Photos ..... more!

Traditionally, skydiving has never been seen as a spectator sport, yet these World Championships have attracted hundreds of spectators.  As well as huge screens displaying the air-to-air videoed jumps, an array of attractions were laid on, which gave the Championships a true carnival flavour.  Budding skydivers could try their hand at a bodyflight vertical tunnel, intrepid adults could make bungee jumps from a static crane, and even young children weren't forgotton, with their own mini bungee jump arena!

Baby Bungee-etes! And the adult version!
Vertical Wind Tunnel

The weather certainly hasn't been very kind this past week, so even when high winds stopped the jumping, entertainment in the form of stunt bikers thrilled spectators and competitors alike.

Occasionally the weather felt the need to bring everything to a standstill, turning the DZ into lap-top land. Even the Judges were reduced to getting the cards out on one occasion - or was it two!!

One of the stunt bikers
Life in lap-top land!

Sometimes the weather was quite spectacular! Serious card players!

Certain aspects of the organisation deserve special mention, not least the more than adequate catering, accompanied each evening by a live group in the guise of F'Tah et ses Musiciens. Apparently they were discovered by none other than François Bouteloup, President of the Fédération Française de Parachutisme whilst visiting the French National Team during a training session in Morocco.

The well attended catering tent. Evening entertainment

Some of the unsung hereoes of the Championships include the pilots, without whom no jumps would be possible. Eight Pilatus PC-6 aircraft serviced the competition, under the guidance of Chief Pilot Michel Milcent.

Pilatus PC-6 Pilatus PC-6 (UK Reg)

The Judges bring their expertise and impartiality to bear in each of their respective disciplines, with Tone D. Bergan heading the team in FS and Jami Pillasch in AE. A number of ab initio judges undertook the FS training course under the guidance of Susan Dixon.

FS Trainee Judges

Visitors and competitors alike have given this World Championships a well deserved thumbs up, with several believing them to have been one of the best ever!