druspork

Sparky For everything... The tunnel coaching; the support in Perris; the advice; the never say say die attitude; the "I will be calm" whatever is going on; the taking huge risks on the basis of only opportunity and self belief; the never letting it go; the complete changing of the UK FS scene - girls rock!; for being a guide; for knocking me back with "get yourself sorted". For being capable and willing. For simply being terrific. ... Thank you. Dru PS Mr J, if it fits wear it.

Yeah, but those Irish were WAY the best drinkers... and no furniture issues either. Hey, the Kiwi's were also class. Still on the bottom line, the WC was dominated by the frogs - well done guys, truly inspiring. A full spread in all possible categories and over all total domination of the meet. Incredible. Impressive. And we loved the depth of the teams presented, not just your top teams. France has something enormous going on in FS. Will you show it at this years ESL finals? Dru (Honorary rossbif) PS I still have this vodka ache at the back of my skull that goes "Hyabussa - Team Spirit!" Wonder where that came from? PPS Those Irish were still the best drinkers.

We aren't talking about ditch digging here. Or even who can hit a golf ball farther. Nup we are not. Still, pull out the guest teams, and quite possibly the two best teams in the country are all female. It's a UK perspective with all kind of ramifications. [And we kind of love it.] Dru ps go girls!

Entertaining initial draw this year. We dropped a 17 point round in having the BPA 2007 Nationals "A Draw" withdrawn for obvious and understandable reasons. Maybe I'll just claim that as a competition average. Our "B" Nationals might be closer to reality. We have all been mucked around, but think about the teams working through qualification for the next World Meet. And your message to the guru [or multiple personalities] who put us here is....? The weather was pants, let's hope we can get through things next weekend without too much impact on 8-w and FF. Dru PS There seemed to be a growing blame culture to drop responsibility on ESL/NSL. Click option 4 and 5 as well as the other statements on this poll.

Sorry to be late on this thread - was away at the WC and this weekend at [part 1] of the UK Nationals. UK top teams were also focussed on qualification for the next world meet. [A one week gap though.] This did not stop the UK having the second largest representation at the WC. At least at the moment the BPA sees the WC as an open opportunity for international exposure - if not for the top UK teams then for the best of who is interested. We got there by way of winning "AA" season last year. Our first "AAA" comp was in Stupino. Laugh if you want, we did OK. Name one decent USPA "AA" team last year who would have been bored by that tickle. I simply don't believe that there were no US teams interested and able to compete at this year's WC. What about a guaranteed slot for the "Advanced" gold medalist? What the hey, also one for the top "AA" team. One slot left for the highest team interested. If the big boys want it, they can fight. Personally I find it hard not to think that non-attendance by USPA at WC 2007 is a poor showing. The strongest skydiving membership in the world fails to find representation at the world cup? If the big names find it dull then what about the rest of you? Dont piss about, let USPA know NOW you want in on the next WC. Dru ps You really want your team on the list, it's way worth it.

Dont forget, it isnt every nation that has the same opportunities for sponsorship that are available in the US. It's a tough deal in the UK to find companies prepared to help. And pretty much any top international team is going to do the bulk of their training in the US. UK sports funding to skydiving is dead. Let's see how the BPA work from here - they've been great but they must feel really constrained at the moment. Dru

We take the mirrors. But I like the concept of DSS. I'm interested in how you all approach it whether DSS or mirror and who jumps. We trained at UK intermediates with Point hopping, now at AAA it's tail. Seems many teams have IC hopping - but it seems to me they are teams taking DSS (is this right?). Then other teams I see alternating point and tail (what is happening there?) Generally it seems to me that the block move is going the same way for most top teams - the solo hop is almost a side slide vertical with the move under a side slide the other way. The rest of the piece is aimed at the catch. Or am I missing something? Dru

Hmm, we've been missing the 4-w technique cutting edge on this forum for a bit. Sooo... a) mirror or double slot swap (old question but amusing) b) who solos c) does the solo change with the mirror d) do you exit in slot or out of slot to make sure the first page is sorted (into A slots) or something else The build can be really slow, what are your tips to go beyond this. At the end of all that, what is fastest (it's way quick anyway). Reasons why would be appreciated! Hey I could have titled this 5 but 17 will do for now! Dru if you havent guessed we are moving from AA to AAA

Now there's some tunnel experience talking (tell me I'm wrong). It doesnt just happen from the hands though, secret is to feel the wind. Oh, get on the air with guys who have a chance of working out what is going on. Looks like you have offers on this thread - take 'em up. Dru

Willie's a guru. Great shots! Dru

The advice I got went something like this... When turning with toggles there aren't really any brakes left (it's all used up at least on one side). If you turn with a front riser and you need to get off it, you still have full braking power left to get you back under the canopy. But then that would be called "digging it out of the corner" - a deadly sin. Dru

Get your random work really sorted before hitting the blocks. In the old UK system, to compete in rookie you had to have a max 900 jumps between three members (unlimited numbers for one member encouraged experienced jumpers to share their knowledge). The jumps only counted after the FS1 qualification. It meant that many members of rookie teams would have something like up to 450 jumps each before they moved up. On the other hand one of the guys on my team had less than 300 jumps when he joined us in the old UK intermediate category (half way between A and AA). Don't miss an opportunity if it's there, but if you have a choice go rookie. Dru

"ROCK" Drill What you do is dirt dive your jump and exit with full intention of doing the drill. If it aint happening either party puts up a hand in the STOP sign. Stop sign means the "rock" stays still while the other guy closes. When you get the close, go back to the top of the dive plan. You be the rock on the next jump as your skills in falling down the tube sound good. Your buddy can be rock the jump after. Expect things to be happening with both of you. It's not that easy to close when the other guy is moving around (which he will be cause he is also trying to close). Dru ps Let us know how it goes.

