Bigway camps/events this summer before September?

[mdrejhon 8]

Hello,

Looking to go to as many bigway camps I can this summer. Which dropzones in the Northeast U.S. (or Canada) are running bigway camps?

Either a casual 40-way event with a reputable load organizer, or a major P3-league camp that leads to 100-ways. If not Northeast, then anywhere in North America. I also have been doing 4-ways in the tunnel as well, so also keeping an eye out for 4-way tunnel camps.

Have done Perris P3's already (49-way success) and going again September, so that's where I am at. The only jumps around here I can do is 20-ways, while definitely fun, that is not enough alone... Need to keep these skills current, and get good enough to go on invitationals. I now have to travel to keep these skills current, with only Cessna dropzones near me...

[BillyVance 34]

If 20 ways are all you can do at the nearby DZ, that should suffice as long as the entire group are good enough to complete a point or two and not consistently muck things up every time. If the latter is the case, well that'll certainly hold you back some in your progress. Look up posts made by Guy Wright. I think he's got some events near you set up. His screen name on here is Wright.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[padraigbrowne 0]

Think you could make it over for 50 ways at the Irish Boogie

The club will be open for 11 days, and with up to 4 turbine aircraft (including Skyvan and Grand Caravan) hauling jumpers to altitude there will be plenty of lift capacity for everyone from 1st timers and students to experienced skydivers of every discipline.

Big Way Skills Camp (26-30 Jul) with Kate Cooper-Jenson, Derek Thomas and our own Gordon Hodgkinson.
Irish National Record attempts (28-30 Jul) led by Gordon. Apply at fsorganising@skydive.ie to be a member of the team, or come cheer us on in our goal to build the largest Irish freefall formation ever seen .

After the big-way camp there will be walk-up organised FS loads throughout the boogie with Derek Thomas, Sally Hathaway and Gordon Hodgkinson.

For the wanna-be CRW dogs Pat Hammond will return (1-4 Aug) to run his popular CF roadshow. There will be CF specific-gear and coaches to safely introduce you to the world of canopy formations. Towards the end of the weekend we plan to go bigger than the 7-stack club record set last year - those doing their first CRW jump on Fri could realistically be on the record!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=1 ... 909&ref=nf

http://www.skydive.ie/boogie2008

[mdrejhon 8]

Quote

If 20 ways are all you can do at the nearby DZ

There are only three events a year that I can do 20-ways nearby: Gananoque Twin Otter Boogie. And two of them is already past. I'll definitely go to the last one before Perris P3.

There are no 20-way events within 2 hour driving distance before Perris P3. No Otter dropzones within 2 hour driving distance. That's my dilemma

I just recently found out that the nearest one is Skydive Burnaby in early August, 20-way event at 6 hours driving distance, I may be going to that one.

I'd however like to find more multiple-plane bigways because I've already got a slot on Perris P3 BWC and a provisional slot Perris P3 100WC, so I'm trying to do my best to get as much bigway experience before then so that I can do my first 100-way this year!

[matthewcline 0]

startskydiving.com listed some big way stuff on the events calendar.

Do not know of the timing though.

Matt

An Instructors first concern is student safety.
So, start being safe, first!!!

[mdrejhon 8]

Quote

Think you could make it over for 50 ways at the Irish Boogie

Tempting to get out of this continent! Airfares today, bite though. Which airport is closest to skydive.ie, anyway?

As for the Irish record attempt, I assume that's open only to the Irish or European Union nationals?

[padraigbrowne 0]

Dublin airport is the closest .

The Irish record is only open to Irish residents but they will be organising up to 50ways for visitors also

[SimonBones 1]

When I went out there last year I found cheapest rates from Boston to Shannon. I think I only paid $430 round trip. Check it out

108 way head down world record!!!
http://www.simonbones.com
Hit me up on Facebook

[gemini 0]

Try http://www.bigways.com. Events are posted frequently and site allows on-line registration and some event payments.

