chile and flying in between buildings in Panama city.

How did you it feel to jump naked the four times you’ve done this and would you do it again in the future?

I felt it was cold and not very comfortable during the opening of the parachute. No I don’t think I would do it again – I would have to be paid a a lot!

When did you begin wingsuit flying and could you tell us about some of your experiences doing this kind of flying?

It was a goal for me to learn to fly wingsuit in base jumping, to be able to fly everywhere in the world from cliffs and high buildings. My experience has always be beautiful and I have seen spectacular places that I would never have seen if it wasn’t for flying. i have been very happy to compete, be part of many events and projects around the world. I think it’s a great sport and there are always new things to learn.

Tell us about some of the records you’ve broken and competitions you’ve placed in in the sports?

I have three world records and two European records in free flying formation skydiving. I’ve also been been italian national champion of freestyle. 

photo Marco Glaviano

What does the rest of the year and beyond hold in exciting projects and challenges you will be involved in?

I plan different projects, some are flying and some are underwater with animals, mostly with sharks, but I cannot talk too much about this at the moment. I have also an event soon to jump from one of the highest building in the world. And a competition Red Bull Aces.

Find out more about Roberta on her Facebook page here.