1. Get another three people together at the DZ at the same time [who want to do 4-w]. 2. Camera 3. Even if you stick with 2-w drills, see if you can con a camera. Dru

Andy we'll keep our ear to the ground. Best of British to you (and Wingnutz). Dru

You cant legislate for it. The ESL organisers were considering a new rule that teams cannot drop down to a lower division (same as USPA rules). But GeGe explains exactly why this is not acceptable for nations that dont have all 4 divisions. The Dutch approach to filling "AA" in 2006 was spot on. Any team competing in "AAA" simply because there is no "AA" has got to be allowed to do "AA" at the ESL. It would not have been fair to the Daltons to force them into "AAA" this year. You have to leave it to the sporting nature of each Nation. If you dont like the result (it's no secret that I didnt) then grit your teeth and move on. Dru

Another team that should be mentioned - NRG from the Netherlands. Stepped up from "A" to compete in "AA" and came oh so close to the medals. These guys would easily have medaled at the UK Nats in "AA". It's got to be tough for them going up when others came down, They just had to have medaled if they had stayed in "A". NRG - you guys rock! Anywayz - great meet, great to see team GB up there. I'm sure we won the drinking, wasn't it a vertically challenged person last to be thrown out of the bar? Dru

Another fab comp in Spa. Credit to WIlly Boeykins [again]. Sad for Belgium who announced the break up of Hyabussa and NMPV. Rumours are that Hyabussa will re-form with a different line up. Great to see French representation from the impossible-to-miss "Noene". Spread the message, it would be great to see more of the French next season. Great fight for the "Spirit" from the Dutch (and I think the UK), but well done to the winners Belgium. Pity dates clashed with Germany, "Timber" came anyway, lets hope the Germans are back in strength next year. To everyone else, the Czechs, Swiss - it all makes for a great competition. 2 new European Champions in the UK: Novice: Phobia and "A": Wingnuts. GREAT JOB! Dru ps a BIG thanks to Rez and the packing crew.

Alles klar. Piisfish - make sure you say hi to the Zebras this weekend. Dru

Yeah, but you guys are the only coaches that Team GB has supporting 8 4-w teams. Still think we might have a shot at the Spirit this year even if in theory Belgium and GB will be sharing what the Dutch leave behind. There will big individual performances from other nations, but probably the Spirit will go to Nations with large teams of teams. See y'all in Spa tomorrow. Great to see new faces in Team GB too by the way! Dru

On the country titles - CZ seems clear, but what am I missing with CH? Dru

UK 8 teams [only 1 in AAA]; 11 Dutch; 11 Belgian [though none in AA]. Strongest AAA field ever at the ESL. From the UK Nationals : We are missing the top three teams in novice; there's some real class in Europe in A [and it's NOT just British]; we are missing the top team in AA, and while Fusion are much loved especially at the ESL [they pretty much started all UK involvement at Spa afterall] we are missing both world meet teams [and more besides] in AAA. Perhaps the bookies money is elsewhere? That all said it's my absolute favourite competition of the year. let's make sure we win the drinking competition. It'll be great to see Fusion and the 'Dido's back in Spa, along with all our old friends in Euroworld from last year. Dru [Damn Zebra]

It wasn't a qualifying year. But if it had been then my take is that Airkix would have (lots of hypotheticals here) qualified to represent the UK in BOTH womens And open. It would surely be their call which they went for. To do both at the same time might be seen as getting greedy! Gera produced challenges with how we read the scores, but Rehmwa is closer to it than an across the board reduction of 2 points. Dru

Hold that thought - we seem to do so well in the UK at irritating... never know your luck. I really hope that Airkix keep on kicking. Their original goals were pretty much just totally obliterated with their performance this year. If they have the energy to keep it going.... and add the Bodyflight Squadies (that project just has to gain attention outside of the UK sooner or later), and maybe interesting things are happening here in UK 4w. It's so cool to watch. Dru

The results are out - not our biggest nationals but not too shabby given the dodgy conditions. The predictions that the UK may not manage 4 divisions proved nonsense. There was a really good spread of teams in each division. The "Bodyflight Squad" are certainly making impressions. The debate over our top novice teams is set to continue - the guys responded to the criticism with even greater performances. Bodyflight Frenzy look distinctly like a younger version of Hyabusa. In "AA" congrats to Bodyflight Storm. On the international scene I see a couple of teams from the Ranch sqeezed in behind them - well done guys. Wingnuts were clear gold in "A". There was a Fantastic jump-off for silver - this held the comp results up for an hour, a planned "AAA" big way was dropped in preference to the more important jump off. It got everybodies attention. 4-Fit clutched the solitary extra point (Otherwise Escondido would have had silver on a count back). Simply amazing to have it finished without needing the extra weather weekend. Congrats to Airkix by the way! Dru