Now in its fifth year, Dubai International Parachute Championships has become a favorite annual meeting point for the competitive scene. It provides a rare opportunity to watch other disciplines, wrings out the last of the season’s jumping and provides a very special carnival atmosphere. More than a thousand competitors from 43 nations came to fight for a share of $400,000 in prize money and enjoy the unique hospitality Skydive Dubai has to offer. Did I mention you take off from the beach, freefall over the sea, land on the crescent of the palm and then get a speedboat back to the DZ?!
This year the organisers of DIPC have made some changes to the format, that have proved very popular with the competitors and brought a new energy into an already vibrant meet. Previously they have run all the disciplines at once. For a competitor, this meant generally doing one jump a day, for ten days, which makes it hard to get into a rhythm. This year, to everyone’s delight, the format has larger chunks of competition, so far it’s been more or less, one day on, one day off. The FS, artistics, CF and accuracy have started and all made 3 or 4 jumps. CP is to follow on 1 December.
#4-way
The first competition day, Friday 28 November, the competitors were amazed to do four jumps; a great start, keeping the energy levels high. It’s going to be an exciting meet. Hayabusa, current World Champions and winners of last year’s competition, have changed a team member since the World Meet in Prostejov, just 3 months ago; goodbye Roy Janssen, hello Jeroen Nollett. They are a force to be reckoned with. The bookies’ favourites are possibly the Canadian team, Evolution, world bronze medallists, who’ve had the same line-up for the last 4 years, and are full of fire.
Talent wins games; Teamwork wins championships
After 4 rounds the Belgians are happy to be tied with the Canadians, considering how little jumping they have had with their new guy, they are stoked to be on a 22 average. Katie Woods from Evolution said they hadn’t had the best day – not because of Hayabusa, she was just giving herself a hard time on fluffing an 18 catch. In third place are long-running USA team SDC Rhythm, last year’s bronze medallists. Russia are fourth and UAE on fire in fifth place, who had the most amazing 18s.
Full 4-way scores on Omniskore
#Female 4-way
Well out in front are the French ladies, looking like sure-fire winners with 68 points after 4 rounds. This is 3/4 of the current female 4-way World Champion team (Perrine could not make it). The silver and bronze medals are the ones that there is going to be a real fight for. Currently tied in second with a 13 point average are USA and UAE. This is a great achievement for the Dubai ladies team, as they have had setback after setback this year. Radya broke her ankle just before the world meet and has only just returned to jumping, having made just 25 jumps. Her ankle is still hurting but nothing is going to stop her, go get ‘em tiger!
The Russians are just one point behind, then Great Britain another point behind, then the Germans, also one point behind. It’s anyone’s game! GB are doing exceptionally well, they also have had line-up problems, jumping with an alternate at UK Nationals, and now with another new teammate.
Full female 4-way scores on Omniskore
#VFS
Disappointingly there are only two teams in this event. After 3 rounds there is no doubt about the medal places. Canada have a 16-point average and Poland a 0.7. The Canadians are set to win $15,000 in VFS – AND a big prize in 4-way FS, as four of them are competing in both events. Nice one Poland, it’s rare a less than one point average sets you up for $11,000 prize money!! VFS teams out there .. where the F* are you ?! The bronze medal position wins $7,000 .. If I’d have realised I’d have brought my 4-way team, enjoyed 10 jumps on our bellies, scored zero and taken the loot 😉
Hayabusa, rounds 1-4, DIPC 2014
#8-way
3 rounds of 8-way on Saturday 29 November reveal the best battle we’ve seen in 8-way for a very long time. Just 4 points separate the top 3 teams. The French are in front with 50 points, then Russia with 47 and UAE with 46. France is a relatively new team this year, still building experience, and they’ve picked up a couple of ringers for this meet. The Russians are a long established team that were neck and neck with France at the recent World Meet, eventually beating France to the silver medal by just one point. The rematch is going on right now, with the added excitement of revenge in the air, especially as the silver was awarded on a questionable judges’ decision on round 10.
5th DIPC 2014: Day 2 Competition Begins
In third are UAE who were last year’s DIPC winners. Since then their line-up has changed significantly, bringing in some very inexperienced skydivers, completely new to 8-way to boot. This is balanced by an injection of Eliana magic, brilliant to see her back in the air after a year’s layoff due to back issues. This team has done very little 8way training but are still 6 points clear of Monaco, who they had a well-matched fight with in 2013.
Bring on the next round!
Full 8-way scores on Omniskore
More info, photos, updates: DIPC on Facebook
Final Day article DIPC5, Update 5
Catching up with freestylist Katja Larinen at DIPC#5
