National Perspective December 2017

2018 – What’s next for Aussie Bigways Nationally?

The momentum from the high-quality Aussie Bigways events around Australia in 2017 will catapult us into what is lining up to be an awesome year of jumping in 2018.

Thus far our Premier Events have been hosted by Skydive Ramblers, Toogoolawah QLD (2014), Sydney Skydivers Picton NSW (2014), Skydive Nagambie VIC (2016), Skydive Oz Moruya NSW and Skydive York WA (2017). Many thanks to the APF, the State Parachute Councils and the DZs who are constant supporters of the Aussie Bigways Team and the direction we are heading.

Four years on we are returning to Skydive Ramblers, Toogoolawah for our Premier Event in 2018 with P3 coach Larry Henderson! It will be our same 7 day event format with sequential record attempts.

SAVE THE DATE

Sat 29^th Sept – Fri 5^th Oct 2018

Watch this space; more details to come. This will be our final Premier Event prior to attending Perris to break a record in early June 2019. This is one event in Australia next year you won’t want to miss!

New State Mentors

We have been working towards recruiting strong and dedicated Aussie Bigway Mentors at major DZ’s around Australia. We have some talented volunteers on board who will provide excellent tutelage for those keen to prepare for those record attempts come 2019. I would like to welcome and thank our new State Mentors:

Kelly Brennan – VIC State Mentor for Barwon Heads

Kelly has been an invaluable team member with Aussie Bigways since our first Perris record set in 2010. We ‘allowed’ Kelly a much needed break for a few years but we have successfully recruited her back into the fold! Kelly is active in many areas of skydiving and provides invaluable support and guidance to many in our sport. She is not only the Aussie Bigways media expert, but also our funding go-to person, and did I mention Kelly is a competent and active Star Crest and Bigway coach for Barwon Heads in Victoria?! We welcome Kelly back to the team and look forward to her ongoing support and guidance.

Kelly has written many interesting articles – her most recent adventure was the Herc Boogie in Botswan with Dan BC. It is worth a read  click here… 

Cullen Habel – SA State Mentor for Langhorne Creek

Cullen has been active with Aussie Bigways since the lead up to our 2015 record event. He has attended Perris camps including their 2017 Bigway camps and Spring Fling event. Cullen is currently active in a 4way team, providing opportunities for those in SA to join his journey to learn 4way and to improve. We are lucky to have Cullen aboard to assist Sandy in SA with mentoring those at Langhorne Creek DZ. Cullen recently wrote an informative and interesting article for Aussie Bigways and we certainly look forward to more great works!

Cullen’s article click here… 

Maurice (Momo) Mathey – NT Mentor for Skydive Northern Territory, Batchelor

Some of you will have had the treat of meeting Momo from Batchelor DZ at our recent events in Moruya and last year in Nagambie. He comes with talent to-boot, a big heart, an awesome sense of humor, energy and tenacity to build a strong team from Northern Territory to attend Perris in 2019. Ali Bates calls him ‘the lucky guy’ having won so many prizes at Moruya last month, including that major prize of a P3 camp slot! We look forward to hearing about his time at Perris in 2018 and the skills and knowledge he brings back to the Aussie Bigways team from his experience.

 

Shana Harris – NSW State Mentor for Skydive Oz, Moruya NSW

Shana certainly showed her stuff at the recent Aussie Bigways Premier Event in Moruya, her home DZ. Like a duck to water, Shana is all over those skills required to jump safe and successful Bigways! Shana has all the qualities and skills required to mentor those who are interested to upskill and attend Perris in 2019. Shana is a competent AFF instructor, has done her fair share as a Tandem Master, jumps 4way, Camera and now Bigways. We welcome Shana to the team with her enthusiasm and fun factor, and to assist in organising events at one of the most awesome DZ’s on planet earth – Skydive OZ, Moruya!

 

National Direction

Aussie Bigways direction nationally for the first few months of 2018 will be to encourage you to join a team and attend Nationals at Skydive Nagambie in March. And why you ask does Aussie Bigways encourage 4way and 8way?

Because it is an effective pathway to practice your Rel skills in a smaller group environment, jumping with the same people where levels are already worked through and you can move onto learning/practicing core basics for bigway flying. Competition jumping is also the perfect environment to overcome record nerves when we come down to the wire on our last jumping day in Perris 2019.

There are 4 skill levels of 4way you can enter either as a participant or jumping coach. You control your team’s focus and fun factor – make the journey enjoyable by jumping where the action is happening and where the cool cats hang. Most of our Aussie Bigway Coaches are going to be busy jumping and / or coaching teams. Get on board!

For the Nationals Schedule Click here… 

There is also the POPS World Meet offering another competition environment at Skydive Nagambie in April that is worth considering. Click here for details… 

What’s next after Nationals?

From April to September in the lead up to our Premier Event with Larry Henderson, our national focus will shift to Bigway Events in all States including Intermediate, Advanced and Ultra Oz levels. Stay tuned to our Aussie Bigways Calendar of Events to keep abreast of what is happening in your state and at your home DZ. Bear with us, more events will be added soon for 2018 – Events Calendar

We welcome ALL skydivers to join us whether you intend to be there for those record attempts in 2019 or not. With all the work happening behind the scenes by the Aussie Bigway team of mentors, DZ Event Organisers and the support provided by the APF, Councils and DZs, don’t get left behind. Most are availing themselves of wind tunnel coaching to improve their personal flying skills, team training and focused Bigway coached events where participants can enjoy good quality jumps. Unsafe zoo jumps have largely become a thing of the past! Good quality events are happening now, we are making life long memories now, join us NOW – for in a few years’ you will reflect on these times being ‘The Good Ol’ Days!”.

Have a Merry Christmas and enjoy that celebration bringing in that New 2018 Year!

All the best,
Tracey Basman
Aussie Bigways National Mentor and Events Coordinator