Every once in a while a 4-way team comes from seemingly nowhere to challenge the well-established top three countries – USA, France & Russia. In the nineties it was The Norgies, and this century it’s Hayabusa. The Belgian National team from 2004 till today, Hayabusa inched its way onto the world podium mid-noughties, and never let go, now with over thirty international medals.
The team has had three continuous members since the beginning; brothers Dave and Andy Grauwels, and Roy ‘Rolls’ Janssens, a driving energy force, who spent hours of his youth at Aerokart tunnel, watching the French teams, and teaching himself to fly by example. Like all truly classy teams, Hayabusa have their own style of flying; quick, sharp, energetic, as nimble as a humming bird, and as fast as their namesake, the peregrine falcon.
Hayabusa Gold 4-way medals
World Cup 2007, 2012;
European Championship 2005, 2007, 2012;
Military World Championship 2009, 2010; Military World Games 2007, 2011; Bedford World Challenge 2011, 2012, 2013; Dubai Gulf Cup 2011 (January)
Silver 4-way medals
World Championship Dubai 2012; World Cup 2009, 2011; European Championship 2009, 2011; Bedford World Challenge 2006; Dubai Gulf Cup 2010, 2011 (December)
Bronze 4-way medals
World Championship, Maubeuge 2008; Bedford World Challenge 2009, 2010
Military World records set: 6
Highest Indoor World Record over ten rounds: 30.7 average
Occupation
Professional skydiver in the Belgian Army
Time in sport, experience
+7,000 jumps, 18 years, I started with static-line in Zwartberg, Belgium
Equipment
Sun Path Javelin Odyssey, Icarus Neos 89, Icarus reserve 119, Cypres 2, Sonic jumpsuit, Cookie G3 helmet, L&B Viso and Optima
Why are you drawn to 4-way?
When I started skydiving, the majority of the jumpers did only Formation Skydiving as then there were not so many disciplines as we see now, so I kind of rolled into it. I always enjoyed trying to make as much points as possible and I like to share the pleasure with other people. I can’t really pinpoint the exact reason but I just love doing it! However I do like all the disciplines in our sport and I see in each of them a big challenge.
Anything you don’t like?
I guess the hardest part of it, is keeping a team together with so many different kind of characters and ideas.
What has been your closest competition?
That must be the World Championships 2012 in Dubai, where we lost the title by a few tenths of a second. We had also a very close battle with the French team during the World Cup 2007 in Stupino, Russia. That was similar to the meet in Dubai, but here it was us that had the advantage over the French team. Another fierce battle was between the Golden Knights and us during the Military World Games in India (2007) where we won by one point.
What do you have that others don’t?
Let’s say that all the top teams are very close to each other regarding skills, and we all have lot of competition experience. But the thing that stands out is our speed I believe, but again, on our level the difference is measured in tenth of seconds.
How do some guys from Belgium get on the international podium?
Basically it is having the right people, at the right moment together, in the same team. This principle goes for all the teams, but of course the smaller the country, the smaller the chance of success of finding them together. To become a top team you need to have the talent, determination, time and money, and last but not least, luck! There are many factors that can make the difference between being good and being at the top. Our big step forward towards the top teams came when the Belgian Army asked us at the end of 2006 to join the Army Parachute Team. Without their (financial) support we would be unable to achieve this level.
How did joining the Belgian Army change your life?
Before joining the Army, we all spent all our money, all our free time and all our thoughts on skydiving. We couldn’t do anything else than jumping and we did everything to get that extra jump in a day. We already did a 20+ average in 2005 and won the European Championship as well. Around September 2006 the Army asked us if we would like to join the Army and become the new Military Parachute Team. At that same moment we were already thinking of finding a way to become a pro-team, it was perfect timing for all of us.
The thing that changed is of course that now we have the resources to do enough training to become World Champions. But our social life has probably changed the most. We are many months away from home for training and competing, spending so much time together with very little privacy, and always see the same drop zones. But the other side of the coin is that we go to places and meet new people that otherwise you wouldn’t see. Winning is addictive, and for sure it keeps us going, just as many other teams. After many years of training full-time I see achievements from other athletes (even sports I don’t like) with much more respect. Also now, I also understand that having fun is simply the most important thing of all, being an amateur or a pro.
How long is your commitment to the Army?
We can stop jumping at any moment we want. Than we can choose, stay in the Army and do another military job, or go back to work in the civilian business.
What is more important, technical or mental?
For winning championships you need to have them both, you cannot do without one of them. Both need to be trained and constantly improved.
What’s been your favorite World Championships and why?
That is an easy one, Dubai 2012! Even if we lost the world title by just a few of a tenth of a second, we were all the time in the race for the gold medals. It was our best performance ever, technically and mentally. Now several months later I can look back and be proud of what we did, and it was a great show for all the FS fans!
How come in that meet, you and Airspeed scored 17 points more than ever before?