[mdrejhon 8]

Quote

Try [.url]http://www.bigways.com[./url]. Events are posted frequently and site allows on-line registration and some event payments.

I'm aware of this. Just there aren't major 'camp' (open to anyone who's not yet quite at 100-way invitationional levels) events before Perris P3.

I've checked plane flights from YOW-to-DUB, and they all seem to go for more than $1300 unfortunately. I could dig more, but even an $800 flight from YOW-to-DUB is still painful, considering I need to save up for Perris too!

So far, I've found these candidates bigway events, I just now need to pick and choose:

AUG 30-SEPT 1:
Skydive Gananoque Labour Day Weekend, 20ways
(Gananoque Twin Otter boogies often have 20-ways)
Distance: 1.5hour
Cost: $

AUG 2:
Skydive Pepperell, 20ways
Distance: 7hour
Cost: $$

AUG 9-10
Skydive Burnaby (Niagara area), 20ways
Distance: 6hour
Cost: $$

JULY 26-30
Skydive Ireland (www.skydive.ie), FS Big Ways with Kate Cooper-Jenson (26 - 30 July)
50-way big way camp.
Distance: $1350 (YOW-DUB) Airplane Flight Required
Cost: $$$+

Anyone else -- any recommendations -- any domestic 50-way bigway camps that would be open to someone who only just did his first 49-way recently? (I'll also check calendar listings about major boogies still yet to happen, similiar to Skyfest, MOAB, Lost Prarie, WFFC, etc and see what's being organized there before September)

I'll get to the invitational level eventually (I count on eventually getting there, even if it take me years!) but I'm now lala land beyond 20-ways and before the invitational level, makes things a little challenging...

[BillyVance 34]

It won't kill you to pick one of those 20 ways, just to keep up and polish your skills.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[mdrejhon 8]

Quote

It won't kill you to pick one of those 20 ways, just to keep up and polish your skills.

I count on doing it!
But, I'd like to see at least one bigger-way camp. I would be dissapointed if I do not do anymore bigways bigger than 20-ways until September. I want to see if I can turn my provisional slot on the Perris 100-ways into a confirmed slot
That said, the fact I plan to attend the Gananoque 20-ways at end of August (cheapest option as I can carpool there easily), then 50-ways at the second Perris P3 BWC early September, should probably make me bigway-current for the mid-September Perris 100-ways. Here's to hoping I can keep my skills up. Wish me luck!

I also have a Problem #2 due to my deafness. I also have to solve a problem about getting an interpretor for debriefs, because I am used to the "Buddy System" where people in the debrief room writes notes for me. I don't want to burden comrades in the debrief room, this problem is going to be a challenging one to solve. (That's a topic I'll be posting in another thread in another forum in the near future, send me a PM if you want to reply to this subject)

[NWFlyer 2]

Hey, Mark, I know it's the wrong side of the country, but there's also the monthly group at Perris with Mark Brown and Darryld Light. Usually 40ish ways and very focused on learning bigway skills and safety. Good for folks in that "in-between" group you described. The dates are published on Perris' calendar, and also on this site:
http://jefflaun.com/Markway.asp

I've also heard that Lodi now has a group regularly doing two-plane formations (though I believe there's a 500-jump minimum for that group). I don't know any more details about it than that - I just heard folks talking about it when I was at the American Boogie.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[jsaxton 0]

Do all the 20ways you can. Skills used in 20way can be directly applied to BigWays.

Also I believe that you can learn a LOT by watching the DVD of the bigway camp.

Watch it over and over like you're an organizer. Watch everyone, pick apart their skydiving, learn to spot body positions that indicate a fall rate issue (knees wide, the "dreaded W"), bad approaches, docs that look ok but where the jumper wasn't completely stopped, ...

Also watch the people that are doing a really good job, make note of EXACTLY what they are ( and sometimes more importantly not) doing..

It's kind of like dirt diving, you are preparing yourself mentally.