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Older and wiser … (AKA Perris planning tips for Pops..)

Note: This blog is safe for consumption for younger skydivers too. There is no mention of pee, poo or prune juice!

The one-year countdown for Perris 2019 is about to begin. This time next year we’ll be buying milk with that happy realisation that we won’t be around for the expiry date!!! (Am I the only one that has this thought in the dairy aisle at Woolies?)

Speaking of things that go off, did you see the recent records in the USA for Skydivers over Sixty and Jumpers over Seventy? The SOS group got a 66 way and the JOS group made a 25 way. At the same time, we had the World Pops meet happening here in Victoria, complete with active skydivers in their 80s. One of the senior skydivers who was thumping away at the accuracy tuffet was freshly minted OAM, Graeme Windsor, age 69, who’s still competing as he nears his 50th sky birthday.

All bigway players planning their 2019 Perris trip have plenty to think about in the year ahead. Have I got enough money? Have I done everything I need to get my skills up? What holiday ‘add on’ should I do? There are many questions. And there’s an even bigger ‘to do’ list for those of us who are a little older and less fit.

There’s no doubt that skydiving, and bigway skydiving in particular, is an inclusive sport. Gravity doesn’t discriminate, right? But, unfortunately, other natural forces do take their toll.

Most skydivers can easily manage five jumps a day, for example. But how well do you cope when those five jumps are in hot and dusty conditions? What about when you do this day after hot, blazing day, throwing in some jetlag, a bit of dehydration, and some changes to the diet. You might need more allergy medication than usual too. Then you get a pulled muscle. And a sore ankle from a fast landing. Those dirt dives get pretty tiring. You keep walking back and forth in the sun. You don’t arch as well as you used to, so you’re wearing 6kg of lead. “What? They want me to lay down on the tarmac?!!!”

And then they add oxygen into the mix as the jumps get more and more intense. Higher jumps are much more draining. Needless to say, it doesn’t get any easier.

I don’t want to talk anybody out of this adventure, but we should all understand our personal level of preparation for this event. It’s a lot more demanding than any other event or boogie. Thankfully, we have time to do this, along with all of the other preparations for the trip. So, start thinking about it and start making the changes you’ll need.

Get yourself as ‘jump fit’ as you can. Attend events and push yourself to do extra jumps. Get in tune with how you feel after 3 jumps a day. Compare it to 4 or 5 jumps. How do you feel on day 2 of an event, compared to day 6. Most skydivers feel exhausted or sore early on and then get their second wind a few days later.

Things are getting quieter now as winter looms. How can you make yourself fitter and tougher to last the distance? Maybe wear your weight belt on your daily walk? Or spend an extra hour at the gym each week? Or come to the Whitsundays for the Bowen Bigway Boogie in July? (Gotta sneak a plug in at any opportunity.)

Even if you build your fitness, don’t leave anything to chance when you get to Perris. Plan (now) to spend money on packers. Book those packers from the START of the event. Don’t wait until you get tired half way through. Keep yourself as fresh as possible from the very beginning.
Make sure you land near a vehicle and get a ride back after EVERY landing. Preserve your energy from the beginning.
Watch your alcohol intake while we’re aiming for the record. Maybe even practice some alcohol-free days in the year ahead? Records aren’t easy, remember!

I struggled in 2015. The physical challenges added up and the emotions came to a head. I’m now three years older and on the ‘wrong’ side of 50. But, I am giving it my best shot for 2019 and stepping up the prep work now.

Just like that carton of milk, my expiry date is not on my radar. And I have a SOS record to prepare for in 2027!

Written by Kelly Brennan – Mentor for Barwon Heads, Victoria

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