Photos by Debbie Allum |
Sebastian
XL
Sebastian XL are simply the best British
FS team we have had for a long time, in a different league to the
rest of the UK. Watching their videos straight away you have the
feeling of world class.
They look incredibly in tune with each other,
with the rhythm of the skydive, so quick and positive about their
moves, keys and flashes.
They are so precise, not a single bust
in the ten rounds of the Nationals, despite the fact they squeezed
in an extra 5.8 points per round more than the nearest team.
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On
round five, Sebastian XL set a new British record of 20 - which
was double the next highest score. This was not a 'one off' on as
Sebastian XL also scored a 20 in the first round of the World Cup
(good start guys!)
Skydiving has always been a sport where
the best aid the rest. But Sebastian gave out an unbelievable amount
of free coaching to other teams during the Nationals. They just
love the sport so much they can't help sharing it. They would stop
and press their faces up to caravan windows to watch tapes of a
junior team's skydive - and then be really excited if the team did
the move right.
The universal support for Sebastian
XL at the Nationals was absolutely incredible. When they stepped
onto the rostrum for the Nationals cup, the prolonged cheering practically
lifted the roof off the marquee. Competitors, judges and spectators
could all sense that here was a British team of amazing potential
who could actually lift the whole of competitive FS in the UK -
both by sharing knowledge and by providing inspiration. The standard
already achieved is streets ahead of other teams. Combined with
their individual talent and thorough training plans, there seems
no limit to how good they could become. Everyone could feel that
here was a British team we could be incredibly proud of. Chris Allen,
Chairman of Competitions Committee, said "Sebastian has more potential
to win medals for Britain at international level than any FS team
for the last decade".
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Individually, the team members have been working for years towards a
goal they all share - a full time 4-way team which has the potential,
the time and the training plan to excel - the ultimate dream being an
international medal. Each member of Sebastian XL has been 4-way British
Champion on more than one occasion but the teams did not stay together.
Now Sebastian has united four extraordinary skydivers, their individual
goals may be realised.
Their journey so far has not been without pain. Airtime, the last team
Pete and Chris were on together came to a tragic end in 1993 when a canopy
collision between team members killed Andy Woodmouse and severely injured
Kevin McCarthy. This year John broke his back and had to claw his way
back to fitness for the Nationals in just four months. Full time commitment
means that none of the team is able to have a normal job, they have none
of the security you would expect at their ages. They have all been through
financial hardship for the sake of the team. What keeps them going through
all of this is a belief in the team so strong it is a religion in its
own right. They are all happy in the knowledge they have found the like
minded team mates they were looking for and have paved the route to go
for their goals.
The guys had already committed to the team when they found sponsorship
through Andy Grimwade of Skydive Sebastian. He was so impressed with the
team he promised them 700 free skydives if they won the '96 Nationals.
This sponsorship is only just being realised, contrary to popular belief
the team were financially independent up to the Nationals. It is these
sponsored training jumps which add the final magic to the team. There
is no doubt they have the ability, their competition history shows they
have the motivation and with the right training they will be devastating.
The team described Andy's offer as 'awesome, a dream realised', it seems
that all the ingredients for success are in place.
History
The team started as Team 97 in 1995 with Craig Hill instead of Chris,
who joined them in February of this year. Team 97 achieved an average
of 13.5 after one year together, winning last year's Nationals hands down.
Sebastian XL's first training camp was in February '96 in Sebastian where
the team did 80 jumps, mainly self funded but with help from BLP (via
Ian Cohen).
The second camp was supposed to be hundred jumps but John had a hard
landing on a reserve (that was not a PD!) and broke his back. So they
did thirty-five 3-way jumps to brush up basic skills. Although he was
unfit to jump, John was at the camp and debriefed the jumps, acting as
a coach. John did everything possible to be fit for the meet including
visualising moves in preparation for their final camp at Hibaldstow, for
three weeks before the Nationals. Sebastian XL did 40 jumps at this third
camp, all self funded, doing mainly competition style dives followed with
drills to fix problem areas, plus speed drills. Prior to the meet the
team set an absolute dream goal of a 15 point average and were seriously
ecstatic to exceed it by one point.
Future training plans
In order to get more valuable competition experience, Sebastian XL entered
the World Cup in Belgium where they achieved a 15.3 average. Their entry
fee was part funded by the BPA in an unprecedented move. After the Cup
they flew to Florida for a week's training before entering the US Nationals
in New York. Next it will be time to start training during the winter
at Sebastian. In addition to the promised 700 skydives from Skydive Sebastian,
the team will do as many more as they can afford, being coached both from
within and outside of the sport.
They see the need for an increase in physical training in order to keep
the energy levels up. Skydive Sebastian is setting up a gym on the DZ
which, together with surfing at the inlet, should give the boys the fitness
they need for stamina and going faster. They will be based in Sebastian
and available for coaching when not training - so any teams or individuals
who are keen to learn, give them a call.
