frost 1 #1 June 20, 2007 Hi My question is for US (and other countries) World class competitors. I am not a visitor to this forum, so i dont know if we have anyone here with such experience but still i'd like to ask. Being a beginner competitor myself, i know that we have to pay our own way through everything. And thats understood. But what about the pros that officially represent their countries at the World level events? How does the system work for supporting you in your training and competitions? Do you get any help from the government (this may seem weird to US competitors, but in other countries there is such support)? Does USPA (or its equivalent in other countries) provide any real support and funds? what does it amount to in terms of what is covered? More importantly, are there any government sports organizations that support World level skydiving teams that represent their country at the World comps? I guess Golden Nights are the only team that enjoys full support of the government in the US? As an example, does Arizona Airspeed pay their way at the international events such as Malevsky Cup in Russia? or FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships in Germany? Sponsorships cover their training jumps in the US and abroad? Gear too? Plane tickets, hotels, food etc.? Does the government pay anything? USPA? Hope to hear real info from experienced folks who have seen and participated in such things, not guesses or thoughts... Thank you in advance. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danger 0 #2 June 20, 2007 Back in '99, CSPA (Canada) gave each member of the 4-way team a whopping $187.00 each to go to the Worlds. The Gov't gave us a bunch of flag pins to hand out. Danger Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kirkverner 0 #3 June 20, 2007 Several countries support their national teams by paying for training and meet registrations. USPA cuts a check to the US Team prior to the WM. This is interest off the US Team Fund that definitely helps. Arizona Airspeed has to get help from sponsors to pay for everything. Each year it was always rack up huge expenses on credit cards and slowly pay it back over the next year. It was always stressful but it always worked out in the end. Typically I have found two types of people, the first says " I have this much money, so I'll do this." the second says " I'm going to do this, and I'll just make the money happen." Airspeed has been comprised of the latter. If you're passionate about something you will find a way to get yourself to the goal but in skydiving you will end up broke...it was worth it every inch of the way for me. ParacleteXP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keka 0 #4 June 20, 2007 Quote Several countries support their national teams by paying for training and meet registrations. USPA cuts a check to the US Team prior to the WM. This is interest off the US Team Fund that definitely helps. Arizona Airspeed has to get help from sponsors to pay for everything. Each year it was always rack up huge expenses on credit cards and slowly pay it back over the next year. It was always stressful but it always worked out in the end. Typically I have found two types of people, the first says " I have this much money, so I'll do this." the second says " I'm going to do this, and I'll just make the money happen." Airspeed has been comprised of the latter. If you're passionate about something you will find a way to get yourself to the goal but in skydiving you will end up broke...it was worth it every inch of the way for me. just a side note: Kirk, you are definitely an inspirationhttp://www.woundedwarriorproject.org PMS#551 I love my life :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frost 1 #5 June 20, 2007 Kirk, First, thank you for the tips and coaching you gave my boys (Ranch Pulse), for helping them win the gold at the Nationals. I know first hand how much dedication, hard work and money they put in to achieve that goal. Some of the tips you gave them about 4-way training and competition mindset have been an inspiration to me as well, as a competing canopy pilot. About what you said - NO DOUBT! He who wants it, who is willing to make sacrifices - will find a way to make things happen, no matter the cost. he who doesn't want it bad enough - will find excuses why he couldn't do it. No goal is unreachable if you have the will to go the distance. The main reason i was asking these questions is to better understand what a world class team/competitor has to go through in different countries to be able to adequately train and travel to events and how much government and skydiving organizations give to their best athletes that represent their countries at the international meets... Seems like the US athletes have the shittiest situation... Again, thanks for your reply. Hope to see you at the Ranch. