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Did You Know...

... that Seven British 4-way teams had their restart last weekend?

From Eloy 2019 to Sibson 2021: Chimera and Pumas
posted Jun 9th, 2021 - The next restart of Formation Skydiving competition at the apparent tail end of the pandemic took place in Great Britain, where UK Parachuting Sibson hosted the season opener of the United Kingdom Skydiving League (UKSL).

It seems to be difficult to realize that the last 4-way competition in Great Britain was the national championship in August 2019. A total of 40 teams competed at the event and completed all meet rounds. That was the end of 4-way and 8-way competition in the country until last weekend.

Chimera and Pajama Pumas both still added one more meet in 2019 and traveled to Arizona for the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2019 in October. Then they were at the end of their training and competition activities, as well.

Both teams have come back with their new lineups. The NSL News reported the details of Chimera's personnel change on 12 April 2020, and the new lineup has one more opportunity for competition practice at the UKSL July meet before Round 1 of the FAI Tanay Mondial 2020. The UK Nationals 2021 are scheduled after the world meet at the end of August. British Skydiving Judges Coordinator Lucy Westgarth kindly provided more details of last weekend's 4-way season opener.


FAI Outdoor World Cup 2019
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total Avg
Rank 4-way Open 13,11,16 P,22,4 O,7,21 9,20,G 18,15,L K,10,3 6,14,C 1,M,A,17 F,D,Q,8 2,5,E Total Avg
1 Arizona Airspeed  US  20 -1 22    28    29    21    21 -1 21 -2 29    31 -2 24 -2  246 24.6
2 SDC Rhythm XP  US  19 -1 22    25    21 -2 20 -1 20    23    25    29 -1 24 -2  228 22.8
3 Airspeed Odyssey  US  14 -2 17 -2 22 -2 21 -2 18 -1 16 -3 21    23    26 -3 17 -2  195 19.5
4 Defiance  US  17    17    21 -1 22    16 -2 15 -2 21    20 -2 26    16 -2  191 19.1
5 Aerodyne Cypres Lille-Bondues  FR  15 -1 16    19    21    16 -1 17    18    22    25    21     190 19.0
6 Echochamber  SE  17    14 -3 22    20 -3 17    16 -1 19    20    23 -1 21     189 18.9
7 Chimera  UK  14 -1 16 -1 21    19 -1 17    16 -1 18 -1 22    26 -1 18 -1  187 18.7
8 Pro Team  FI  15 -1 18    20    17 -1 17    15    18    21    26    18 -1  185 18.5
9 Kinetix  AU  14 -1 17    19    19    15 -1 17    18    19    23 -1 16     177 17.7
10 China  CN  12 -1 17    19    17 -1 14 -1 13 -1 16    20    24    15 -1 167 16.7
11 Eros  UK  12 -2 16    20    18    15 -1 13 -2 12 -4 17 -1 22    16 -1  161 16.1
12 eX3MO  IT  13    13 -2 17 -2 13 -4 12 -1 14    13    16 -1 22 -2 14    147 14.7
13 Pajama Pumas  UK  10 -2 12    17    14 -1 13    12    15    16    15 -2 13     137 13.7

Chimera and Pajama Pumas at the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2019
Grand Caravan jump plane in Sibson

UKSL 2021 June Meet - Written by British Skydiving Judges Coordinator Lucy Westgarth


The 5th of June saw the first official FS competition in the UK since 2019 and the weather certainly delivered. UK Parachuting Sibson played host to seven teams for the first instalment of the 2021 UK Skydiving League.

In AAA, Chimera and the Pumas opted to use the meet to dust off the cobwebs and use an opportunity for some competition experience with new team members ahead of the British Nationals in August. As previously covered by the NSL News, Chimera's lineup now includes Will Cook (previously of ACM) in the tail slot and Pete Harries on camera.

Similarly, the Pumas have a new inside centre in the form of Derek Cornelius (previously of team Vantage). Neither team have competed with these lineups, plus they had to contend with a lack of currency following the pandemic. Despite these challenges, the Pumas had one of their cleanest meets, and Chimera were still able to throw a wide range of solid exits out of the Sibson Grand Caravan, finishing with a 12.2 and 16.0 average respectively. These are lower averages than what we've seen in the past, but they have nevertheless set a solid baseline for the rest of the season.


United Kingdom Skydiving League June 2021
1 2 3 4 5 6 Total Avg
Rank AAA Class A,P,7,10 20,K,15 J,1,C,13 14,6,3 12,D,17 O,M,G,11 Total Avg
1 Chimera 19 -2 15 -1 13 -4 14 -1 15    20 -2 96 16.0
2 Pajama Pumas 15    11 -1 13 -1 9    11    14 -3 73 12.2
Rank AA Class A,P,7 20,K,15 J,1,C 14,6 D,13,L O,M,G,11 Total Avg
1 Volt4ge 13 -1 5 -1 9 -1 6 -1 7 -2 9 -1 49 8.2
Rank A Class A,P,7 K,8 J,C,H 6,N D,L,19 O,M,G Total Avg
1 Sons of Zeus 5 -3 4    7 -2 5    1 -3 7 -1 29 4.8
Rank Rookie A,P,M K,G,B J,C,H F,N,E D,L,Q O,M,G Total Avg
1 Antigravity 4    3    4    0 -1 3    5    19 3.2
2 Team Tilstock 2 -2 1    4    2 -2 1 -2 3 -2 13 2.2
3 Learning Curve 2    0 -2 0 -1 3 -1 0 -1 3    8 1.3

Chimera's new lineup preparing for a competition round
AA and A only had one team in each, both of which were from the British Armed Forces. In AA, British Army Volt4ge competed with an alternate (Amii Calway), but were still able to show some solid block technique for their first full season in this category.

Similarly, the British Army Formation Skydiving Team "Sons of Zeus" were the sole representatives in the A category. Their team colours (navy and yellow) led to some visibility issues for the judges due to the spring crops of the English landscape below, but we hope to see them at meets later in the season.

The Rookie category is where the competition started heating up with three teams entered. Ordinarily in Rookie, we expect to see some spectacular funnels, severe issues staying on level and the occasional team/videographer collision, but the teams were refreshingly "safe" at this meet. I enjoy a comical funnel as much as the next person, but it was equally fun to watch new teams making steady progress throughout the rounds.

All three teams (camera included) took the opportunity to learn from more experienced flyers and sought advice when needed. Antigravity won gold with a 3.2 average, Team Tilstock took silver with a 2.2 average, with Learning Curve (perhaps the most improved team of the meet) picking up bronze with a 1.3 average.

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