Image by Dan Dupuis
It’s fun to see an idea come to life
With a little time and polish I’m sure we could turn this into a beautiful blend of two art forms
Or maybe this ends here, and we’re the only two to try it. Even so, maybe seeing this will give someone else a creative spark to come up with something new. Much in the same way the wingsuit ski bar videos, or the tandem silks by Matt Blank and Cyn Currie inspired us.
We’re also incredibly thankful for places like Skydive Perris and people like Dan BC for allowing us to have fun and experiment. Stepping out and trying something new often comes with added risk. At the onset we recognized and acknowledged those risks. We all agreed that if any of them couldn’t be reasonably mitigated that we’d walk away. Over the next month we progressed through a series of test jumps. Building a cutaway system, refining the fabric length and working on the exit. We stepped through each stage, and only after we gained confidence in our rigging, did we add the complexity of attempting a performance.
Our first jump together was on an incredibly short set of fabric. Barely long enough for any acrobatics but sufficient for a proof of concept. After that we added enough length to allow for more movement. That was an exciting jump. Soon after exit the fabric in the middle of the silks inflated, throwing Elizabeth cartwheeling into the air past me. Making the safe decision to bail, the first attempt with the longer fabric was soon over after it began. After a slight modification to the set-up we were back at it. The second, third and fourth jump each presented new but minor challenges.
Sore, tired, but on the verge of getting it dialed in we decided to give it one last go. That last jump was magic. The entire thing worked beautifully. With this being our first shot at putting something together, we hope to continue to refine the concept. If for no other reason than the novelty of finding new ways to play and engage with our sport.
Reel by Claudiu Frigescu