Both our performance level has improved and we set new standards regarding highest average. We have been pushing each other to our limits and that is just fantastic. In the history it always has been like this, remember the first time that a team went past the 20 average? Now we are going towards 30+ average… Where does it end? Our sport will become more and more professional to squeeze out those extra formations per round!
What makes Airspeed such a long-staying team?
I think it is the experience in selecting the right people for the team, the technical know-how, the right mindset, the support they get from Skydive Arizona and their training facilities, and the will to become Champions!
What are Hayabusa’s plans now?
Basically we try to become as good as we possibly can. We started this year with delay because Andy had to recover from surgery. Our first jumps were in the end of May, which is actually already late in our season. Our goals are, to win each competition we participate! Easier said than done of course, but the main objective is to win the World Championship in 2014.
What are you most looking forward to?
Round 10 during the World Meet 2014 in Prostejov.
Do you ever long for a ‘normal’ life?
Yes, having your own bed, your own place with privacy and all your stuff around is a luxury for me.
What other kind of skydiving do you like to do?
I can enjoy all kind of skydiving, from wingsuit to accuracy.
When else do you like to do?
I have many interests and hobbies, but recently my main focus goes to motorsports like trial and enduro.
Do you coach?
Yes, I’ve been coaching for more than 10 years in tunnels and in the air.
Where? How can we get some?
I adapt to the needs of the customers, but you can find me a lot in the tunnels of Bottrop and Roosendaal as they are close to home. You can join by sending me an email with your coaching request or visit my Facebook page: FS coaching Roy Janssen
What do you enjoy about coaching?
I enjoy sharing my knowledge with my customers and the challenge to improve each single one of them. I coach individuals as well as teams from all kinds of level. I also enjoy working with enthusiastic people and sharing the same passion with them.
How different is the tunnel from freefall?
Tunnel is a perfect tool to train your techniques. Here there are no distractions, you just have focus only on your moves. The biggest difference is of course the dimension compared to real jumping and the exits. Being a good tunnel flyer doesn’t automatically make a good skydiver too, but you can get a great foundation that can be easily translated into freefall.
Tell us something we don’t know about you
I am actually Dutch (from the south) and not from Belgium.
How do you see the future of 4-way?
Our sport will keep pushing their limits, just as it has done in the last 50 years. I believe that we are not living it as real professionals yet. Yes, we train hard and do many jumps, fly many hours in the tunnel, watch hours and hours to our videos and brainstorm about new techniques. But there will come a point where the level is so high, it will be almost impossible to make improvements and than we need start to work really hard. I think there is still a big area where we can improve such as nutrition, physical specific training for our sport, selecting the right people with the right frame who can physically fly faster than you and me.
Winning is addictive, and for sure it keeps us going, just as many other teams
Compare ourselves for example to swimmers or cyclists, how many hours do they train a day, and which little details do they pay attention to?! Look at gymnastics, they select the athletes in very different ways than we do. At this point skydiving is a bit a lazy sport in my opinion compared to many other sports. But as long as we keep improving we don’t start doing more and more by ourselves. If we can become champions with giving 70% of our capacity, why should we do it with 100% and sacrifice even more? I am not saying that there are no individuals or teams that try really hard, but I am sure that each team can do better than what they are doing now.
Another interesting point is the fact that because of the wind tunnels, people start flying younger and spending more time practicing their sport. Automatically this will boost the level of flight. So I wonder how many more years we have to wait to see a +40 average. Now it seems like something unthinkable, but that is what they said many years ago from the +20 barrier as well!
And you, what else is on your bucket list?
Well, I have many dreams that I would like to achieve, many of them are not skydiving related. But my main short-term goal is, to achieve winning the World Championship in 2014, even though, staying healthy and happy is far more important than any thing else.
What drives you to want to be a World Champion?
I just love competing against myself and against others; it is just something natural for me to do. The desire to be better than someone else, mentally and physically, and to push my own limits, gives me the drive to do what I do best.
Do you have a motto or philosophy?
I believe that we all should try to live our life in any way we want, as long as it makes us happy. If you’re at the point to die and you can look back to your life and you are satisfied about what you did with it, you did a good job!
Hayabusa have a distinctive landing style with your toggles held far to the rear, what’s that all about then?
Oh, I never noticed that, must be coincidence I guess.
Describe Roy in 5 words or less
Competitive.
Who are your mentors and why?
I believe you can learn from many people, most experienced competitors and coaches have something interesting to teach you. I also think that depending in the kind of phase you are during your skydive career, you respect people for different things. In the beginning I looked up to Martial Ferré (French team) and Johnny Eagle (Airspeed), they were my heroes because they flew so fast! Later I respected Craig Girard (Airspeed) for his years in the sport and for his mental strength and tricks. Now I am learning also a lot from Gary Smith (DeLand Majik and Deland Fire). During my career I am branching out in many aspects, and I can see who is on top of each part of each game. I think there are many people that do awesome stuff in our sport and push the limits of the sport continuously. I hope that when I stop jumping, people can say the same about me.
Hayabusa at the World Cup in Banja Luka, Bosnia, 2013. Rounds 9 & 10
