We have some welcome visitors this year in the form of the Irish National Skydiving team. Many of them are well known amongst the British community for a long time and this year, they have decided to train in preparation for the World Skydiving Championships next month. So here's their story:
1. It seems that this year, the H40 team has treated things really seriously? What training plan did you set at the beginning of the season?
We worked hard in the tunnel at Bodyflight Bedford over the winter with our coach Steve Hamilton and did about 10 hours and competed at the world challenge at the beginning of April.
We were very happy with our work indoors and from then on, we concentrated on working out the door only. We did a 50 jump camp in Skydive Algarve in May, followed by a 41 jump camp there in June. Our next camp was in Empuriabrava in August in which we did 66 jumps. We went to Empuria again to get some Twin Otter experience before the world meet. In between, we have tried to do as much back home in Ireland as the weather allows!
2. What is the process like in Ireland for selection to become the national team?
The process is the same as many countries around the world. Win your national championships or be nominated by the governing body - in our case, the Parachute Association of Ireland.
3. Did you manage to get all the jumps in considering the poor weather?
We have been very lucky with our training camps and have got most of our jumps in, bar a few days which finished early due to winds. At home in Ireland, the weather has not been great, so in
between the main camps abroad, we have not managed much at home.
4. How did you go about getting sponsorship?
We contacted as many companies as we could and went with those who came back with the best deal for us basically. We have been very lucky and have been supported very well by Aerodyne, Vigil, Tony Suits and Kiss helmets. They have all given us great service with top of the market products. We are very happy and could not be more happy to help promote them.
The Parachute Association of Ireland have supported us as well giving the best they can also, with the limited amount of finances that a small association like Ireland has. Our home drop zone, The Irish Parachute Club have supported us also with team rate jumps and getting us on as many lifts as they can which is not easy to do in Irish weather.
Our friends and family's have also been very generous in supporting us in raffles, table quizzes, etc. We also put up a go-fund me page which has been very helpful and we thank everybody who has helped us over the year with their great support. Quite a lot of teams have done the internet self-funding model this year.
5. Why have you decided to compete at the UK Nationals?
It's held 3 weeks before the world meet and seemed like heading over to the top 4-way national meet in the world was the perfect warm up.
6. Do you feel ready for the World Champs in Chicago?
Yep, I think we are in a good place. Of course like all teams, you wish you could have got more in during the year, but we have worked as hard as we can and have no worries on what may come up, and the team is flying very well. We have progressed so much from the start of the year under the watchful eye of our coach Steve Hamilton.
Bring it on!
1. It seems that this year, the H40 team has treated things really seriously? What training plan did you set at the beginning of the season?
We worked hard in the tunnel at Bodyflight Bedford over the winter with our coach Steve Hamilton and did about 10 hours and competed at the world challenge at the beginning of April.
We were very happy with our work indoors and from then on, we concentrated on working out the door only. We did a 50 jump camp in Skydive Algarve in May, followed by a 41 jump camp there in June. Our next camp was in Empuriabrava in August in which we did 66 jumps. We went to Empuria again to get some Twin Otter experience before the world meet. In between, we have tried to do as much back home in Ireland as the weather allows!
2. What is the process like in Ireland for selection to become the national team?
The process is the same as many countries around the world. Win your national championships or be nominated by the governing body - in our case, the Parachute Association of Ireland.
3. Did you manage to get all the jumps in considering the poor weather?
We have been very lucky with our training camps and have got most of our jumps in, bar a few days which finished early due to winds. At home in Ireland, the weather has not been great, so in
between the main camps abroad, we have not managed much at home.
4. How did you go about getting sponsorship?
We contacted as many companies as we could and went with those who came back with the best deal for us basically. We have been very lucky and have been supported very well by Aerodyne, Vigil, Tony Suits and Kiss helmets. They have all given us great service with top of the market products. We are very happy and could not be more happy to help promote them.
The Parachute Association of Ireland have supported us as well giving the best they can also, with the limited amount of finances that a small association like Ireland has. Our home drop zone, The Irish Parachute Club have supported us also with team rate jumps and getting us on as many lifts as they can which is not easy to do in Irish weather.
Our friends and family's have also been very generous in supporting us in raffles, table quizzes, etc. We also put up a go-fund me page which has been very helpful and we thank everybody who has helped us over the year with their great support. Quite a lot of teams have done the internet self-funding model this year.
5. Why have you decided to compete at the UK Nationals?
It's held 3 weeks before the world meet and seemed like heading over to the top 4-way national meet in the world was the perfect warm up.
6. Do you feel ready for the World Champs in Chicago?
Yep, I think we are in a good place. Of course like all teams, you wish you could have got more in during the year, but we have worked as hard as we can and have no worries on what may come up, and the team is flying very well. We have progressed so much from the start of the year under the watchful eye of our coach Steve Hamilton.
Bring it on!
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