posted Mar 16th, 2012 - The regional media once again showed some interest in the Paraclete XP Outdoor Championship 2012 and announced the event before the meet weekend.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal published the article on Friday, the first day of the 4way competition. The Bike Week was happening at the same time this year, while the St. Patricks Day celebrations have been a usual part of the annual Shamrock Showdown events of the past. However, there was enough public interest, and there were also quite a few motorcycles parked at Skydive DeLand. The article was also posted on-line. NMP-PCH Hayabusa videographer Danny Jacobs got the photo credit.

Sky-diving competition to fill air over DeLand this weekend

Fresh from the press by staff writer Valerie Whitney

DELAND -- More than 200 sky divers from 14 countries are expected here this weekend for the Paraclete XP Outdoor Championship International Skydiving Competition.

The event will be over the skies at the DeLand Municipal Airport in the vicinity of Skydive DeLand, 1600 Flight Line Blvd. The public is welcome and there is no fee for spectators.

Kurt Gaebel, spokesman for the DeLand-based National Skydiving League, said officials expect teams from such countries as Belgium, France, Brazil, Dubai, Germany and Russia. There is a total of $7,000 in prize money on the line.

The first event set for today is the Shamrock Showdown Skins Game, which starts with four-person teams jumping out of planes at 10,500 feet beginning at 8 a.m. Teams of four and eight will take to the sky Saturday starting at 8 a.m. till sunset and again from 9 a.m. to sunset on Sunday. The eight-person teams, including the Golden Knights from the U.S. Army, will be jumping from 13,000 feet. Free-fall videographers will film the teams in action.

"This weekend's event is an annual competition," Gaebel said Thursday, noting the season opener, the NSL Championship event, known as SkyQuest, takes place every November in DeLand.

He said DeLand is popular among sky-diving enthusiasts because of the mild winters and professional services available. The city is home to numerous industry-related firms, such as Skydive DeLand, where people can learn to sky dive.

"As far as I know, the sky-diving industry is the biggest industry in town with over 500 employees," Gaebel said.

Nick Conte, executive director of the DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce, said the influx of sky-diving related businesses to the area is a good example of how one anchor created a ripple effect that spun off other industries, such as companies that make parachutes and jumpsuits.

"It's kind of amazing," Conte said. "The beauty of sky diving is that they come here and the weather always help them out."

Paraclete XP Skyventure LLC, the title sponsor for this weekend's competition, operates a vertical wind tunnel in Raeford, N.C., where teams travel to practice for free fall competition.