Category Archives: Blue Skies Magazine

XF Dive Pool and Rules Updated

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On January 4th, 2015 AXIS Flight School created an experimental dive pool for what was then referred to as XRW (Extreme Relative Work). This is a still developing discipline where canopy and wing-suit pilots build formations. In essence, an XRW skydive is a dissimilar formation flight.

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Photo courtesy of Dan Dupuis.

The first dive pool developed by AXIS was called XF. The name change from XRW was proposed similar to how RW (Relative Work) was changed to FS (Formation Skydiving); and since CF (Canopy Formation) is already taken, the XF abbreviation was introduced for “Cross” Formation. The first draft only had 3 Randoms and 6 blocks.

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Dive pool images from 2015

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Since wing-suit technology has dramatically increased flight performance over the past few years, new formations have become possible. The updated 2020 version now features 8 randoms and 10 blocks dispersed over three classes: intermediate, advanced, and open. In addition, the XF rules have been updated to evolve with the times and practitioners can even make use of the AXIS DrawGenerator. There are now two orientations for the wing suit pilot to fly in:

  • Normal (belly to earth) – indicated in gray, and
  • Inverted (back to earth) – indicated in red.

Back in the day 🙂

AXIS coach Niklas Daniel started experimenting with XF back in April 2010, and has posted videos and written articles about the subject.

2010 – Nik’s first few attempts at Skydive Elsinore.

2011 – Training Camp at Skydive Arizona

2011 – MOAB Boogie.

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Photo by Taya Weiss.

2014 – Getting a bit braver. Post by Blue Skies Magazine.

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2015 – XF gets some exposure on Discovery Canada with first 3-way Night Formation.

Continued fun, experimentation, and introducing the discipline to others.

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Wing-suit pilot and photo by Alex Swindle.

Blue Skies Magazine #94 Featured Photo

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I would like to thank Kolla, Lara & Pierre from  Blue Skies Magazine for making one of my recent images their featured photo!

 

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BTW, if you don’t have a subscription to Blue Skies Magazine, what are you waiting for?  Click here to subscribe!

Choppin’ with style

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Another cutaway photo by Mark Kirschenbaum; this time as the featured photo in Blue Skies Magazine! i82: Oct 2016

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Using a tertiary system, Niklas Daniel performs an intentional cutaway over Skydive Arizona. Photo by Trunk / Hypoxic

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VectorCamps: Premier Skills Camps in the U.S.

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Sign up here!

Building on the success of the famous Vector Festival event in Europe, UPT has spearheaded a group of manufacturers, coming together to deliver a skills camp experience like no other. The goal is to work with top coaches and provide camp participants with a safe and personalized way to further their skills. Number of slots available per each day is limited.  Coaches and organizers will come from teams like Fly4Life, SDC Core and AXIS Flight School, and focus on working with a small group of flyers. Participants will be entered into a raffle to win a custom Vector container at the end of the series, along with many smaller prizes during each camp.

The manufacturers and vendors behind the Vector Camps are Performance Designs, Vigil, Vertical Suits, Cookie Helmets, Squirrel, Airborne America.

In conjunction with each VectorCamp, we at Blue Skies Mag will deliver tips, tricks and interview from select coaches on a variety of topics – especially for those of you that can’t make it to the camps in person!

The first VectorCamp is to be held at Chicagoland Skydiving Center (CSC) August 11-14, 2016, featuring a variety of events and disciplines:

⚬ 10 Way FS Challenge (AXIS Flight School vs. the Grillet family)
⚬ Intro to Canopy Flocking (Greg Rau)
⚬ Angle Leadership Group (Andy Locke)
⚬ Mixed FreeFly Sequentials (Naomi Kotzee)
⚬ Multi Dimensional Wingsuit Flight (Lawrence de Laubadere)
⚬ HeadUp Formations and Big Way Skills (Gareth Bloodworth)
⚬ Intro to FS and Group Belly Flying Skills
⚬ Intro to FreeFly
⚬ Intro to Angle Flying

For more information on the CSC event, please visit this post on the VectorCamps page.
To keep up to date with future camps, check out the VectorCamps Facebook page.

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Originally posted by Blue Skies Magazine May 12, 2016

Camera-flying Essentials

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Camera-Flying-Essentials-Equipment.jpgI would like to thank Blue Skies Magazine for including some articles I wrote about camera flying in their “Get Current” column. This is the magazine’s annual spring refresher series, with the idea of addressing safety concerns so jumpers can come back from winter hibernation safely. I have created links to the three part series below which covers a variety of topics on camera flying such as: basic safety requirements, preparation and physical conditioning, training and skills, attitude and risk, procedures, deployment, future planning, and much more. If you like what you see and would like to support this awesome magazine, don’t forget to subscribe.

BS_LOGO_SQUARE“Are you just getting back into the sport and looking forward to filming the super cool idea you had over the winter? Is this the season where you are finally going to jump a camera for the first time? In either case, I hope to be able to share some insight on this fun activity to get your season started off right—and so that you can avoid having to wear the cone of shame…”

Part 1: The Camera Flyer

Part 2: Procedures

Part 3: Equipment 

Jumping With Jesse

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“On a vehicle patrol in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, on December 27th, 2007, SPC Jesse Murphree was ambushed in an IED attack.
Jesse was part of the 173rd Airborne Combat Brigade stationed out of Vicenza, Italy. The IED attack resulted in the total destruction of the military vehicle he was traveling in. Jesse suffered severe injuries to his legs and other parts of his body. After many surgeries and procedures, both of legs had to be amputated above the knee. Jesse’s recovery has come a long way and every day is a step further.

JWJ Flier

Jesse’s friends and supporters have come together allow Jesse to experience the freedom of the sky. Due to Jesse’s injuries, he will require special training and equipment.  AXIS Flight School and Operation Enduring Warrior have offered to help with some of the costs for Jesse. Due to Jesse’s injuries ,he needs special training and equipment only available via AXIS Flight School, located at Skydive Arizona in Eloy, Arizona.

Jesse’s support team is seeking  sponsorship and/or donations to allowing Jesse to travel from Florida to Arizona, become a licensed skydiver, as well as contributing to the culminating celebratory event July 12th and 13th at Skydive Tuskegee, in Tuskegee, Alabama.  Any funds raised in excess will be donated to Operation Enduring Warrior, for the next American Hero to benefit from.

For more information or to donate, please visit the Jumping with Jesse Fundly website or follow their progress via Facebook.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or support Jesse, please download Sponsorship Letter Jumping with Jesse for more information or donate directly via Fundly.”

– Original Post by Blue Skies Magazine