ParaShoot

At the World Record event in Lake Wales November 2007 the American organisation announced that they would stop with the organisation of CF record attempts. After 8 years of organising their goal of a huge 100-way daimond had been accomplished. No more organising would mean no more future record attempts so the experience and skills would slip away. Because the FAI/IPC just added continental skydiving records the idea was opted to continue CF with continental events so there would still be a way to create a fish-pond for future growth. If we want to proceed and want to build a 121 way ( 11 x 11) in the future we must stay current and train new people. In the meantime DZ Teuge in The Netherlands had been granted the WPC CF 2008 (September 08 - 14). Many European participants would already be present so a European Record attempt was quickly scheduled for September 15 - 19, the week after the WPC. On the way to this event a few training camps were scheduled: Empuriabrava Spain: May Grannsee Germany: July Kolomna Russia: August Due to many reasons the first two events had to be cancelled. In Russia most CF participants have no LIghtning but after their Nationals they trained bigways with their own canopies (manily Triathlons). So here we are at Teuge with a relative small group of CF'ers. Some very experienced (100-way World Record holders) but most in-experienced. Not by the amount of jumps but many participants have no Lightning and big way experience. Despite that we started jumping with smaller groups so everybody could get familiar with their canopy, wingloading and position. Many participants don't have a Lightning themselves. The CF community is amazing close. Everybody with a spare Lightning brought it over and after many swaps, modifications and weight adjustments everybody has a correct size Lightning. We guess that about half of the participants is jumping a borrowed Lightning. I'm pretty confident that, weather permitting, this group will be able to fly at least a 25-way. If we will build this formation this will be a tremendous step forward which will open the way to new bigger formations. 2009 will be an OFF year for competitions and the next World Championships will be in 2010. The first 6 Nations of CF 2-way will go to Chinese Taipei for the World Games. In my opinion 2009 would be great for another big way event to build a real big CF formation as preparation for a future 100+ formation. The same event could serve as training camp for future participants. I'll try to find CF colleagues that are willing to organise and host training and selection camps in 2009. With the experience at Teuge of the previous CF meets, the World Meet and now this record event I'm sure we're ready to pick-up the challenge to work towards a 121 way. I'll start talking with canopy manufacturers and potential sponsors for about 140 canopies. Now the Storm is on the market many teams will switch from a Lightning to a Storm, meaning there will be a lot less Lithnings in the future. Therefore we've to look for an alternative. Either adding more Lightnings or switching to another canopy (both paid by a sponsor). Anyway, please check out the news page at the EuRec CF website http://eurec.cf2008teuge.nl

After the loss of our fellow competitor Rodrigo on Thursday afternoon, the competition began on Friday morning after 2 additional training rounds. It was a smooth competition. All rounds (2 + 9) finished in less than 2 days. Here are the results!!

Till today (August 24): Countries: 17 2-way teams: 21 4-way sequential: 4 4-way rotation: 9 training judges: 4 Australia Canada Chinese Taipei Finland France Germany Italy (training judge) Kazakhstan Republic of Belarus Romania Russia South Africa Sweden The Netherlands UK of GB & NI USA Egypt ** Know what you say but don't say all you know. **

Frederique vd Hilst Karrewij Roel Roeloffzen Naski Hristov Martin Bäcklin Christian Brinkman Rodrigo Ferreira Carlos Faustino Mike Vogeleer Thom Dellibac Friend Thom Delibac Erwin Baatenburg de Jong Michael Vaughan Grim Swinnen Erwin van Lommel Oliver Jünger Luc Knuts Jens Thögersen Göran Schwarz Pieter Wittevrongel Bundy Taylor Bo Wienberg Peter Kallehave Peter Lankreijer Marcus Jogi Alistair MaCartey Wez Smudge Nina Engel Sweden 5 ? Tobi Sherrinsky ? Pablo Hernandez ?

Registration so far: Frederique vd Hilst Karrewij Roel Roeloffzen Naski Hristov Martin Bäcklin Christian Brinkman Rodrigo Ferreira Carlos Faustino Mike Vogeleer Thom Dellibac Friend Thom Delibac Erwin Baatenburg de Jong Michael Vaughan Grim Swinnen Erwin van Lommel Oliver Jünger Luc Knuts Jens Thögersen Göran Schwarz Pieter Wittevrongel Bundy Taylor Bo Wienberg Peter Kallehave Sweden 4 ? Sweden 5 ? Tobi Sherrinsky ? Pablo Hernandez ? Alistair MaCartey ? UK 2 ? UK 3 ?

