Archive | February, 2010

FAI Ratifies 4-Way Record

It’s official: Spaceland Force XP has the new world record for the fastest freaking turning around in the sky. Ever. Congratulations Gary Beyer, Christopher Ian Bobo (go Chris!), Eric Boyd, Thomas Hughes and Shannon Pilcher, for your 45-point 4-way at USPA Nationals last fall. This beats the previous record, held jointly by Commie pinkos. Go USA!

Official FAI Record

This feat is just one of the many that helped Thomas Hughes win several medals at Nationals. But, it was ultimately his lack of late-night drunken awareness that helped us liberate his medals and take them on a tour of the countryside. Today seems like a good day for a fond look back at the medals’ glorious road trip from Rosharon, TX to DeLand, FL. They met wonderful people: the gas station attendant in Orange, TX; the Whataburger girl; suspicious Baton Rouge baristas; eager valets in NOLA; crabs on Bourbon Street (hopefully only one kind); strippers and some sort of Russian dude; Mississipians; dogs; and finally, home.

Congrats, boys!

10 Way Speed in Elsinore

Some of the younger pups out there might never even have heard of a 10-way speed, but here it is in all it’s glory, as captured by videographer Nik Daniel in Elsinore last Saturday, January 29th, 2010.

It’s a fun event, but can get a little combative, with 10 people squeezing on the proper side of that black line you can see taped on the floor.  Back in the day I did a few 10-way jumps under the “guidance” of the legendary Carl Daugherthy. I’ll admit that I was a little intimidated when during the dirt dive he handed out elbow and knee pads – that came in handy on exit.   I didn’t last but a couple of Saturdays, before I retreated back to the relative safety of newbie freeflying, where a light kick in the head seemed like a piece of cake in comparison.

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