UKFSChick

UK Sport (a division of the British Govt.) has given the BPA several thousands over the years to fund teams competing on world level. The BPA also covers certain competing admin costs but I can't remember which ones right now! UK FS Rep Chris Hollis is probably the one to ask. In 2005 the British women's 4way team Airkix (now called Elan) was given GBP30,000 to go to the World Meet 2006. Women's team VMax had similar funding previously. The teams had to meet criteria set by UK Sport with the BPA of achieving an average score equal to or greater than the 4th place team in that category at the previous World Meet, which was 15.1 in 2004. I think the idea is that you have to be in with a chance of a medal for it to be worthwhile them giving the funds. This type of support is obviously fantastic for skydiving. Unfortunately, the UK funding is being pulled for future years (I understand) due to overriding commitment to the 'Olympic sports' (with 2012 in mind), even though it seems to have paid off in the past with funded teams taking medals. Having said that, like most teams we would have trained just as hard without funding. The money just meant we did not have to go quite as far into debt.

Hi all Team Elan are now running tunnel camps and other coaching, please see www.teamelan4way.com if you are interested. Thanks Emma

!!! You know 4-way is the new dark side, right? Hope things are good in Colorado Derek, would love to come and see you guys up there again soon! :)

Will keep you updated :)

I'll pretend I didn't read that!

So...feeling a bit like a proud parent (!) www.skyleague.com Check out the link at the bottom to the 3 old farts getting shown up by the 13 year old tunnel rat!

For 4-way teams it's also worth knowing we are managing 20 jumps a day here without too much effort. They have things set up very well for teams, with creepers, mock-up, team rooms, gear store, all the usual good stuff, and are very open to additional suggestions. There are also bunk rooms, but if you want something more, the DZ will help teams set up accommodation. More info at http://www.skydivespain.com

Most, if not all, 4-way teams do 4-way in a tunnel.

Go mega, even if you find them a bit weird it's nothing 10 minutes in the tunnel with a coach won't cure... :)

LOL! Maybe they should set up rules allowing beginners to upsize only one bootie at a time? Sure they may be a bit unbalanced, but if the one monster turbo bootie threatens to overpower said newbie, s/he can follow emergency procedures as laid out in the new guidelines and snap the uber bootie out of the airflow, relying if you will on the single 'shoe cover' (or no bootie) for minimal but *safe* control? At the very least all upsizing should be done with 2 qualified AFF instructors on hand to deal with emergencies. I just don't want to see this potential 'hook turn issue' for the new millenium take more lives...Be safe out there people.

Thanks for posting Gary, an interesting article which makes some good points. I do think some of your 'suggestions for dealing with the reality of skydiving in the 21st century' are a little on the negative side...There seems to be a lot of 'don't do this' and not so much 'why don't we do this?' If Point Break et al created an upturn in the skydiving market, doesn't that suggest that it is possible to favorably influence how the public see the sport? If we made more of en effort to actually promote what we do (there are so many things that could be done here) we would be likely to see a positive effect, I'm sure. Was it Robin Heid's article that mentioned how we could improve retention? I can't remember where I read it now, but some basic marketing strategies could change things for invididual dropzones, the professional skydivers who work at them (sorry, I do think it is possible to be a 'pro' - just take the right attitude) and the rest of us who love to jump. I agree we need to make the sport more accessible and less exclusive (snotty, in some parts) - and we also need to do a lot of work on our PR. I also don't buy that no-one is interested in skydiving except skydivers. As participants I think we are very bad (are we lazy or have we just given up?) at counteracting negative (i.e. fatality-related) press. We have ourselves to blame on that - skydiving is a sport which fascinates the public on a level far beyond the morbid. If you don't believe me please have a look at what 2 weeks of PR activity generated for only one team.

Surely a typo? Not RW, 4-way, more 4-way, a bit more 4-way, obsessive-compulsive 4-way etc etc?

Amanda Kemp from the UK FS Team Airkix / Team Elan will be on the Chris Evans Drivetime Show (UK), BBC Radio 2, at about 6.45pm tomorrow (Fri 19th) to talk about formation skydiving.

Amanda Kemp from Team Airkix / Team Elan (www.teamelan4way.com) will be on the Chris Evans Drivetime Show (UK), BBC Radio 2, at about 6.45pm tomorrow (Fri 19th) to talk about skydiving and tunnel training.

Looking for the perfect team?

Please take a look at On The Line Skydiving's updated website. Run by former Airspeed member and World Champion Gary Beyer, they offer tunnel camps, one-on-one and team coaching, load organizing and more at locations worldwide. www.onthelineskydiving.com

It's Az Razor and they will be Open.

World Champions Dan BC and Gary Beyer (former Airspeed members) are at Weston offering team coaching in the run-up to UK Nationals, 12th and 13th August. For more info go to www.skydiveweston.com and see News/ Diary, or contact Ash Kemp, [email protected].

I prefer the landing and flight handling characteristics of a Stiletto over the Sabre 2, just not the twist / 'spinetto' potential. I have been told thicker lines can = smoother / better openings but have yet to try... Prefer to stick with PD :)

What I want is stiletto that never gets twists! Everything else about it is great as far as I'm concerned...I don't need a sports car, just a nice little runaround Ah well. Input has been food for thought, thanks

Sounds like a plan. Thanks for all the advice guys.

I think I will get better landings if I load slightly heavier, at the moment I am around 1.2.

What would you assess as being the PD equivalent of a Crossfire? If there is such a thing...

Good idea. Do you know how the Spectre landings compare with a Stiletto? And is the Katana more similar to a Velocity, or to a Crossfire, would you say?

I have enough excitement in my life! All I want is soft, reliable openings and nice, soft landings...But I wonder if Katana from a Sabre 2 might be a bit much of a leap, on top of downsizing...