Our team is flying in from all over the world, Sweden, New Zealand, USA, England, Brazil, Netherlands, Panama and South Africa. All with exceptional acrobatic, gymnastic and athletic backgrounds our staff is ready to hit the Koh Tao Rig with mammoth enthusiasm.  

Paul Duke Robinson

NICKNAME (AKA): The Duke
NATIONALITY: British
DATE OF BIRTH: 23rd June 1982 

Paul Robinson began his trapeze experience at the age of 18 when he travelled to America to work as a kickboxing instructor in a summer camp. It wasn’t long till he was addicted to the trapeze and spent 2 years in Indiana training as a trapeze artist. Paul returned to England to study Sport Science at university, while he was there he continued his love of football and kickboxing and during the summer holidays he would travel to USA to teach the trapeze. Once graduated Paul used his degree to become an estate agent!!!! He was promoted to manager after a year and often had dreams of flying through the air again. Then one cold, dark morning he was offered his dream job in paradise and to join FTA. 

CLAIMS TO FAME
Black belt in kickboxing
Beyonce knowles said "Hello" to me.
Had dinner with John Mcenroe.
Won the Monster munch cup (football age 11)

  

Colby Balch

NATIONALITY: American
DATE OF BIRTH: April 6, 1976

Colby has been flying around on trapezes in various countries for about 6 years now, starting with a stint in Club Med in the Dominican Republic.  He has since traveled the world many times over swinging through the air with the greatest of ease, performing with professional troupes in Japan, France, Spain, Germany, and the United States (youtube link to flying farfans video).  Now he is looking forward to helping Gemma give birth to her dream of a trapeze school on Koh Tao, and can't wait to witness her legendary strawpeedo skills in action!

  

Amber Sprague

NICKNAME (AKA):  Spud
NATIONALITY:  American
DATE OF BIRTH:  September 29, 1982

Amber is “not in Kansas anymore”!!  Born and raised on the farm in rural Kansas, Amber has found herself on Koh Tao after a few years on the move.  After receiving a Bachelors degree in Recreation and Health Promotion from Emporia State University in Kansas she went to work for Royal Caribbean cruise line as a Sports Supervisor.   She spent 3 years at sea, working onboard 4 different ships, traveling around the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii and the Mediterranean.  Always looking for a new adventure and a new place to see, Amber heard about FTA in Koh Tao and decided to give it a shot.  Always being involved in some sort of sport, starting gymnastics at the age of 3, playing volleyball and basketball throughout school, and rock climbing and flowriding onboard the ships, she is looking forward to the newest sport, trapeze!!

CLAIMS TO FAME:
Won her first (and last) coloring contest at the age of 6
Is ranked 4th in the world (just behind her sisters and cousin) for the amount of sweet corn picked in 1 summer on her dad’s farm
Was the proud owner of a cow who gave birth to twins!!!     
Never lost a free throw competition while working onboard a Royal Caribbean ship (that’s a lot of gold medals and that’s why it cost me $150 to get my luggage to Koh Tao!!)

  
   

Kieran McDonald

NATIONALITY: New Zealand
DATE OF BIRTH August 1st, 1985

NZ born and bred. Kieran started traveling the seasons about 3yrs ago. He was first introduced to the trapeze at a summer camp in the US. Kieran was on a break in New Zealand when the opportunity to work for FTA arose. Who wouldn’t want to work on a trapeze team in paradise? Kieran now finds himself living the dream and the rest is history.

No claims to fame as I am a modest kiwi who would rather prove my self than brag!

  

Gustaf Hederberg

NICKNAME (AKA): ‘The Goodstuff’
NATIONALITY: Swedish
DATE OF BIRTH: 11th May 1987 

Gustaf is the youngest member on the FTA Team. He comes from Sweden were he worked as a balcony constructor. He first came to Koh Tao at the beginning of December 2008 to train as a Mauy Thai kickboxer for two months. Gustaf is extremely excited about the opportunity to become a trapeze instructor in paradise.

CLAIMS TO FAME
He met David Schwimmer from Friends TV series.
Last year he got a free ticket to the Swedish Idol finals.
When he was a kid he lived next door with Bjorn Borg. He still has contact with him.

  

Pedro Feofiloff

NICKNAME (AKA):  Pedrao
NATIONALITY:  Brazilian
DATE OF BIRTH:  April 12, 1978
 
 
Pedro completed a degree in Physical Education and Sports in Brazil. After university he has been traveling the seven seas, working for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as a Sports Supervisor. Pedro quickly became a pro on the climbing wall, where he has spent most of his time for the past two years.  After deciding to leave the ships he received an email about the new trapeze adventure in Koh Tao, he could not turn this awesome opportunity down. No one believes Pedro when he says he if off to Thailand to become a trapeze instructor.
 
CLAIMS TO FAME:
In 2002 he was drafted for the Brazilian National University Basketball team (never made it to China because he twisted both ankles at practice)
Holds the record for most water squeegeed off an inline skate track over a 6 month period (Amber, fellow FTA team member, was his boss and made him do it everyday)
29 years old before he ingested his first drop of alcohol, no turning back now!

  

Jennifer Ladue

NICKNAME (AKA): Texas
NATIONALITY: American
DATE OF BIRTH: April 8th, 1983

Jennifer started her circus career in January 2004. She went on vacation to Jamaica in December 2003, to Superclubs Resort that had a trapeze there; it was love at first sight. In January, she returned to Jamaica to live, where she learnt as much as she could about the circus.
She performed and lived in Jamaica for 3 months. Jennifer then returned back home to work the summer camps and at Club Med. She has performed with Superclubs Resorts and Club Med Resorts in several locations. The countries she has performed in are: Jamaica, Mexico, USA, Bahamas, Israel, Malaysia, and now Thailand.

