The IPC Committee Freestyle Skydiving & Skysurfing had it's year working on the 2nd World Cup / 1st European Championships in Évora, Portugal. The Committee is in it's fourth year of existence now. Here under you will find a list of the activities.

Proposed changes to the competition rules 1997 were discussed and accepted at the IPC General Meeting 1998 in Villamoura, Portugal. Unfortunately, the Committee is still spending a lot of it's time working on the competition rules. Especially the judging part keeps giving thought for discussions. There is also quite a lot of input from competitors, as they all are jumping to the use of electronic mail which simplifies communications.

The 2nd World Cup / 1st European Championships were organises by the Portuguese NAC (FPPq) in Évora, Portugal, september 19 through 27. The organiser did an excellent job on this competition and should receive all credit for this. Having a World Championships for these disciplines very likely raised entries in general, giving more possibility for local funding. Of course this aspect could also work for other FAI continental regions. However, reality forces us to see that most parachuting nations entering a WPC are from the western world. For a complete report on this competition with recommendations I refer to my report as IPC Controller.

The Subcommittee conducted an open meeting during the competition in Portugal with the competitors, judges and meet director.. The Subcommittee discussed several topics. Most suggestions were judging related. The report and recommendations can be found separately in the report of the Open Meeting 1998.

2nd World Championships of Freestyle Skydiving & Skysurfing 1999 will be held in Corowa, Australia, October 20 through 30, in conjunction with the Formation Skydiving WPC. The Committee will not pursue the use of live air to ground judging for this event. A special web site has been constructed for this WPC at www.worldmeet.com. Specific details and suggestions from the Committee to the organiser can be found in the IPC controller report 1998 Portugal.

The Subcommittee invites NAC's to enter the bidding process for the 3rd World Cup of Freestyle Skydiving & Skysurfing 2000 at the IPC Plenary Meeting 1999 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. At present there is no such bid known to the Subcommittee. The 3rd WPC Freestyle Skydiving & Skysurfing will be held in conjunction with the 2nd WAG near Granada, Spain, 2001

My sympathy and appreciation goes to the members and advisers of the Subcommittee Freestyle Skydiving & Skysurfing for their dedication and work. Members are Markus Willi (Switzerland), Phillipe Baldewijns (Belgium) and Avi Saba (Israel), advisers are Roger Flinn (UK), Ray Williams (Australia) and Jorge Derviche (Brazil). I still enjoy working with them and hope to keep doing so in the next years.

The Hague, November 9, 1998.
Ronald Overdijk
Chairman IPC Committee Freestyle Skydiving, Skysurfing & Freeflying