Fano. Where the hell is that?!
Excuse my French?!
Arriving in Venice or Florence, visitors were immediately enveloped by the humid Italian air, alive with fiery accents as intense as the July sunshine. Wandering through narrow alleyways and winding cobblestone streets, lined with ancient architecture, gelato shops, pizzerias, grand statues, and churches, it was easy to forget the real reason you came to Italy: skydiving…
A little over three hours’ drive from either Florence or Venice, navigating through Italian drivers and scenic routes, you found Skydive Fano — the location of the 2024 Vector Festival. Nestled between turquoise waters and distant mountain views on the Adriatic coast, it was a perfect spot for skydiving enthusiasts. Skydive Fano, the festival’s venue for five crazy days, July second to fifth, boasted expansive landing areas, indoor and outdoor packing spaces, a bar, and a large pool. The biannual Vector Festival, which had been running for two decades, was a gesture of gratitude from US skydiving manufacturers to the European community. It was a fantastic opportunity for new and old friends to connect and reconnect.
Behind a table full of clipboards, it was clear that manifesters Hannah and Tong had their work cut out for them. They took on the monumental task of paper manifesting five planes with nearly five hundred participants, aiming to make the European boogie of the season a resounding success.
Jet lag, registration chaos, and the task of familiarizing highly skilled organizers, ground crew, and support staff were made more manageable with a timely wind hold. Once everyone settled, there was consensus, even about a new approach to landing with challenging wind conditions, prioritizing safety to ensure a fantastic time for all.
Arriving at the drop zone as a participant, your first stop was the sprawling manifest tent for check-in, gear inspection by a rigger, and to receive your event bracelet. From there, you could purchase tickets, get on a load, or head into Vendor Village to visit event sponsors UPT, PD, and Vigil for your goodie bag. Strolling down Vendor Row, you’d have been remiss not to follow the sweet British accent leading you to the Cookie tent. There, Pixie Hodgson and her husband Al, cups of tea in hand, greeted you with friendly smiles. And let’s not forget the L&B table, overflowing with sweet licorice treats, enticing you to stop by for mid-event technical advice, replacement units, and batteries.
The sky was the limit, but if you wanted to stay in it, especially if you had a rigging issue or a cutaway, you had to visit UPT to see Andrew Samper. A man of many talents, Andrew was also seen during prize giveaways, theatrically depositing balls on the field in a cloud of smoke – offering his own playful tribute to the after-hours sky gods, among others paying homage to the moon.
The event boasted its largest-ever lineup of organizers, including Fly4Life coaches and photographers and videographers such as Gustavo Cabana, Ewan Cowie, and Jodie Mayo. Charismatic personalities like Joe Lamming also added to the mix. Every team member was chosen to awaken a sense of spirit and community, bringing smiles before, during, and after the incredible skydives.
None of this would have been possible without the tireless support staff on the ground. Ground crew members and jumpers, Matteo and Sunny, embodied patient team spirit, always ready with a smile or cheeky quip to keep things moving safely and on time.
Refueling between loads involved following the mouth-watering aromas of the Pizza Vagando food truck. Taking Euros and offering quick Italian lessons, the jovial husband-and-wife team churned out traditional wood-fired pies daily until they ran out of handmade dough and fresh ingredients.
Each night featured Willem De Groot’s highlights reel, along with prizes. This year introduced a new activity to complement the skydives – the Vector Fashion Show, with the fashion parade judged by Bill Booth himself. Following this was yet another highlight, the Film Festival, showcasing community, creativity, and humor. Entries included a beautiful tribute to Vince Reffet. Max Markolf’s “Girls Day Out,” was a playful parody starring Max and the Skydive Paraclete XP team in wigs, glittery skirts, and lipstick humorously depicting a tight-knit group of ‘girlfriends’ performing radical flying maneuvers. The audience’s cheers crowned it as the festival’s favorite.
As the event ended, day five dawned with soaring temperatures and spirits. With all initial logistical challenges worked through, participants eagerly used the rest of their jump tickets. Despite the hurdles, Vector Festival 2024 smashed previous years’ jump number records, with the only injury being a broken toe. Tamed chaos and good humor prevailed amidst the logistical challenges of an event of this magnitude. The Awakening close-out party was the perfect place to celebrate the new bonds of friendship that formed when a group united to operate as a cohesive team.
