National Perspective February 2018

2018 has just begun and it is a hive of activity with teams forming and busy training at wind tunnels and jumping around Australia. I truly believe this is going to be our largest number of teams competing ever across all of the 4way divisions this coming Nationals, which I anticipate will morph into scratch teams to join those already training in 8way.

Bare with me – there is quite a large content of news in my February update. I have split it up into headings for easy reading.

Nationals March 2018 – Skydiving Nagambie

If you have not already registered for Nationals, please hop online and do it now. Don and Louise at Skydive Nagambie are keen to understand participant numbers and teams competing so they can plan accordingly. You will need to select the events you are competing in. The $100 registration fee is due when you register; your jump tickets can be paid at the same time or when you arrive at the DZ. The jumps must be paid prior to your competition draw.

Nationals Registration Link

Ground coaching at Nationals

Sponsored by the APF, there will be two awesome ground coaches at Nationals: Alan Mossy Moss and Craig Girard.

Most of you would know our own home-ground Alan Mossy Moss. Awesome 4way, 8way and Bigway coach. I know some of you guys are keen for more of Mossy’s super duper coaching tips during the upcoming Nationals.

 

 

As a bonus to Australia the APF on this ‘on’ year leading up to the World Meet have also sponsored Craig Girard to ground coach teams attending Nationals. Craig is a World Champion many times over. I will not do Craig justice in just one paragraph. I am including links below that will give you an accurate picture of the man we are so lucky to have coaching here in Australia.

Skyleague Profile: Click Here… 

Arizona Airspeed’s team performance of 74 points in time. Can your brain actually think this fast? I wonder if it is even possible for a weekend jumper to dirt dive at this pace? Click Here… 

Recent short story about returning to the USA after training teams in Dubai. Click here for story… 

But wait, there is more. Our upcoming newsletter this month will highlight an in depth interview with Skydive TV and Craig Girard. One not to miss!

Eliana Coaching Event at Skydive Oz, Moruya – 24/25 Feb

Another awesome opportunity provided by the APF and the NSWPC, Eliana Rodrigeuz from Arizona Airspeed will be ground coaching at a special event for teams training in preparation for nationals. The event location is Skydive Oz, Moruya over the weekend of the 24th – 25th February. I hope teams avail themselves of this incredible opportunity to train under a World Champion. There are limit team slots so please log in and register your team as soon as possible. Team slots with be on a first in basis.

Event Registration Link

Who is Eliana you ask? Her story has been documented in these in depth articles and her profile on Skyleague. Eliana was for many years part of the Arizona Airspeed journey of world domination in 4way. I first met Eliana in 2004 at the World Freefall Convention in Illinois USA. In fact I did my 200th jump with four of the 8way Airspeed team, a jump engineered by Eliana. “Wow” is a good word to describe that jump – how many points, spins and verticals I am not sure. Eliana of course held onto me the whole time, need I say more! Since Eliana and I were the same size I thought it wise to hook up with her for all my personal skydive coaching and man, did it pay huge dividends in my skydiving career. But I’ll leave it to others to tell her story…

Skydive League Profile: Click Here… 

Drop zone Interview: Click Here… 

Dropzone.com article: Click Here…

 

Aussie Bigways Premier Event 2018

Our next Premier Bigway Camp and Sequential Record Event with Larry Henderson is shaping up nicely. The dates are set for 29^th Sept through to 5^th October – 7days at Skydive Ramblers, Toogoolawah. Slots are open to jumpers C license and above, who are qualified and current to jump Bigways as per the Skills and Events Guide (click here for guide).

Registration will open Friday 1^st June 5pm. Mark it on your calendar now so you won’t miss out!

Slots will be on a first in, first served basis to those who qualify. Don’t snooze, this is going to be a popular occasion. We welcome jumpers far and wide to join us!

As a bonus to our usual awesome 7day event, Aussie Bigways will be jumping a Bigway Formation over the Gold Coast on Saturday 6^th October. We are planning a 30-50way Demo jump. Qualifications for this Demo jump is an E license, a general display license and have qualified by demonstrating the skills required during Larry Henderson’s 7day event. More news to come about this Demo jump; it is something you won’t want to miss. Add it into your travel plans!

Post Nationals

After Nationals our focus will be preparing for our Premier Event with various Bigway camps around the country in the Intermediate and Advanced Oz categories. Keep abreast of our events by visiting our Website Calendar http://www.aussiebigways.com. The website also has a wealth of information, news and resources, check it out!

Mentor Updates and Bigway Tips

We are truly blessed to have such an incredibly talented Mentor Team at Aussie Bigways. The featured article picture is taken of my computer screen during our January Aussie Bigways Conference meeting. Why the hats? Hmmm I truly don’t remember how they became a monthly meeting tradition!

Don’t miss the highly informative updates posted on Facebook and our website. This month we have:

Shirley Cowcher in WA gives an awesome checklist on what you need to do to be apart of the record attempts come 2019 (article here);

Kelly Brennan in Barwon Heads VIC gives great insight into what it is going to take to break a record come 2019 (article here);

Robbo’s update about Elderslie happenings (article here)

Christian Peric’s news and Nagambie happenings (article here)

Janine Hayes overview of Commandos and Victoria (article here)

Shana Harris bringing to the table a 2-3way scrambles meet to Moruya (article here)

Deb Hobbs’s awesome coaching of Star Crests at Picton (article here)

Martin Klapper’s journey into 4way and what it has to offer a Bigway jumper (article here)

So much and more is going on. What I love are all the team/people pictures on our website. Community. Mates. Support. Fun times. Love it! Remember these are the Good Ol’ Days! Get amongst it and have loads of fun!

There is a huge amount of content already on our website and yet more articles, news and information yet to be posted. Thank you Melissa for being the main contributor of technical information. Check out Melissa’s Bigway Pro Tips here...

If only there were more hours in a day! As I write I can hear the roar of the plane at Picton DZ flying overhead… hmmm think it is time to make a jump!

I am one of those lucky ones in a AA and Blast team, who has availed themselves of coaching from Craig and Eliana then attending Nationals. Life is good! See you all at Nationals if not before.

Tracey Basman – National Mentor and Events Co-ordinator