National Perspective August 2017

Slots available at our Premier Events for 2017

There are slots available at our Premier Events later this year – with highly sought after International Bigways Coach, Doug Forth.

Some of us may not think we are good enough but we all start somewhere…

Don’t miss out – sign up today!   
REGISTRATION FORM

If you are nervous about your skill level, mention it to us – we can discuss what you need to do to best prepare and give you the confidence to participate at these event(s). Or if you are not ready just yet, for future events.

The Bigway Skills and Events Guide is just that – a guide. It gives transparency of skills required for certain events to build safe and successful Bigway Formations. There is no mention of the time it takes to progress through each level; it may take years for some, but months for another.

I am not saying this lightly. If you have the right attitude and dedication to learn the correct techniques from experienced coaches, you may make the grade very quickly indeed and end up progressing onto the record jumps in Moruya and / or prestigious events internationally very quickly indeed. It is all up to you; the sky is truly the limit here!

We have so many highly skilled skydivers and coaches joining us on this journey to up-skill Australia to set a 150way record in May 2019 – don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn and improve.

 

State Mentors

I would like to welcome our new State Mentors into the fold. They are both avid Bigway flyers and are ready to mentor those to best prepare for our next Aussie Bigways Record in May 2019.

Martin Klapper will join Ben Nordkamp in the ranks of mentoring jumpers in the South Queensland area. Martin has recently returned from Perris Valley, USA having participated in the 100way camp, 100way and the highly sought after, invitational Spring Fling advanced Bigway event with Dan BC. This was not his first trip and won’t be his last to Perris for Martin, he is truly addicted to jumping good quality Bigways!

 

Mark Higgins will join Calder Chernoff and Deb Hobbs in mentoring jumpers in the NSW area. Mark Higgins, or Higgo as many know him, participated on the 119way Aussie Bigway Formation record in 2015 at Perris Valley. Mark also flew in all four 2pt 32way Sequential Records jumps that special day in Nagambie last year during Dan BC’s Event. Higgo is a busy jumper, who is an AFF instructor, jumps in a 4way team and is also another addicted to jumping at good quality Bigway events!

Welcome both Martin and Mark, who are embedded ‘furniture’ in our Aussie Bigway Team. Thank you for helping us in the journey to Perris 2019.

 

A Dear Friend – Adrian Lloyd

When I think of Adrian Lloyd, I think of this unassuming guy, always there helping others at the DZ in some aspect of our sport. He was a staple. He was always there and someone you could count on. Although I knew Adrian before this time, I connected with Adrian during my first trip to Perris for the P3 100way camp / 100way event in 2007. There were a few Aussies there and we all squeezed into a shared house near the DZ. It was quite an adventure not only jumping 100ways but we jumped the Perris Jet with Larry Henderson and yes, turned a few points after that mind blowing fast exit that blew us in all directions. We also had some funny tales to tell when we had some fun and laughs at the Six Flags Magic Mountain Fun park in LA on our day off.

This 2007 was a significant event as it was the inception of Aussie Bigways, when Greg Jack approached the P3 Skydiving team about hosting a new Aussie Bigway Formation Record at Perris. And thus begun a massive endeavour and soul buddy relationship between the P3 skydiving team and the Australian Bigway Skydiving community. Adrian was very much part of this beginning journey for Aussie Bigways.

Adrian was cameraman for many teams that I participated in at a National level and I thank him for always doing a stellar job. Adrian worked hard as our NSW State Coach and I also thank him for supporting all our Aussie Bigway events under his watch.

I look at this recent picture taken at Russ Blackman’s recent 8way training weekend. (this is my feature picture) There is Adrian in the back, with a huge smile as always on his face. Yep, that’s Adrian, the unassuming staple in our skydiving community. You will be missed as a dear friend and skydiving companion not only personally but by many in our Bigway Skydiving community and beyond. I am certainly a better person for having known you Adrian as I’m sure many others are too.

BIGWAY JUMPS FOR ADRIAN

David Loncasty is organising a day of jumping for ‘friends of Adrian Lloyd’s’ at Sydney Skydivers, Picton on Sunday 20th August. If you would like to join us, please email David direct – david@loncasty.com

 

Tracey Basman

National Events Co-ordinator and Mentor