Rising to the Challenge – VIC Mentor Update for Nagambie Oct 2018

Pondering Aussie Bigways’ recent sequential record success at Toogoolawah/Qld.

Words by Christian Peric, Aussie Bigways Victorian Mentor, Nagambie DZ.

What do you get when you mix close to 100 dedicated skydivers from all around Australia and visiting jumpers from America, Japan and New Zealand, with top coaches including Larry Henderson, state mentors, legendary camera flyers, top notch formation pilots flying three Cessna Caravans to 18,000ft, efficient DZ staff, yummy catering, an awesome coffee truck, and, … I hate to say it, a most annoying leaf blower at 6am for breakfast every morning…?  A new Australian skydiving record of course!

Well, what a week of skydiving it has been, for me personally, and the whole team.  Aussie Bigways did it once again, getting 80 people in one day through a new Australian 2-point 45way sequential record, … a record in itself!  The Aussie Bigways formula of ‘inclusiveness’ has been proven to work once more, for the third year in a row.

As one of the state mentors, I was lucky enough to be asked to be shadow coach for the week, to listen, learn, absorb and help out wherever needed, and see how these large events are organised from behind the scenes. What a privilege and insight it has been! Thank you to Tracey and the coaching team for this rare opportunity.

I had a suspicion, but really no actual idea, how much work goes into making these premier events happen, and in particular how much effort the coaching and organising team puts in after hours, once everyone else is drinking beer or goes to bed, to make us all look good, particularly on record day. Truly an unbelievable amount of work, time and dedication, THANK YOU!

For example, when slotting the record 45way groups the night before, I was so exhausted my eyes fell shut and I nearly fell off my chair in the coaches meeting room around 10PM, I was way overdue for bed.  But our coaches stayed up well past midnight, to finish their work, for us all!

So next time you feel like complaining, bemoaning or wondering why the list of names or groups have not been posted yet on the board at 6am, its very likely because your coaches were up ‘til 1am or even later, just to try and finish the job. Then it all needs to be neatly written up, copied and finally pinned on the board…..just putting it into perspective.

The other lesson I learnt, and a good message for all of us, is that there is no favouritism.  Do not believe for a minute, that slotting is done by “mates looking after mates”.  The overriding goal is to get successful skydives, records in this case, and the slotting happens based on all of our daily performances, to give the best statistical chance of getting a successful outcome. That takes a lot of time to work out among the coaching team.  It is done as objectively and fairly as possible, so please do remember that, and please don’t feel bad because you are on group two or three.

To top off the record week, some of us were lucky enough the get a jump or two out of an Air Force C17, certainly one of the highlights of my jumping career. The weather almost derailed the experience on the day, but even solid cloud and icy rain over Toogs.’ during the morning practice jump didn’t dampen our spirits.  To then top it off with a demo hop and pop for the world meet opening ceremony over the Gold Coast was truly special, THANK YOU to the APF and the Royal Australian Air Force, for giving us this rare opportunity!

Where to from here?  Please do take the opportunity to come and train in Moruya, jumping Bigways with Dan BC and our Aussie Bigways coaches in December.  Check out our website for details and register asap, as slots are limited for all those who want to attend the Aussie record next year.

That said, don’t forget to register on the P3 website for the Aussie Record event in May 2019, rego is open now!

Lastly, between now and then, keep current and work on your personal flying skills: be it approaching the formation more efficiently, diving harder, stopping better, flying quietly in your slot, getting rid of your chicken wing flying by adding lead, docking without momentum, tracking flatter and further than you ever have before, oh and do a canopy course if you can.  It all helps!

Stay cool, be safe, have fun and see you again soon.

Blue skies,

Christian. J