The list of registered competitors is growing. If you want to join the comp please send me an e-mail so we know if we need another plane. Good luck to you all in Klatovy coming weekend. Henny

The information at the WPC website http://wpc.cf2008teuge.nl is up to date. Unfortunately Czech Republic redraw their entrance and the amount of trainingjudges is reduced to a minimum.

I've announced this event (Ocotber 11 & 12) in the Calendar section but I can't post the flyer there so I'll add it here. A weekend long jumping with classic equipment. We'll make a journey through history from non-steerable rounds to the first generation square parachutes. Bring your own equipment (we've riggers on site for inspection and if it's temporarily airworthy) or come and jump special equipment form our collection.

Although there were no real training camps this season the event is scheduled as planned. 3 Grand Caravans and a 4th on standby. We expect many competitors to stay after the World Meet for some nice bigways. Please send me an e-mail if we can expect you to join us. General information about the DZ etc. can be found at the World Meet website http://wpc.cf2008teuge.nl but the EuRec website will be completed soon as well http://eurec.cf2008.teuge.nl Henny

Just an update. It looks like it'll be a busy event. The preliminary registration gives 13 countries and we also expect France and Russia with a complete delegation. A few new countries for CF. Till today (July 02): Countries: 13 2-way teams: 16 4-way sequential: 3 4-way rotation: 7 training judges: 4 This is excluding France and Russia. Hopefully they and the other countries will register soon. USA Romania Australia Chinese Taipei Canada Finland Sweden Republic of Belarus Czech Republic UK of GB & NI Germany Kazakhstan The Netherlands Looking forward to a great, smooth and sporty event. Simon & Henny http://wpc.cf2008teuge.nl

Hi Swooopers, Although the website is not up-to-date the competition this year will be like previous years (including cash purse). Seeing the pre-registered competitors it'll be a big event again. Just send me an e-mail and I'll put you on the list. Thursday 28: training at the beach Friday & Saturday: Competition Saturday evening: Big BBQ and Part with live ROCK band Another great training opportunity for the World Meet in South Africa.

Dear CF enthusiast, As many of you might have heard we’ve formed a small team to continue working on CF development now the World Record team has stopped. Our long term goal is to create a CF environment with experience and power to grow beyond the present record. The first step is to organize a European Record Event in 2008. The organization team is based on a board (for now Christophe Balisky and Henny Wiggers) supported by National Team Captains, similar to the FS World Team organization. For every country one contact person will be appointed (soon) who will be responsible for national communication and support besides being adviser for the committee. Our intention for 2008 is to organize 3 training/selection camps to build enough capable people to build at least a 49 way. Although some of the following dates are unfortunately still not confirmed 100% we feel we’ve to announce our plan so you can start planning. 1) Training / selection camp (probably) at Empuriabrava Spain: May 24 to June 01 2) Training / Selection camp at Gransee Germany: June or July 3) Training / selection camp at Kolomna Russia: August 04 – 10 4) European Record Event at Teuge The Netherlands: September 15 – 19 (confirmed) The European Record Event will be the week after the World Parachuting Championships (WPC) of CF at the same DZ (Teuge The Netherlands). Many countries already showed their interest to stay another week after the WPC. The DZ will have 3 to 4 Cessna Grand Caravan’s available that week. Please send us your intention of participation so we can start planning as well (mailto: Henny@Parashoot.nl). As soon as above events are confirmed you’ll be the first to know. Smooth Docks, Christophe Balisky (France) Henny Wiggers (The Netherlands) Besides the above events there are some more CF competitions in Europe: • 20/21.6.2008 Coupe de France 1 in Le Blanc, France CF 2 and CF 4 • 19/20.7.2008 Coupe de France 2 in Orleans, France CF 2 and CF 4 • 15-17.8.2008 French nationals CF in Besancon, France CF 2 und CF 4 For more information please look at http://crweuropa.skyservices.net

