The PD Blog

Get your kit on and head to the Bakkie! The World Cup is underway!

Yesterday was the official practice day here at the World Cup of canopy piloting 2009.  One of our favorites, Pete Allum, from Italy arrived yesterday morning and is looking like a strong contender this year.  The wind yesterday was light and variable, shifting from a head to tail wind from minute to minute.  Dmitri from the Russian team wins the award for the training days for having taken out the most course markers in a wipe-out at four markers. 

Yesterday Pablo Hernandez from Spain landed at the world record mark during one of his practice runs.  Greg Windmiller, Ian Bobo both put up time in the 2.3's  All of these being unofficial as judges weren't preset to verify.  But they certainly set the stage for some amazing competition to come.

Yesterdays opening ceremonies were quite grand.  Local Zulu dancers entertained competitors and the crowd.  A large South African flag was landed in front of the pond and the meet was declared open. 

This morning we began at 6:15am with two rounds of accuracy.  Light downwind conditions on the ground set the stage for a very challenging beginning to this years World Cup competition.  One of the favorites, Marat from Brazil was the first competitor through the course.  After scoring all four water gates, spectacularly scoring the last one with his butt, and standing up the landing he was scored a zero after a bank strike. Nickolay Sukernakov(spelling) was the second through through the course scoring all the water gates and laying it down quite spectacularly in the scoring zones.  Sadly he sustained a broken femur in the process.  The meet is now on weather hold due to high winds.  More to come.  We'll try to update pictures as soon as the internet connection gets a little stronger!!!

Weather hold at the World Cup South Africa

Its mid day here and the competition is still on a weather hold.  It looks like we will be holding out for the winds to come down in an attempt to get in more rounds today.  For your viewing pleasure, here's a few pictures of delegations from last nights opening ceremonies....

    

 
 
 
 
 
 
  

 
 
 
 

Many of the competitors take this time to sleep, read a book, or head into town to entertain themselves.  But sometimes it seems that the saying "Idol hands are the devils workshop" was created simply for skydivers.  Here we find Ian and Jay using their golf cart driving skills to knock over any and all plastic chairs around the dropzone and the packing area.   

World Cup of Canopy Piloting 2009- South Africa

Its Monday November 29th here in Carletonville South Africa.  There are 66 competitors from 16 countries represented this year here at the World Cup.  This is the second time the pinacle canopy piloting event of the year has come back to South Africa.  Last year many of these competitors were in this country, but at the neighboring dropzone in Pretoria.  The competition starts Wednesday, but the practice has been very intense.  Many of the teams are arriving at the dz as early as 5am to get started since the winds have been picking up around 10am.  At almost 5,000 feet the course is super fast and conditions today and yesterday were very challenging.  Quartering tail winds pushed competitors downwind through the speed course.  If the conditions are like this during the meet, it won’t be  “if” the speed record gets broken, but it will be how many times.  Going fast isn’t the problem, its keeping in the course which proves the most difficult.  The courses are well set-up and the dropzone has been very inviting to the competitors and guests from around the world.

Today there was an injury with our friend and competitor Super G, the entry from Lithuania.  After a hard impact with the water, he was airlifted from the dropzone.  Our thoughts are with him for a full recovery.

Tomorrow is official practice until mid day and then the opening ceremonies begin.  We'll try to keep you updated! 

 







 

Blue Winter Tunnel Skills Camp

Spaceland Blue and Niklas Daniel will be hosting a tunnel skills camp at Skyventure Arizona (Dec. 12th and 13th). Blue will be offering 4-way and freefly skills. So come to the sun and get your flight skills on!

Winter begins in Florida

The northern dropzones are closing for the winter, and the snowbirds are beginning to arrive here in Florida.  But there is no rest for the crew here at PD.  Many of you have seen Nick traveling around the US this summer attending events and passing out demos.  We managed to catch a pic of him working hard to plan out his 2010 Tour.  (Check out the calender behind him, all those colored days are him traveling).  This winter he'll be headed to Z-Hills, Sebastian, Clewiston, and around Florida.  You can check out the winter tour schedule here.  If you're headed down here and want to visit the factory, give us a call, we'd be happy to show you around.  We usually have tours around 3:00 each day, but its a good idea to give a call a day or two before you come by, that way we can make sure there is someone available to show you around.  See ya soon!

Photographer Niklas Daniel captured this shot of PD staff member Albert Berchtold on a practice run during the 2009 USPA Nationals.

Thats right folks, we do skydive ......

This years USPA Nationals is currently in full swing, well when the rain lets the Otter wheels turn in Texas. And as usual PD has a few staff members showing their skills this year. Proving that in fact we do skydive and not just sell parachutes.

Nick Grillet (Elsinore BTE), Albert Berchtold (Canopy Piloting), Giles Dutrisac & Kristina Peterson (Sebastian Tempest) Amanda Mandrafino (Freestyle).

Keep up to date on the scores and the highlights of the USPA Nationals on the USPA Nationals website or NSL Website.

Along with all of PD Sponsored teams and individuals we wish them the best of luck ..... Blue Skies, Go Compete.

 
 
 Photos by: Ori Kuper & James Akins
 

Day One

Photographer Niklas Daniel captured this shot of the Skydive Spaceland Otter during the 2009 USPA Nationals. 

Night Swoop

Photographer Niklas Daniel captured this shot of Mas Di Siena during the Chicks Rock Boogie at Skydive Elsinore.

Last Big Splash 2009

This weekend was the first annual Last Big Splash.  This canopy piloting event was organized by the FLCPA and hosted at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.  For the first time, a sea plane fly in was coupled with some friendly skydivers to bring some extrordanary entertainment to the guests at the air museum. 

The competition was hed over 2 days and included 27 of the worlds best canopy pilots competing for $5000 in a event of non-traditional swooping events.  At the end of the second day Shannon Pilcher was in first place, Brian McNenney was second, and Pablo Hernandez rounded out the top three.

Photo by: Marc Ellis

Final scores Here:

Download LastBig Splash 09 final