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GQ_jumper 4 #6 June 20, 2007 Yeah what Keka saidJust so you know Kirk, despite all the positive influence you've had on my skydiving I think you may be a bad financial role model for meDan History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. --Dwight D. Eisenhower Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UKFSChick 0 #7 June 23, 2007 UK Sport (a division of the British Govt.) has given the BPA several thousands over the years to fund teams competing on world level. The BPA also covers certain competing admin costs but I can't remember which ones right now! UK FS Rep Chris Hollis is probably the one to ask. In 2005 the British women's 4way team Airkix (now called Elan) was given GBP30,000 to go to the World Meet 2006. Women's team VMax had similar funding previously. The teams had to meet criteria set by UK Sport with the BPA of achieving an average score equal to or greater than the 4th place team in that category at the previous World Meet, which was 15.1 in 2004. I think the idea is that you have to be in with a chance of a medal for it to be worthwhile them giving the funds. This type of support is obviously fantastic for skydiving. Unfortunately, the UK funding is being pulled for future years (I understand) due to overriding commitment to the 'Olympic sports' (with 2012 in mind), even though it seems to have paid off in the past with funded teams taking medals. Having said that, like most teams we would have trained just as hard without funding. The money just meant we did not have to go quite as far into debt. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #8 June 25, 2007 Kirk, How much does it cost (per year) for one member of a team to medal at the world meet? How many jumps would a 4-way competitor have to make (per year) to medal at a World Meet? Similarly, how many hours in a tunnel to medal at a World Meet? This question assumes that every other team member is paying an equal share of team expenses. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TalbertGK4 0 #9 June 25, 2007 Quote Seems like the US athletes have the shittiest situation... Again, thanks for your reply. Hope to see you at the Ranch. Mike You are correct, and incorrect about that. The US Teams have to work thier asses off to get to the big dance and figure out how to pay for it. Holding the Ottley Sword however is anything but a shitty situation. In Croatia in 2004 there was a four way team from Iceland. Yes, Iceland. Thier gear was not ancient if I recall but not cutting edge by any means. They funded the whole thing themselves, crept while smoking cigarettes and talked cash shit about how the Golden Knights were scared to come to the World Meet becuase they heard 'Team Iceland" was coming. Having that much fun and going back to fucking ICELAND?! Now that is a shitty situation! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frost 1 #10 June 26, 2007 Quote Having that much fun and going back to fucking ICELAND?! Now that is a shitty situation! I hear they have great health care plans there...SoFPiDaRF - School of Fast Progress in Downsizing and Radical Flying. Because nobody knows your skills better than you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frost 1 #11 June 26, 2007 Thank you for that reply. It does paint a better picture me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GQ_jumper 4 #12 June 26, 2007 and talked cash shit about how the Golden Knights were scared to come to the World Meet becuase they heard 'Team Iceland" was coming. Quote Man I can't believe you guys let a team from Iceland scare you away like that History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. --Dwight D. Eisenhower Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
druspork 0 #13 June 27, 2007 Dont forget, it isnt every nation that has the same opportunities for sponsorship that are available in the US. It's a tough deal in the UK to find companies prepared to help. And pretty much any top international team is going to do the bulk of their training in the US. UK sports funding to skydiving is dead. Let's see how the BPA work from here - they've been great but they must feel really constrained at the moment. Dru Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #14 June 27, 2007 QuoteSeems like the US athletes have the shittiest situation... Maybe from the perspective of government & governing body support that's true, but you guys have a huge ecosystem of sport jumpers that help fund professional competition jumpers that no-one else has. In Australia, the APF (USPA equiv) will support the National teams based on how well they do at the Nationals compared to the best in the world. The last 8-way team got a training camp paid for, registrations, and (I think) hotels at the Gera World Meet. Government support was nonexistent. Other sponsorship was nonexistent. Everyone bought their own gear, paid their own way, and the dropzone gave them a couple of bucks off lift tickets. Do Airspeed personally pay the rate charged to other teams for their training jumps? Do they have to buy their own jumpsuits & rigs? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverek 63 #15 June 27, 2007 Similar thread here: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=184572;search_string=pay;#184572 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TalbertGK4 0 #16 July 2, 2007 I was on Airspeed hiding my absolute fear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airgord 1 #17 July 3, 2007 That's funny...... you looked pretty calm. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GQ_jumper 4 #18 July 3, 2007 I was on Airspeed hiding my absolute fear! Quote As long as you hide it well enough to make the other guys think you're confident that's all that counts Just don't get too close, I heard Europeans can smell fear History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. --Dwight D. Eisenhower Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #19 July 4, 2007 QuoteI was on Airspeed hiding my absolute fear! Are you sure those shakes weren't just the DTs? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
