British Parachute Association

Happy New Year from the BPA!

30 December 2013

The BPA Council and staff wish all members and their families a Happy New Year. 

BPA AGM Day - Saturday 25 January 2014 at EMCC Nottingham NG7 2RJ

19 December 2013

The AGM starts at 1030 - but coffee, tea and bacon rolls go on sale before the exhibition opens at 0930. The AGM is followed by the presentation ceremony. Seminars and meetings are held during the afternoon - you'll be spoiled for choice! In the evening, the BPA Annual Dinner - tickets available from the BPA Office (0900-1700 Mon-Fri) at £25 a head, by advance booking only - is followed by the Queen Tribute Band 'Rhapsody' and a fancy dress competition - theme: 'Robin Hood & his Merry Band'. With a DJ too and fantastic prices on a selected range of drinks all day, don't miss it! More on the AGM page.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the BPA

19 December 2013

The BPA Office is closed for the holidays and re-opens at 0900 on Thursday 2 January 2014.  BPA Council and staff send all members and their families best wishes for the festive season. 

BPA Stars are shining!

12 December 2013

Congratulations to our winners of BPA Stars 2013, the BPA's award for customer care above and beyond the call of duty. BPA Stars go out of their way to help members really find their feet and progress in our wonderful sport. They are: Stacey Canning, Netheravon; Stu Ferguson, Hibaldstow; Ally Milne, Langar; and Peter Stone, Dunkeswell. Well done to all, and thank you too to their nominators. Nominations for BPA Stars 2014 will be open from late February.

Weed Stoodley is BPA Taz Causer Experienced Skydiver of 2013

10 December 2013

Congratulations to Weed Stoodley, winner of the BPA Taz Causer Award for Experienced Skydiver of the Year 2013. The award is one of those to be presented on the morning of the BPA AGM Day on Saturday 25 January 2014 at the East Midlands Conference Centre, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RJ. The AGM starts at 1030 followed by the presentation ceremony about an hour later.

Weed was inspired by the Head-down World Record whilst visiting Skydive Chicago in 2012 and set her sights on getting involved in big ways. In the past year, she has worked hard starting off participating in small groups, through to larger ones in big-way camps and multi-plane formations. After 200 jumps and time in wind tunnels, she has achieved much during her progression.

Weed’s achievements over the year: 

• Florida State Record 10-way Head-down - 12 December 2012
• British Female 10-way Head-down Record - UK Parachuting, Sibson, 6 May 2013
• Bronze Medallist at 2013 British VFS Nationals with team ‘Mind Your Manners’ - Skydive Hibaldstow, 24-26 August 2013
• British 30-way Head down record - Skydive Hibaldstow, 8 September 2013
• Euro 96-way Head down record, Skydive Empuriabrava, 21 September 2013
• 63-way Women's Vertical World Record, Skydive Arizona, 30 November 2013.

For the 96-way Euro record, Weed was initially on the bench but was elevated from there to take part in the 108-way attempt. Whilst that wasn’t successful, Weed did her job and was part of the team that achieved the final record.

Anyone who knows Weed will attest to her enthusiasm for the sport. Whilst managing her business and being involved in her son’s professional racing career, she still manages to find time to skydive, judge, and be VFS Discipline Rep on the Competitions Committee.

Election of BPA Council 2014

2 December 2013

The election of BPA Council 2014 is now in progress. Full (voting) members will receive a ballot pack by post from Electoral Reform Services (ERS) and may vote by either by post using the prepaid return envelope, or online at www.votebyinternet.com/bpa2014 Please vote online if you can - it saves the BPA paying return postage. To vote online, voting members will need their two-part security code which is printed on the ballot paper in their ballot pack from ERS. Candidates' statements. Voting closes at noon on Monday 20 January 2014 and the results will be published here on the BPA website the following day.