CLAIMS TO FAME
:
Competed at state for powerlifting at age 17

  

Gemma Semple

NICKNAME AKA: Gemstar
NATIONALITY:  British
DATE OF BIRTH:  August 7th, 1980

Gemma has worked in the Sports & Adventure industry on and off since the age of 18 when she first moved to the French Alps to further her passion for snowboarding.  To fill the summer gaps Gemma began working in a sports resort on the East Coast of America (www.clubgetaway.com).  There, in 2002 she was first introduced to a Flying Trapeze and a beautiful professional flyer by the name of Elizabeth Feldman.  So, deciding to skip the ski season of 03’-04’, Gemma moved to Bloomington, INDIANA (of all places) to embark upon learning some new skills.

CLAIMS TO FAME
Has fallen unintentionally off a cliff – THREE TIMES!
Can ‘Strawpeedo’ a bottled bevie in 2.3seconds
First female ‘Snow Surfer’ (www.snow-surfing.com) and test rider
Can climb a rope with no hands ;-)

All of which has taken Gemma on a journey destined to open a Flying Trapeze Adventure school on the little island paradise of Koh Tao.
(www.kohtao.com). 
 
Aside from the flying team we also have a handful of videographers. These guys will follow you through your experience filming all the fun and give you the chance to take it home when your course is over.  

Gene Giraudeau

NICKNAME AKA. Genie
NATIONALITY: South African
DATE OF BIRTH: 26th November 1981

Gene completed a 3 year degree in Film and Media at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. After completing an additional year in Education she began to travel the world. Visiting and working in Kuwait, South Korea and now Thailand. Combining her passion for diving and filming she began work as an underwater videographer for ACE Marine Images on Koh Tao. Through ACE she was able to be involved in shoots for a Whale Shark documentary and ‘The History Channel.’ Born to be in front of a camera, Gene is now embracing some new skills behind the camera to run her own film production company, FTA Productions.

CLAIMS TO FAME
Climbed to Everest Base Camp, 4600m.
Assisted in the first footage captured of a Whale Shark at night.
2nd Black Belt Taekwando
Boxfish whisperer (can make any boxfish turn and smile for the camera)

Gillian Salmon
           
NICKNAME (AKA): Gill
NATIONALITY: South African
DATE OF BIRTH: 19 October 1984

After completing her Business Science degree, Gillian realised the corporate World was not for her, thus headed east to Thailand with the intention of teaching English. After a week in Thailand she found herself on Koh Tao and signing up for her divemaster course! This lead her to an interest in underwater videography, and she began training and working as a videographer for Buddha View. After a stint back home and in Europe, the arrival of FTA was enough to bring Gillian straight back to Koh Tao.

CLAIMS TO FAME
Has been charged by an elephant, buffalo and triggerfish
Saw Matt Damon on a bicycle
Set myself on fire with Sambuca (don’t ask)
The youngest Saffa on the team

  

Monique Williams

NICKNAME (AKA): Monni
NATONALITY: South African
DATE OF BIRTH: 11th May 1983

Monique grew up in South Africa but always had dreams of travelling the world.  After school she headed straight to America to work as a Camp councilor where she met Gemma and Paul.  After a few fun and adventurous months she headed back to SA to study Business Management and started working in Recruitment.  She completed her Open water diving and dreamt of pure shores.  She decided Europe was her next encounter and while living in London, got to visit many different countries.  She came travelling in Thailand for 3 months and decided to pursue Videography – as capturing an adventure was always an interest – and Gene ignited this.  She bumped into Gemma once again - on her favorite of islands – Koh Tao.  Gemma had a dream and put it into motion, and Gene, knowing her extreme interest in Videography gave her the opportunity to get involved.  Here she is…..living the dream!    

CLAIMS TO FAME
Can throw fire Poi (practically without burning herself)
Jumped out of a plane at 10 000 ft
Held a tarantula (even though she is petrified – curse the vodka!)

  

Liz Marie De Ycaza

NICKNAME (AKA): Lisi
NATIONALITY : Panama
DOB : September 6, 1975

Liz has a degree in Marketing and a Masters in Business Administration.  After working in the fashion industry for over 2 years, she realized it was time to see the world. She has spent the last 8 years working on cruise ships sailing the 7 seas and traveling around the world.
Joining the FTA team is a new adventure and a great opportunity to do what she loves most: photography and videography, under the sun and surrounded by sea, sand and great people :)

CLAIMS OF FAME:
- Has visited over 58 countries.
- Played pool in Enrique Iglesias' house.
- Took a 12 hour flight with 2 fractured ribs & bronchitis.

  

Wendy Zaalberg       

NICKNAME (AKA): Wendy :-)
NATIONALITY: Dutch
DATE OF BIRTH: 3rd September 1980

I’ve been living on Koh Tao for 17 months, working as a dive instructor for a diveshop in Chalok. My boyfriend and I travelled a fair amount though Europe and Asia with Koh Tao as our final destination. Next year the plan is to go to New Zealand and settle down.
Since I have been under the water for so long, I am ready for a new above water adventure. I am very excited and ready to take on this new challange. I am looking forward working with FTA’s team as a videographer.
 
CLAIMS TO FAME
- Has been on the dutch television in a kids programme
- As a 3 year old ate all the medicine from the bathroom cupboard and survived
- First flight ever 36 hours and 5 stopovers and still love flying.

 
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