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How much investment in terms of time and money has it taken to get
there?
For three years, the team put aside every other consideration in order
to try and win the Nationals. We spent nearly every weekend and nearly
all our leave training as well as the annual training camp at £2,500 per
time in order to try and win a place at the World Meet.
How much have you been financially assisted?
The RAFSPA club gave us half price jumps for the 3 years after we won
the bronze and this certainly helped us to do the number of weekend jumps
we wanted. This also had a benefit to the club by getting the rest of
the RAFSPA membership motivated as we were always on the DZ early to get
on the first lift and this prompted the others to be there also. So the
cost of our sponsorship was probably offset by generating more business
for the aircraft.
Having won the Nationals we also had a level of funding from the Sports
Council, via the BPA, which paid for our entry to the World Meet as well
as most of the expenses of two training camps. At the last minute our
team manager, Wayne Loxton, arranged a sponsorship deal with Red Bull,
the energy drink makers. This consisted of new kit, suits and headgear
but unfortunately no hard cash.
How did the team choose which equipment to use for the World Meet?
We were offered jumpsuits by both a UK source as well as an American one
at the same price deal and, because of what we believed to be a very small
advantage, we chose Tony Suits.
Headgear was a much easier choice. The team had decided to go for full
face helmets and one of us had bought one from a UK manufacturer earlier,
so we had some direct experience. This particular helmet had once almost
parted company with him in freefall and the lens fell out after only a
few jumps, as well as a crack appearing in it after being dropped lightly
on the floor. Although the manufacturer explained these were teething
problems which had now been rectified, it still wasn't a good first impression!
We weren't very happy with these helmets and the deal offered to the team
was 10% off list price. Troy Widgery of Sky Systems Ltd (USA) offered
us his Factory Divers on demo, to be followed by a 100% discount if we
liked them. We found them to be absolutely excellent, so no contest.
Container systems were also offered by both UK and American sources, with
the same level of sponsorship. I had jumped a British system for many
years and been very happy with it, but I and two other members of the
team bought new Javelins from Sun Path last year and found these to be
'state of the art' rigs and everything we wanted from a container system.
Derro Thomas was also prepared to source a Cypres each at cost price as
part of his sponsorship deal and so the decision was made to use Javelins
again for the World Meet. With canopies we agreed there was only one choice
and ordered Stilettos and PD 126's.
How do you feel about suggestions that you should have 'bought British?'
As National Champions most manufacturers are keen to get you to use their
gear for the World Meet for good PR and to help encourage sales to other
skydivers so we had a wide choice offered to US. We went for what we believed
to be the best for our needs which might not be representing British gear
very well but we felt it gave us the chance to achieve to the best of
our ability.
The team has been criticised for not competing in the 1995 Nationals,
how do you react to that?
Having won in '94, it was in the rules that we should go to the Nationals
in '95. The problem for us, in common with most teams was lack of time
and money. As all of the team have full time jobs and some of us families
too, we were limited to the amount of both available.
The truth of the matter is that we had a nightmare at our Easter training
camp leading up to the World Meet because of the change of aircraft to
be used for the 4-way. That was the reason behind our request to not have
to spend a week of precious holiday time at the Nationals to do just 10
jumps. We needed more training. It was commented in the Mag that we should
attend because you can never have enough competition experience. True,
but then again you can't have enough experience at exits, subterminal
flying, randoms, piece flying and verticals either. It's more about establishing
the team's priorities at any given time. I dare say some teams would find
suddenly changing to a different aircraft with an opposite door a piece
of cake, but ask any teams who have had to do it in competition and guarantee
the first point smoothly through the door and you may get a different
story.
That's why we went to Competitions Committee and asked them to change
the rules and enable us to have another week's training instead of doing
the Nationals. Part of the agreement reached with Competitions Committee
was that, although we wouldn't compete, we would be represented at both
National and Regional competitions to give any help we could to the lesser
experienced teams.
Because the Competitions Committee were sympathetic we were able to have
another seven days' training which enabled us to get the exit sorted out
and led to a 100% success rate at the World Meet. Surely that is what
off-year selection is about, getting the National Champions to be able
to represent the country to the best of their ability?
Your team had problems at the World Meet getting a judgeable video
of the exit to first point. Would more competition experience have helped
this situation?
Experience in competitions was not the problem, it was aircraft familiarity.
Many of the top teams had videographers with much more experience than
ours and they had problems too. Although air-to-air has much improved
the judging of FS, these sort of problems show that it's not perfect.
Were you pleased with your average at the World Meet of 13.1, compared
to your Nationals average in '94 of 13.2?
Of course not. After a meet, ask any competitor if they could have done
better and most of them will say yes. The idea, of course, is to peak
at the meet but sometimes things just don't go that way. We went into
1995 with the ambition to be a 14.5 average team but the Easter training
camp put paid to that as all our efforts went into trying to launch the
first point. We were unlucky to bust twice at the World Meet but having
said that we could have done better. Skydiving's so hard isn't it?
What support have you received from other people/organisations and
has that made your task any easier?
The club members of RAFSPA have been incredible throughout the last three
years, raising funds by donating prizes for raffles (thanks to Debbie
Knox for her strong arm tactics selling the tickets) and showing total
support for us, especially when we jumped the manifest. Also thanks must
go to Wayne, who's been a great Team Manager (where does he get all that
enthusiasm from?), not forgetting it was him who set up the RAFSPA sponsorship
deal in the first place. I would like to thank the 8-way team and the
rest of the British supporters at Gap for their terrific support which
really helped to ease the tension prior to the jumps. A special thanks
must go to Pete Allum who volunteered himself as part of out team when
the going got tough and very cool-headedly stepped in. He has just got
to be Britain's 'Mr Skydive'.
What, if anything winds you up?
People who criticised us, via the Mag, without having the foggiest idea
of the commitment we made to get to the top.
What of RAFSPA now - is it true you have officially split up?
Yes, it's a right shame but we have, and just when things were getting
really good. Has there ever been a team that doesn't eventually fall foul
of the inner team personality struggle though?
How do you see the future, what would you like to achieve now?
I'm 42 years old now so I really can't envisage myself competing any more.
Besides, quit while you're ahead and all that! With things like freeflying
coming along though there is always something new to learn so I'm not
about to give up yet.
Any other comments or advice for our readers?
Stay alive. When you skydive have the same respect for your environment
that you had on your first jump. Don't let that coolness you now exhibit
cloud your judgement. The ground is just as hard no matter how many jumps
you've got.
Steve Scott was talking to Lesley Gale
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Feb 96 Contents
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