When we started this crazy adventure, we promised you seven days with Jeff Provenzano, better known as Jeffro, the first canopy pilot to ever execute a Miracle Man in competition.

It got scheduled, re-scheduled…basically never happened (though we did give you some great weeks with Eric Deren and Nick Grillet). Until now! Jeffro is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with the Red Bull Air Force and we’re tagging along for the surreal, alcohol-free ride. Look for the final week in the March issue of Blue Skies Mag, and stay tuned here for some audio outtakes and long-long-distance phone calls.

Yep, he's that guy. Ad by optionstudios.com.

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Jay celebrates with team mates Ian, Shannon and Jessica

From the PD Blog:

Posted with permission from Performance Designs, Inc.
Photo courtesy of Performance Designs, Inc.

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The Canopy Piloting World Cup started in South Africa on Wednesday and is due to conclude on Sunday.  So far 2 rounds of Speed have been completed and, with the exception of 4 re-jumps, 2 rounds of Distance have also been completed.  This included Canadian competitor and PD Factory Team member Jay ‘Sexy Pony Tail’ Moledzki smashing the World Record with an impressive 175.92m on round 2 on his Comp Velo 79.   This currently leaves him in first position with almost a 40 point lead ahead of some strong competition.  The 5,000′ elevation and changing wind conditions have resulted in a large number of zero scores.

For skydivers, weather holds can be the most dangerous time, particularly at a Canopy Piloting World Cup.  For some, there was time to kill, and the Australian delegation challenged some of the other nations to an improvised game of indoor (well, in-tent) cricket.  Others took the time to get some much needed rest, particularly following the early starts we’ve been having with 0530 take-offs.  Here are a few pictures of competitors resting while they wait for the winds to drop.

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After a bit of a rough start with challenging conditions and a series of serious injuries, it seems that the World Cup of Canopy Piloting at Johannesburg Skydiving Club is finally on a good roll.

British competitor Alastair Macartney commented in his Facebook status update this morning that Brian Vacher (UK competitor and a member of the PD Factory Team) had just set a National Distance Record – and then as a side note mentioned that Jay Moledzki (Canadian competitor and also a well known member of the PD Factory Team) had gone on to set a new Distance World Record – 175.92 meters (still unofficial, pending FAI approval).
There are still plenty of competition rounds left to go so we might still see some exciting news from JSC.
For those of you that don’t care too much about Canopy Piloting, competition or world records – but do enjoy mischief and prankstery (yup, new word, I just invented it), we got something good coming.  Just waiting on Prankster in Chief to find himself a good solid internet connection to transmit the pixels our way – stay tuned!

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Right now some of the top canopy pilots in the world are either making their way to or have already arrived at the Johannesburg Skydiving Club (JSC) in South Africa.  66 competitors from 16 countries will be competing for medals in 3 events; Speed, Accuracy and Distance.   The overall winner of the 3 disciplines combined will be crowned the World Cup Champion.
Including judges and support staff, 23 countries are represented in South Africa.

The dropzone is situated at 5000 feet above sea level and that altitude those teeny little parachutes move pretty fast (especially with some of the big boys dangling under them).  We spoke to some of the American competitors before heading out and they seem to think we can expect new World Records at the event, as long as the weather cooperates.

US Team Manager Albert Berchtold commented that “the course is super fast and conditions today and yesterday were very challenging.  Quartering tail wind pushing you 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 your ass in the course”.

Speaking of weather, during this past week of practice wind and rain has hampered training a little.  Competitors are getting up well before the chickens to get to the DZ early, in order to get in a few jumps before the winds kick up, which has been around 10 AM.
A person who would rather remain nameless pointed out that these conditions suit the Australian delegation perfectly, as they provide for extended hours at the bar.  That is definitely something the Aussies are better prepared to handle than any of the other nations attending, so should those conditions prevail we can expect to see some green and gold on the podium.

Competition is set to start on December 2nd and run through the 6th. We will do our best to bring you update and news from the event as it progresses.

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A message from Australian CF competitor Jules McConnel:

Aussie skydiving team “Ookoonono” have made an awesome 2010 Calendar filled with spectacular pictures of us doing what we love – jumping out of planes! We’re raising funds for our journey to the World Parachuting Championships in Russia next year.

Ookoonono Calendars!

We’ve filled the calendar with all the great skydiving boogies and events for 2010, and – of course – pictures of us (each month is an A4 page opposite an A4 photo).

We’ve had great support from drop zones, equipment manufacturers and photographers to create the masterpiece – thanks to you all! (See below for gratuitous mention)

Calendars are now on sale for $AUS25 + postage (postage in Australia is $2.50) If you haven’t yet ordered a copy of the calendar, and would like one, please order now by returning a message through facebook, or emailing me on juliamcconnel@yahoo.com

HURRY! There’s a limited supply!

You can also purchase a copy at the following dzs:
Skydive Nagambie (see Jill at manifest or visit Rob at the Phantm display during the Full Moon Boogie)
Skydive Surfside, Moruya (ask Fleur)
Groundrush Cafe, Sydney Skydivers, Picton (ask Dave)
And I’ll be floating between Skydive Maitland and Skydive the Beach, Wollongong if you want to pick one up from me there!

They’re a great Christmas present, or get one for yourself! For those of you who have already got one – thanks for your support! And thanks once again to all our sponsors and photographers to make this calendar happen – Skydive Oz, APF, Cookie Composites, Deepseed, Downward Trend, Phantm, Aerial Skydiving, Skydive Nagambie, Skydive Express, Skydive Maitland, Performance Designs, Parachutes Australia, ASM, Sydney Skydivers, Keith Macbeth, Steve Fitchett, Mike Paolin, Shane Price, Craig Bennett, Joe Hallin, Jill Grantham, Jenny Gordon and lastly Alex and Gav for your inspiration!

Have a great 2010!
Jules x

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Yeah, yeah, we’re late with this. Last Big Splash was September 26-27 at Fantasy of Flight in Florida, but these videos are just as good now as they were then. We asked a random sampling of swoopers canopy pilots dudes people the same four questions. Check it out…

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