The Dutch record attempt was a great event even though we did not get the record. Before the event started on Sept 20th, there were training weekends during the summer so people had an opportunity to get prepared. Henny Wiggers, the main organizer made a huge effort to get sponsorship and was so successful that we all had new jumpsuits in red white and blue colors, with matching coloured helmets and new gloves… and the breakfast was included for 3 days as well!
#Sky Village
For a small amount of money we were given the option to book lunch and dinner too for all 4 days and a great farewell buffet on the last night. All of this happened in the ‘sky village’ where we had big tents and a few smaller tents and a windmill-shaped bar, plus also a massive screen for debriefs and a live air-to-ground video presentation during each of our jumps.
#Picture Formations
The reason for me to join the event was the promise we would go for a formation shaped as a windmill after we had first secured a new record.
So we set out to do a round formation of 84 people. This formation was designed as a classic Dutch treat, a ‘stroop wafel’, translating as ‘syrup waffle’, which is 2 biscuits with caramel inbetween :o)The pilots were flying great so we were only hampered in our jumps by height restrictions from Schiphol and from time to time the weather.
#So close
We did a total of 13 jumps in 4 days. On the third day we did 2 jumps with only 1 out … and on the fourth day, we made 1 jump with all 84 in but 2 wrong grips… and after that 2 more with 1 person out. Apart from those single people missing the formations in those jumps were flying really nice flat and smooth, which was a nice feeling
#Teamwork
What was remarkable how we truly operated as a team and all of us really wanted a completed 84 way. I will not easily forget that the girl who went low on the last jump came in crying from frustration and despair. I am sure the organizing team of Herman Landsman, Joost Luysterburg and Marloes Swarthoff did their best job in trying to make it work.
#Social
And personally for me it was a very nice reunion of seeing people again I had not seen in years, I felt supported by all the people that came to watch us and cheered us on. And I felt really looked after well by the catering team from ‘de Wolk’, which translates as ‘The Cloud’, and which is the usual skydivers bar at the DZ
#Next time
It was a truly well organized event which I thoroughly enjoyed. And hey, we did not get a record, but it will not stop us from trying again ☺
Nearly a new Dutch National Skydiving Record – video compilation from participant Wim de Gier
#Commentary by Wim De Gier
The third skydive was really great. We all were in the formation and I was sure that we had our so desperately wanted Dutch National Record. I shouted out under my canopy, and also on the ground many of us were very excited. Even when Henny came back he was excited too that this could be “the skydive”. Some minutes later some skydivers came back with a story that “someone felt a wrong grip”. Why oh why did he not kick the grip (the hand) away from his leg if he knew it shouldn’t have been there? After the judges were finished, it indeed proved to be the case and the positive atmosphere decreased dramatically. Soooo we had to go up again
The view above the skies was too beautiful to describe. My dive, approach and docking to the formation was an experience I will never forget. All the red, white and blue suits including one orange and the crystal white clouds below looked surreal… the event was fantastic
Read more at Wim de Gier’s event blog
