Skydive Elderslie Happenings!

We’ve been busy at Skydive Elderslie, putting our DZ on the map and among other things encouraging novices and others to think about getting on the journey to Perris in 2019.

Combined 4way4every1 with Kate Vaughan and Camera Safety & Awareness Seminar with Steve Fitch Weekend 

Held 22^nd to 23^rd July 2017 this was essentially a 4 way event consisting of training jumps on day 1, a mock competition on day 2 and camera and safety seminars. We were spoilt for coaches with Kate Vaughan, Stretch Szulmayer, Dave Loncasty, David Bakkers, and Holly Atteridge; and on camera  the legendary Steve Fitch.​

​The target group was novice through Intermediate, there were 20 participants and the number of jumps (excluding coaches) was 127. Steve Fitch’s separately funded ​ (by NSW PC and APF Fi Fund)​  Camera Awareness and Safety Seminar was held in conjunction with this camp to give all participants the opportunity to learn more about this important and topical issue from one of Australia’s top camera flyers, as well as coach participating camera flyers including novices. The involvement of Steve Tonson in the event was a bonus. Local cameraflyer Ben Stokoe said he learned heaps from the gurus.

Apart from personally coaching 2 teams on the ground, Kate arranged presentations on 4 way basics and tracking fundamentals also involving Dave Loncasty. Each team with it’s own coach had the benefit of individual input and coaching from Stretch, Dave, Holly and David, as well as from the entire group at the end of the event when the wind had unfortunately brought our inaugural 4way4every1 event to a premature close.

The inclusion of 5 A Certificate holders who had completed their B Certificate Training Table and were closing in on their B Certificate was tentatively accepted however proved to be a winner for the people concerned and for the event. The opportunity to receive personal tuition from Kate, Stretch, Dave, Holly and David at their home DZ would have been almost impossible otherwise.

Another bonus was the availability of information about the May 2019 Aussie Bigway Record Event in Perris, and the pathways for jumpers regardless of experience to get there. This followed on from Greg Jack’s presentations at Elderslie during his Bigways event in June.

​ The assistance of Aussie Bigways, the NSW Parachute Council, the APF Fi Fund and the Newcastle Sport Parachute Club was gratefully acknowledged.​

​Star Crest Saturday​ Becomes Star Crest Weekend

Our second noteworthy event was another of our Star Crest Saturdays held September 9^th (and 10^th ) which attracted 8 Star Crestees! A bit of a challenge particularly as the plan was 5 loads out of the Beaver……….however, surprise surprise we had visitors from Picton two of whom had never been to Elderslie before, after years at Picton! Anyway Melissa Harvie and Vivian Merz (not the jumpers from Picton who’d never been there before!) chipped in and what was a Star Crest Saturday became a Star Crest Weekend with 10 loads and some well deserved completions, lots of SC Application Forms signed.

The legendary Steve Dines ​was  camera ​flyer for Saturday and thanks ​to ​Kestral Thuh Wolf, Dan Gray (Hugh Januses), Winston Taylor, Martin Perrins & Adrian Ferguson ​ (from Victoria) for filling the experienced jumpers ​slots, doing camera on the Sunday, and help​ing​ ​the players progress towards their Star Crests!

Star Crests were achieved by the following participants: ​Marcus Bolleurs, Michael Egan, Owen Kearns, Stephen Fowler, Kellie Watson and Mike Steele. Congratulations!

​Our thanks to all those who attended, in whatever capacity, Aussie Bigways for their continuing support for these events, and to Red Bull for their involvement during the day, organised by NSPC member Dirk Rupping who made his first Star Crest attempt on the Saturday but unfortunately was unable to be there on Sunday to do more SC jumps.

But wait – there’s more!

We will be having another Star Crest Saturday (or weekend??) in mid-November – check out the Events link on our Facebook page Skydive Elderslie – Newcastle Sport Parachute Club for details.

Another event to plan for is Black Death our traditional 4 way scrambles comp held in February each year. What has this got to do with Aussie Bigways? This year it was promoted as an intro to flatfly rel work and resulted in several new jumpers getting into 4 way teams, and for some the start of their Bigway journey, so the plan is to go with this idea in 2018.

Ian Robertson – NSW State Mentor