Even though the training jumps are paid for they need to enter other
meets, fund training outside of Sebastian, pay for coaching, travel expenses,
oh yes and eat! After the Easter season in Florida they will train in
Europe for a while as well as entering as many other Nationals as possible,
then train in Turkey for a few weeks prior to the World Meet in September
1997. The current plan is until the World Meet, allowing them to focus
fully on one goal.
Article by Lesley Gale
lesley@skydivemag.com
Thanks to: Andy Grimwade (Skydive Sebastian)
Ian Cohen (BLP)
Steve Houlker
Derek and Pat Thomas (Sunpath)
Rob Colpus (Symbiosis suits you sir!)
Steve Swallow
PD
BPA
George and his Time-Outs!
Sebastian XL Profiles:
Pete Allum
Age: 32
Number of jumps: 10,000
Time in sport: 17 years
Slot on team: Mr Green - 0utside centre
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Pete has been coaching FS since 1989 and has made it a career, teaching
teams from the UK, USA, Norway, Sweden and Italy. Most competition jumpers
in the UK will have been coached by Pete at some time or other, so will
be well aware of his talents. He has a firm belief in basic skills, but
examines all aspects of coaching and training, from technical to psychological
and physical preparation. His enthusiasm seems limitless and it is rare
that anyone on the DZ does more jumps than Pete - even on his day off! |
If you had to choose the most outstanding competition skydiver in Britain,
Pete's name would be the first on most lips. Following five years of successive
National wins with Mo, he threw his considerable energies into 4-way (Airtime)
winning another string of golds in 4-way. Airtime teamed up with Toy Company
to do 8-way (forming Toytime or Games Company) and won the event every
year without training! Pete is not just into competing, he sees the training
as being as enjoyable as the competition itself.
Favourite quote:
"It is not the critic who counts,
Not the one who points out how the strong man stumbles,
Or how the doer of deeds might have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is active in the arena,
whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood;
Who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again;
who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion
and spends himself in a worthy cause.
Who, if he wins, knows the triumph of great achievement
and who, if he fails, at least fails whilst daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid
souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
Teddy Roosevelt
Pete's Skydiving history:
1985 gold, 8-way, Blipverts
1986 gold, 8-way, Mo
1987 gold, 8-way, Mo
1988 gold, 8-way, Mo
1989 gold, 8-way, Mo Mo fourth in World Meet
1990 gold, 4-way, Airtime gold, 8-way, Toytime Airtime fourth in World
Cup
1991 gold, 4-way, Airtime gold, 8-way, Toytime Airtime sixth in World
Meet gold, 8-way, Toytime
1993 Airtime tied twelfth in World Meet
1994 silver, 4-way, Air Games gold, 8-way, Games Company (Ricoh Cameras)
1995 gold, 4-way, Team 97 gold, 8-way, Ricoh Cameras Ricoh Cameras seventh
in World Meet
1996 gold, 4-way, Sebastian XL silver, 8-way, Large! Sebastian XL eighth
in World Cup
Chris Lynch
Age: 33
Number of jumps: 4000+
Time in sport: 15 years
Slot on team: Mr Pink - point (front diver)
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Chris is a strong, energetic character who believes in living life to
the full and taking all the opportunities which are offered. When trying
to describe his sense of humour, the word 'barking' comes to mind. Chris
and Pete enjoyed years of success with Airtime, but the line up was changing
too often so, "we never really had a chance to excel in a big way. Although,
we did have some excellent moments like 18 points in round 10 at the 1991
World Championships (new British record) and at the 1993 World Championships
another 18 in round 9, a very tricky skydive that only the medal placed
teams scored higher than us". |
In 1994, he went travelling round the world
with his girlfriend Jenni. They had been away 13 months and received a
message in Nepal to say there was a slot on the team if he wanted it.
The rest is...the future.
Inspirations:
Watching a video of Symbiosis at the 1981 World Championships, at the
time I did not know a donut from a capewell but it just blew me away.
Dan Brodsky-Chenfield (wow! - someone who knows what BC stands for - Ed),
Jack Jefferies, Jonathon Livingstone Seagull by Richard Bach & In Pursuit
of Excellence by Terry Orlick but the most inspiring thing at the moment
is the line up of Sebastian XL and the support from everybody.
Favourite quote:
I am not good at remembering quotes but it would probably be something
about living life to the max, pursuing your dreams, being excellent to
each other & largeing it right up.