Hi Gustavo, There are way to many interesting events this year. I've put this one in my agenda as well but sometimes I've to work too :). We've started training for the competition in April so if we can make it to the EmpuriaFlock we'll be more than current. Two weeks later I've to be back at the Costa for the CF week. I keep travelling around. C ya, Henny

As mentioned in my first posting: "Norway is this year not thinking about a swoop competition but mountain flying instead." The mountain flying will be during the Extremeweek. Henny ** Know what you say but don't say all you know. **

Here's the bid we made. This will already answer many questions. Additional information will follow in bulletin 1 and at the website (url to be announced soon). Henny http://www.parashoot.nl/htm/WPC CF 2008 bid Netherlands 5 rounds.pdf ** Know what you say but don't say all you know. **

Update: Lillo Spain: May 1 – 4 (Open Spanish Nationals) Zwartberg Belgium: Swoop coaching Bruno/Brian June 13 - 15 Fehrbellin Germany: June 27 – 29 (GSO German Swooping Open) Bad Lippspringe Germany: July 10 – 13 (Open UK Nationals) Kolomna Russia: July EST?? Italy: EST?? Zwartberg Belgium: July 25 – 27 (probably EST) Klatovy Czech Republic: August 15 – 17 (Open Austrian Nationals) Bussloo The Netherlands: August 28 – 30 EST Zwartberg Belgium: October 04 + 05 (DST) Bold events are confirmed

I guess Luc (Zwartberg) can better answer this but yes there's no competition scheduled that week. Henny

Hi Vaughny, Unfortunately I can't make it down under this time. Way to many events I want to attend or where I've to work on. IPC Meeting, PIA Symposium, Wingsuit competition + bigways, European Swooping events, European CF record + camps, WPC CF, etc., etc. Nice to do but it takes a lot of time. I hope you can make it (again) to come over to our competitions in Europe, including the WPC CF (at Teuge if we get the bid). ** Know what you say but don't say all you know. **

I've gathered all swoop events I'm aware of for 2008. The bold events are confirmed. Norway is this year not thinking about a swoop competition but mountain flying instead. Lillo Spain: May 1 – 4 (probably EST) Zwartberg Belgium: Swoop coaching Bruno/Brian June 13 - 15 Fehrbellin Germany: June 27 – 29 (GSO) Bad Lippspringe Germany: July 14 – 16 ?? (UK Nationals and EST?) Kolomna Russia: July EST?? Italy: EST?? Zwartberg Belgium: July 25 – 27 (probably EST) Klatovy Czech Republic: August 15 – 17 (Austrian Nationals and EST?) Bussloo The Netherlands: August 28 – 30 EST Zwartberg Belgium: October 04 + 05 (DST) ** Know what you say but don't say all you know. **

Unfortunately I can't make it the 6th because we give priority to the Eurocup Paraski in Gossau Austria (Jan 11 - 13) and we still need soming training. I've already been dreaming about flights for the IAWC and we've still some time to create a team. As you can imagine I prefer to fly camera though. I'll see what I can do. It'll be a busy year 2008. Cool flights, Henny

You make me jealous! I couldn't resist and ordered a Blade anyway. Although I have some range with my S3 I need to have more for taking nice shots (stills & HDV video). I'll be back! Henny

I'm sorry I had to leave. We made some very nice flights. Many learned a lot on the way, especially our Swedish friends (Martin & Thomas). I'm pretty sure the flock will grow the coming days, hopefully to a full Beech or Otter load but unfortunately without me. I don't think I can come back the 6th but you never know. Guys and girl thanks for the smooth flights and Gustavo thanks for the cool shots. Henny

Hi Gustavo, Good to hear the D300 is Ok for freefall. I was still a little worried about the sensor cleaning sytem but it appears not to be a problem. I just sold my D200 today and will get the D300 ASAP. I'll come to the Costa for a few days coming Friday so c ya in a few days. Henny ** Know what you say but don't say all you know. **

Cool! I'll try to get some more Dutchies to come down to Lillo with me. This time I'll bring my rig myself :). C ya, Henny

Hi Gustavo, This means Bruno can use my A1E after all? If so, can you ask him if I've to bring it for him? ThanX, Henny