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Biography
Brazilian, born in 1972, Joao Tamborindeguy Fernandes (known as Joao Tambor) was raised in a small city between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. He spent his childhood on the family ranch where biking, trekking, and slope jumping were activities in his daily life. Identifying with the local scenery, Tambor enjoyed climbing up trees to gaze at the surrounding mountains. He also enjoyed daily fishing at the lake near his home.
Fully supported by his parents, Tambor actively involved himself in swimming and Judo. Later he began learning gymnastics, which he practiced for more than 12 years, averaging 5 to 6 hours a day,
six days a week.
At age 12, Joao got interested in his father’s video camera. By the age of 16 he was ready to attend a professional course on video production and editing, sponsored by the local City Hall. At the beginning of 2001 he started working with video editing. This early training became one of his passions, and he now applies it toward skydiving and human flight. His eyes shine when he says: “Images & movements have always fascinated me, and they do activate my creativity.“
As a teenager Joao enjoyed riding and disassembling motorcycles. He was then attracted to apiculture (bee keeping) as a hobby. He developed a taste for natural foods and prepared homemade granola and natural sandwiches to sell to his schoolmates. “I have always enjoyed healthy food, I enjoy preparing my own food with carefully selected ingredients,“ he says.
Serving in the Brazilian Army, Joao was in charge of driving his regiments jeeps, trucks, and tractors.
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By the age of 19 he was studying Physical Education at the University of UNITAU, SP. At the same time Joao opened his own small grocery store to sell natural foods, which later expanded into sports supplements. However, he says, he felt an internal call toward full dedication to gymnastics training. He opted to temporarily interrupt his university studies for the opportunity to maximize his performance as an athlete. He accomplished his goals working with physical resistance, body mass development, and developing greater acrobatic skills.
Joao was then age 20 and practicing a rigid, self-imposed discipline in terms of hours of training, developing muscle strength by practicing specifically oriented gymnastics, aerobics, and stretching exercises. Combining his training with proper nutrition led him to conquer his objectives. Always demanding more and more of himself, he required the support of trained professionals in the areas of nutrition, personalized training, and sports psychology. A choreographer, a masseur, and various instructors shared the efforts, guiding Joao into becoming successful.
Joao finished his courses at the University by age 24. Soon after he began working as an elementary and secondary school teacher.
Joao has always felt attracted to the blue skies and dreamt about flying. At 19, he first tried hang gliding and later began taking airplane flying lessons. While attending a private pilot course, he met some skydivers who piqued his curiosity about the sport. Joao joined the group in order to develop complementary qualifications, but needless to say, he became addicted to it. Skydiving has enabled him to travel extensively meeting new people and peers, which he enjoys deeply.
In 1996 Joao worked in tourism and entertainment. On the Sao Paulo North coast he piloted a motorboat. This was a great experience which taught him how to inform people about the area, the water, and the local marine life. However, at this time he felt the impulse to expand his horizons and the sky lured him more
than ever.
Since answering the call to flight, Joao has been in constant pursuit for the improvement of body flight. This certainly requires much more than just jumping from the sky, it demands a great deal of physical capacity. Therefore, Joao spends many hours flying his body and teaching it as an art by using freefall simulators (vertical
wind tunnels).
About flying, Joao says: “One of my best flying sensations was passing close to waterfalls and cliffs attached to a high performance canopy, over the Fjords of Norway.”
He concludes saying: “I love challenges and innovating activities. I like to fully experience the pleasure of being alive after I have performed in a dangerous, risky situation. I love what I do and I shall forever be in love with my profession.”
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