intermediate PPBT event

[diveout 0]

Who knows what about the intermediate competition at Perris this weekend? I'm 99% sure I'll be taking Friday off and giving this organized swooping thing a shot. I spoke with Jim Slaton on the phone yesterday. There's supposed to be something on the PPBT website later on today... Did anyone compete last year in the intermediate event?

[jdhill 0]

I'm planning to attend... the last info I got (about a month ago) was two events, speed and distance, registration was thursday, comp on friday and saturday.
http://www.aerialfusion.com

[SkymonkeyONE 3]

I know for a fact that Jason Eames will be there competing in prep for hopfully qualifying for the following week's pro event. Anyway, here is the poop:
This event will be broken up into two events; Speed and Distance. There will be three rounds of each event, for a total of six jumps. Both events are judged seperately and whatever awards they have will be separate for each event.
Distance will be run through five foot tall entrance blades, just like in the Pro event. You must score the entrance gate by having at least your feet below that level as you pass through our you will be given a zero for vertical extension or a complete miss. The course is laid out plenty wide for people who have made a good, clean turn. You must finish inside the course to be scored. Your distance is measured at your FIRST point of contact, so you "sliders" out there had better practice your long-jump type landings. Prepare to lose skin if you are not smart enough to compete in motocross pants and long sleeves (which is what a huge number of us do in PPPB competition).
Speed for intermediate competitors is run through a straight course. Entrance gates for intermediates are 14 feet tall and, once again, some portion of your body must pass below the tops of the gates. Your run is clocked on mini DV cameras located at a vantage point about 200 feet away. The blades are aligned such that both entrance and exit blades are aligned so that they appear as one. You are clocked from when you pass the leading edge of the entrance blades until you pass the trailing edge of the exit blades. If you do not have enough steam to fly out the back of the course, then you may hit the ground runnning, "kiting" you canopy over your head until you exit the last blades. There is a time penalty for knocking down blades. You DNF if you can't keep your canopy over your head through the exit gates. All very simple. Where people make their mistakes is two-fold:
-don't get any practice over this pond and you are pretty screwed. There are absolutely NO visual references out there for you to guide off of, so lots of people make their turns either too low or too high and suffer for it. Also, the density altitude is much different out there in the desert. The air is thinner, so you must make your turns higher than you would in say, Florida.
Anyone wishing to compete in PPPB pro events who does not already have a pro competition record and references MUST compete in this intermediate event in order to qualify for later Pro events. Do not get in a huff if you have 5000 skydives and Jim Slaton watches you swoop in practice and then tells you that you cannot go straight to Pro. PPPB meets are entirely different than "swooping the beer line." It requires a very specialized skill set which cannot be duplicated outside a proper air-blade course. The intermediate events are much more forgiving than the Pro courses. Intermediate courses are shorter, wider, and the entrance blades are taller in Speed.
I cannot begin to explain the joy I get from competing in these events. You run into the absolute icons of swooping on tour and they gladly give their advice freely in order to make all present better, safer swoopers. If you are having any apprehension about going out and getting smoked, get over it. To me, it's not about winning at all; it's about the overall vibe, the learning, and the creating of new friendships.
Long swoops! Go compete!
Chuck
My webpage HERE

[nacmacfeegle 0]

"I cannot begin to explain the joy I get from competing in these events. ...... gladly give their advice freely in order to make all present better....it's about the overall vibe, the learning, and the creating of new friendships. "
This pretty true of almost any skydiving comp I've ever been at, whether its RW at local/national/international levels, or a fun freefly meet. Even the first ever 16way world cup I was watching a few years back in Spain was a learning experience for all concerned.
You really can 'feel the love' at meets like this, and I would urge newbies to attend as many meets as possible, even participate, and get some free coaching.Y'all have a fun learning experience this weekend, I'm sure it will be wikkid.
Cya
D
Gravity Rat # 37
Remember, we can do everything right, and still get hurt.

