quade 4 #1 September 17, 2003 http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=5241 Quote Americans soar at world skydiving championships By Staff Sgt. Mellissa M. Novakovich September 17, 2003 GAP, France (Army News Service, Sept. 17, 2003) -- The U.S. Parachute Team won a silver and three bronze medals at the 2003 World Skydiving Championships in Gap, France Sept. 13. The Golden Knights Four-Way Formation Skydiving Team, composed of Sgts. 1st Class John Hoover, Kurt Isenbarger, Eric Heinsheimer, Chris Talbert and Talmadge Hunter, videographer, captured the silver medal with a total of 214 points. U.S. women’s accuracy team spotted the bronze. Army skydivers Sgt. 1st Class Elisa Feldt and Sgts. Angela Nichols and Cheryl Stearns were joined by Air Force pilot Maj. Stacie Schorzman and Nancy Lariviere to represent America. The four-way discipline was judged by how many times a team can perform a specific set of geometrical formations in 35 seconds of freefall. Each formation equals one point. Two points were deducted for incomplete formations and improper handgrips. “Time and memory is key to this event,” said Hoover, FST team leader. The Olympic-class competition saw U.S., France and Norway vying for the gold medal. The U.S. team led the meet in round one with a 17-point jump while France followed with 16 points. By round five the U.S. team fell five behind field leader France. In round six the Americans rallied with a 35-point round, only to be out done by the French’s 37-point leap. By the seventh round of the competition, the U.S. and France teams pulled away from the rest of the field. By round ten, the scores settled with France earning the gold medal with a final score of 229-214. Norway won the bronze medal podium with 206 points. “The French had unbelievable scores, we did well, but fell way short of their postings,” Hoover said. The accuracy competition tested the women’s team’s ability to land in the center of a target the size of a quarter. The U.S. team logged in a total score of .62 centimeters to capture the bronze. Gold medal winning Chinese team completed the eight-round event with .31 centimeters and Russia took silver .35 centimeters. The medal put an end to the U.S. Women’ Skydiving Team’s nearly 30 year dry spell. The women also earned the overall Style and Accuracy bronze medal. Feldt, the current U.S. National Champion, also brought home the overall bronze for her individual scores in the Style and Accuracy events. This was her best finish at an Olympic-class meet. Nichols and Feldt looked to their most seasoned teammate and team captain, Cheryl Stearns, for advice on how to handle the rigors of competition. Stearns, a 21-time national champion, didn’t let her teammates down, consistently coming within two centimeters of the target. Now the Golden Knights are training for the U.S. Skydiving Championships in Lake Wells, Fla. Next month. (Editor’s note: Staff Sgt. Mellissa M. Novakovich is a writer for the U.S. Army Parachute Team.) quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,147 #2 September 17, 2003 Hmmm - what about the gold in freeflying? Doesn't that count?... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #3 September 18, 2003 I don't write 'em -- I just find 'em.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumperconway 0 #4 September 18, 2003 I may be a "Bad American" but I was dissappointed with "our teams". I expected Gold in 4-way and 8-way! My heart goes out to Airspeed for coming back and losing the cheesy tie breaker, but that's the rules. If the host country could at least afford getting a "real jump plane ie." an otter we would have kicked tail IMHO. Oh. and congrat's to Rook and Mike on the freefly gold! Conway Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #5 September 18, 2003 What about the years that they've used tailgates? CASA's and Skyvans are in the list of allowed planes also. I seem to remember the World meet a few years ago was out of tailgate planes. Once the exit and first point or two is over the skydive is the same. France was just faster on the points.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BikerBabe 0 #6 September 18, 2003 LOL, note the URL. The army could give a rat's ass about anyone but their people, and it's an army article for an army publication. Nice nod to Stacie and the AF, though. Now...if I could just figure out how to get the AF to sponsor a 4-way team....Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #7 September 18, 2003 Well seeing how the author is on the knights in the public relations section, it goes without saying that she is going to speak about them,It's her job. Of course it's in an Army publication, you don't read the Army times to find out whats happening in the AirForce do you?"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shark 0 #8 September 18, 2003 QuoteOf course it's in an Army publication, you don't read the Army times to find out whats happening in the AirForce do you? But you would if Navy beat Army... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrickyDicky 0 #9 September 18, 2003 AFAIK porters are very common in france (arnt they made there) and whats wrong with them? they're fast and have enough room for any of the events. UK Skydiver for all your UK skydiving needs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #10 September 18, 2003 Does the Navy even have a team?"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,147 #11 September 18, 2003 QuoteWell seeing how the author is on the knights in the public relations section, it goes without saying that she is going to speak about them,It's her job. Of course it's in an Army publication, you don't read the Army times to find out whats happening in the AirForce do you? It says: "The U.S. Parachute Team won a silver and three bronze medals at the 2003 World Skydiving Championships in Gap, France Sept. 13." It does NOT say "The US Army Parachute team..." I doubt the Knights themselves condone this, since they all know Rook and Mike S. pretty well. Just p*ss poor reporting, IMO.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #12 September 18, 2003 Just p*ss poor reporting, IMO. Quote Hey, you ever see this sig line before? Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition ***"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #13 September 18, 2003 QuoteAFAIK porters are very common in france (arn't they made there) and what's wrong with them? they're fast and have enough room for any of the events. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Yes, Pilatus Porters are popular jump planes in Europe. To be specific, most Porters were built at the Swiss factory where they were designed. A few more Porters were built at Farichild's American factory during the Viet Nam War. Most American-built Porters flew in Loas, Cambodia and Thailand while under contract to the CIA. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
