I would like to thank 90Percent (Italian Skydiving Magazine) for utilizing one of my Arizona Airspeed photographs for the January 2013 cover spot. The photo depicts the U.S. Arizona Airspeed 4-way formation skydiving team’s videographer, Bill Schmitz, filming Thomas Hughes, Josh Hall, Niklas Hemlin and Mark Kirkby as they fly their way to become the 2012 USPA National Skydiving Champions.
Please click here to view the PDF version of the Magazine.
I would like to thank USPA‘s Parachutist for utilizing one of my USPA Nationals photographs for the January 2013 cover spot. The photo depicts the U.S. Army Golden Knights 4-way formation skydiving team’s videographer, Scott Janise, filming Laura Dickmeyer, Angela Nichols, Jen Schaben and Dannielle Woosley as they exit a Twin Otter on their way to become the first all-female team to medal in the open class at the USPA National Skydiving Championships.
“The USPA Constitution binds USPA “to sanction skydiving competitions, to document officially all state, national and world skydiving records set by citizens of the U.S., and to select and train the United States Parachute Team for world competition.” The Skydiver’s Competition Manual prescribes procedures by which national competitions are selected and conducted, how judges are rated, how records are set, and how teams are selected. Annually, USPA conducts the National Skydiving Championships to recognize national champions in seven skydiving competition disciplines: Canopy Formation, Canopy Piloting, Formation Skydiving, Freefall Style, Accuracy Landing, Artistic Events (Freestyle Skydiving and Freeflying) and Vertical Formation Skydiving. In addition, USPA hosts the National Collegiate Parachuting Championships annually for the collegiate skydiving community. Official U.S. Teams are chosen from the results of the National Championships (excluding Collegiates) from the top competitors in each Open class to represent the United States at international skydiving meets.” – uspanationals.com
Event Photographers – Ori Kuper, Niklas Daniel, and Greg Gasson
Here are some of my selects from the 11 day event.
Videos
Here is some of the video footage we collected during the VFS event:
To view more, please visit the USPA YouTube Channel.
Outside News Coverage
Associated Press – RAW: National Skydiving Championships in Ariz.
Phoenix’s CBS 5 Start Smart Morning News
Galleries and other Photo Pages
Results
For more information on scores, please visit the Omniskore website!
Here is some basic information regarding the upcoming 2012 USPA National Skydiving Championships hosted by Skydive Arizona.
Individual Event Registration Forms
FS (4-Way, 8-Way, 10-Way, 16-Way & VFS) / Artistic Events (Freestyle, Freefly) / Style & Accuracy / Canopy Formation (4-Way Rotation, 4-Way Sequential, 2-Way) / VFS
Team Event Registration Forms
4-Way FS / 8-Way FS / 10-Way FS / 16-Way FS / VFS / Freefly / Freestyle / Accuracy Landing / 2-Way Sequential CF / 4-Way Sequential CF / Rotation CF
Rules can be found at www.uspa.org. On the home page, go to “USPA Members.” There you can click on “Downloads” and look for the Skydiver’s Competition Manual. (SCM) If this is your first time at the Nationals read Section 1 carefully, as well as reading the section specific to the events you are interested in.
Cost
Every competitor or alternate pays a general registration fee of $50 for facilities, banquets, shirt, etc. Videographers are considered competitors. After that, cost is entry fee per event, plus jumps. Entry fees are based on the estimated number of participants sharing costs for their event. Jump costs are based on a fuel cost of less than $3.00 per gallon. In the event that fuel rises above that, jumps will be raised in proportion. Each one dollar in extra fuel cost adds about $1.50 to the jump price. Rule changes affecting number of rounds, judges, etc. may also affect costs.
2,500 4,000 feet: $22
4,001 9,000 feet: $23
9,001-13,000 feet: $24
Formation Skydiving / Vertical Formation Skydiving:
$100 plus jumps per competitor for the first event. $50 plus jumps for each additional event.
Canopy Formation:
$150 plus jumps for the first event, $50 plus jumps for each additional event.
Artistic Events:
Freefly: $75 plus jumps
Freestyle: $125 plus jumps
Both events: $150 plus jumps
S&A: $200 for one or both events, plus jumps.
If the number of inquires USPA Headquarters has been receiving on a weekly basis is any indication, this year’s National Skydiving Championships at Skydive Arizona is going to be the biggest ever. Here’s some basic information for those interested in competing:
Registration: All competitors, including alternates and videographers, pay a general registration fee of $50. In addition, there is an event entry fee, plus the cost of jumps. Event entry fees are calculated based on the estimated number of participants sharing fixed costs; therefore, more entrants in your event results in lower cost per competitor. Event fees are as follows:
Jump prices are based on fuel prices; if the price of fuel goes up $1 per gallon, jump rates go up $1.50. If current fuel prices remain stable through October, then the price per jump is as follows:
Here’s a sample calculation: You enter both FS 4-way and 8-way. You’ll pay the $50 general registration fee plus $150 for two FS events, plus $480 for jumps ($24/jump for 10 rounds for two events). Total cost is $680.
Registration is open from the beginning of the official start of Nationals until 5 p.m. the day before your event starts. At approximately 6 p.m. the evening before your event, meet management will announce the draw and hand out individual/ team numbers and assign jump order (you’ll get a copy of the draw).
Skydive Arizona has created a 2012 Nationals Event Page with basic meet information and FAQs. Look for a dedicated Facebook page sometime in September. You can go to Skydive Arizona’swebsite now to check out the DZ’s amenities, aircraft, lodging, food, rigging, transportation options and a motel/lodging list.
Here’s the schedule for Nationals:
Write competition@uspa.org with any questions; see you there!
Skydiver’s Competition Manual Gets a Makeover!
USPA’s Competition and Communications staffs have been hard at work on a major, long-overdue overhaul of the Skydiver’s Competition Manual—not only implementing the many changes that went into effect at 2011 and 2012 USPA Board of Directors meetings, but also completely reworking the manual into a format similar to the one used by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale and the International Parachuting Commission. As new chapters (formerly sections) of the SCM are completed, they’ll be posted on the website for free downloading. The complete SCM will be available in early July.
Source: News Update from the United States Parachute Association (Web Newsletter)
AXIS Flight School 