[freeflir29 0]

No doubt....I didn't even compete in the swoop comp at ASC but still had a blast. The guys were all really cool and it seemed like any other day at the DZ to me. They were all out just to have fun. Didn't seem like anyone was being over competitive. Just out to have a great time.....and seemed like everyone did. The PPPB guys are the type of skydivers I can definately hang out with.
"Here I come to save the BOOBIES!"

[freeflyguy 0]

grumble.
I almost made it, too busy. Next time.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

In my experience nearly all 'Skygods' are approachable, friendly, chatty folks just like lil' ole you and me.....Its OUR attitude to them that needs examined....You know, the
'he won't want to speak to me cos I've only got 30 jumps'
kinda thing.
Its just not true in my experience.
Cya
D
Gravity Rat # 37
Remember, we can do everything right, and still get hurt.

[maretus 0]

Just out of curiosity, what kind of excperience limits there are to participate on a intermediate event ? How is it defined that who is allowed to compete ? Is it number of total jumps, jumps / last 12/6/3 months, jumps with HP canopy, any other limits ? Or is it just an issue of each skydivers individual evaluation of wheter he/her has the skills required to participate ?

[eames 0]

Quote

I know for a fact that Jason Eames will be there competing in prep for hopfully qualifying for the following week's pro event.

That's correct, I was there... and... I Pro qualified! Woohoo!
The competition was surprisingly tight. I was impressed at how well everyone did. Only two or three people crashed (out of 32), and nobody got seriously hurt (someone sprained an ankle during a downwind practice run, but I think he's fine). I got 5th in distance with a 212, a 210, and a 186 (blah) and 9th in speed with a (~=If I remember correctly) ~2.67, ~2.89 and a ~4.4 (blah). My two crappy runs cost me, but I learned so much in the process that I'm really stoked about it. I can't wait for the meet this weekend. Josh Hill did very well, taking first in speed and second in distance. I can't remember his scores though... Josh? He also Pro qualified, and I'm hoping he can find the time to come out this weekend.
I don't think there were any qualifications to compete in the intermediates, but they were watching and filming practice runs, and it was obvious if someone needed a little more time before actually competing. I highly recommend trying an intermediate competition if swooping is your thing. You're guaranteed to learn something, and it would be worth it even if you didn't (or didn't want to) Pro qualify.
Now I just have to come up with a way to pay for all my travel expenses! Anybody know where I can get free tickets to Norway?
Jason

[SkymonkeyONE 3]

Right on, Jason!
My webpage HERE

[jdhill 0]

Hey Jason, great meeting you out there...
My times were 2.5 (fastest run of the event), 2.96, and 2.73. (Velocity 96 @ 2.25:1) The margin between 1st and 2nd (By Jeff Lahey on a VX 88) was .29 sec over 3 rounds.
My distances were 226, 232, and 199 (oops!) (Velocity 103 @ 2.1:1) The 1st place distances (by Jeff Lahey on his VX) were 200, 247 (the longest in the event), and 246 (a 36 foot margin over 3 rounds).
Like you said, the competition was tight. I too, was impressed by the field. I would call it more advanced v. intermediate. Lots of great people in this sport! It was cool to see what different techniques, wing loadings, and canopies will do. Seeing a fairly lightly loaded Stiletto take 4th in distance was a surprise.
Jim put on a great event. Thanks to him and Perris for the great time!
I'm trying to get back out there on Thursday, but time from work and the $600+ airfare may not allow it, but maybe. Rest assured though, I will make it to a Pro event this season. I got to do the Pro Spot Accuracy course on Monday (almost missed my plane for it)... should be cool stuff... 240' on the water and stop on the target will test folks for sure.
If I don't get out there good luck! Have fun and be safe.
Peace,
Josh
http://www.aerialfusion.com

[hookit 0]

Congratulations, Josh! Very well done.
-Trey

[ramon 0]

We're all proud of you.
ramon