Chris' skydiving history:
1984 Represented UK at World Cup of CRW in Australia with Gan
Canny
1989 silver, 4-way Airtime
1990 gold, 4-way Airtime gold, 8-way, Air of Responsibility Airtime fourth
in World Cup
1991 gold, 4-way, Airtime gold, 8-way, Toytime Airtime sixth in World
Meet
1992 gold, 4-way, Airtime gold, 8-way, Toytime
1993 Airtime tied twelfth in World Meet
1994 gold, 8-way, Games Company
1996 gold, 4-way, Sebastian XL silver, 8-way, Large! Sebastian XL eighth
in World Cup
Toby Stafford
Age: 28
Slot on team: Mr Purple - inside centre
Number of jumps: 2600+
Time in sport: 10 years
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Toby started at sunny Ipswich as a gofer and decided his ultimate dream
was to work in skydiving full time for ever. When he did get a normal
job it was as an engineer. He has always been focused on sequential skydiving,
starting off with lots of 2 and 3-ways. He spent all his time doing turns,
side-slides, super positioning etc and hours (we mean hours!) watching
tapes of top teams to glean info, style and technique. Toby has always
absorbed information like a sponge. |
He has soared to the top in meteoric fashion since 1993 when he was offered
a slot on Toy Company, hence Toytime (which became Ricoh Cameras) winning
the 8-way gold in 1994. He started Team 97 with Pete, John & Craig late
that year. Also did the world's largest formation (216) and became a superb
BPA AFF instructor. In his words "Gosh '94 was a great year!" And '95?
"Lots of 4-way training. Won everything at the Nats and did the World
Meet, yippee. Decided to realise my dream of becoming a full time 4-way
skydiver, coach, instructor !! Went to the States, did USPA AFF & Skydive
U rating.(Gosh that was an even better year.) Team 97 became Team Sebastian
in Jan '96. Chris Lynch joined us so we had four full time team members
YIPPEE! "
Toby has an amazing capacity for enjoying life. Many people would say
that he is lucky but he says it is not luck, it is having the guts to
go for what you want. The route will not always be easy but if you stay
focused you will get there. He is always positive, one of his sayings
is "if life gives you lemons, make lemonade", ie you can always make some
good come out of everything. For example, he comments "The team's roller
coaster ride of injury, finance & personal strife has made us a much stronger
team."
Personal quote:
"I've been totally blown away by the support we've had from everybody,
it is such an amazing energising feeling. The team is exactly what my
dream was all those years ago when I started. I've discovered that the
only difference between a dream and reality is to believe that it can
and will happen, watch this space."
Toby's skydiving history:
1994 gold, 8-way, Games Company (Ricoh Cameras)
1995 gold, 8-way, Ricoh Cameras gold, 4-way Team 97 Ricoh Cameras seventh
in World Meet
1996 gold, 4-way, Sebastian XL silver, 8-way, Large! Sebastian XL eighth
in World Cup
John McIver
Age: 31
Slot on team: Mr Blue - tail
Number of jumps: 2,000+
Years in sport: 9
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John has the ability to always see the funny side and his distinctive
giggle can often be heard across the DZ. This light hearted exterior conceals
an inner determination to succeed, which has kept him jumping through
impossible times when mere mortals would have chucked in the towel. |
He
likes to help others - at the Scottish Nationals he was giving free coaching
to almost everyone, keeping six different skydives in his brain. He has
an incredibly understanding and gorgeous wife, Judi, who has escorted
him around the world with their two kids (Megan and Josie). John and Judi
create a happy home anywhere, they are always smiling.
Favourite people:
Judi, Anne, Pete, Toby and Chris for helping me recover from an injury
that could have put a stop to my dream of being part of a full-time 4-way
team.
Favourite quote:
"Yes, we'll sponsor you"
John's skydiving history:
1989 gold, intermediate 4-way, Area Nav
1990 bronze, 8-way, Akiro
1991 bronze, 8-way, Akiro
1992 silver, 8-way, Mind Games
1993 gold, 8-way Mind Games Mind Games ninth in World Meet
1994 gold, 8-way, Games Company (Ricoh Cameras) silver, 4-way, Air Games
1995 gold, 8-way, Ricoh Cameras gold, 4-way, Team 97 Ricoh Cameras seventh
in World Meet
1996 gold, 4-way, Sebastian XL silver, 8-way, Large! Sebastian XL eighth
in World Cup
Ian Brown
Age: 23
Number of jumps: 900
Time in sport: 3 years
Slot on team: Camera - Mr Brown!
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Ian is a keen and talented cameraflyer who is the most recent addition
to the team. He has chucked in his job to train and work full time at
Skydive Sebastian. Ian was with Short Straw for two years until the Nationals,
when Sebastian XL asked him to join them as they needed someone who could
give a full time commitment. |
He says he was a little apprehensive about
the move but thought "well you only get one shot at life, you have to
go for what you want". Ian jumped with Sebastian XL for the first time
at the World Cup (thrown in at the deep end!) and said the pressure was
unbelievable. But the boys said he did a good job and things can only
get better.
National medals:
1996 bronze, 4-way, Short Straw
Contact Sebastian XL on pete_allum@compuserve.com
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