{"id":18136,"date":"2018-10-07T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-10-07T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=18136"},"modified":"2018-10-07T23:00:00","modified_gmt":"2018-10-07T23:00:00","slug":"2018-10-08-catching-up-with-david-grauwels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/2018-10-08-catching-up-with-david-grauwels\/","title":{"rendered":"Catching up with\u2026 David Grauwels"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"David<\/p>\n

Brothers Dave and Andy Grauwels have been on HayaBusa since the very beginning in 2003. Once they won their first World Championships, at Czech Republic 2014, they have never been defeated since \u2013 an unbroken run of over 30 major competitions. We asked Dave how their brotherly dynamic works in the team, what’s the secret of their success and about the philosophy of HayaBusa…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

How many jumps do you have?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

10,500<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How old are you and how long have you been skydiving?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I did my first Static jumps in 1995 out of the Army balloon when I was 15, now 23 years ago.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How did you start?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Family affairs, the Grauwels Clan has always been famous for skydiving; most logical step was to start skydiving too as being the oldest of the newer generation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

When you were at school what did you want to be when you grew up?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

At the time when I was younger I was always passionate about becoming a football player, at the time it seemed incredible to execute your passion as \u2018work\u2019. Throughout the youth division I did great, but was definitely not the best, and also my school results experienced major issues when I started combining school-football-skydiving. At age 17, I made my biggest decision that would influence my career later on, I quitted playing football and concentrated on Formation Skydiving.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Did you ever dream of being a World Champion? With your brother?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I started Skydiving in the first Airspeed era (1995), this new team with their white-green-purple jumpsuit and special painted Factory Diver helmets were a revelation to me, performing the best jumps in perfect harmony and synchronicity\u2026 Andy and I have been analyzing their jumps in slow-motion over and over again, watching every detail from exit launch to block execution and track-off, maniacally even. Hell yeah, we dreamed about becoming World Champions, but most of all about executing the same superb jumps. That team was our inspiration to later success.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What does your brother Andy bring to the team?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I have never seen a more talented kid skydiving as fast at the time when he was 16. Andy was meant to become the new Johnny Eagle (RIP), the fastest turning man on this planet. Technically Andy has it all; light enough to turn fast, strong enough to hold his ground, smart enough to remember different and difficult moves and he performs that move like a classical ballet dancer. Not many Outside Centers do what he can and shows it over and over again. And on top of it all: he brings the creativity in this team.<\/p>\n

\"Andy<\/p>\n

What do you bring?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Structure, planning, experience, solidness\u2026 I\u2019m the guy that allows the 3 others to shine in their slots, making them working hard and go-fast.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Who is your biggest support?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Grauwels clan is a big moral, understanding and supporting factor in the road that led up to the current success and as the head of it; our dad, Alex. From the early start, at times when we had it rough and through disappointing moments, he was always there, motivating us and most of all pointing out the possible awareness of becoming lazy, haughtiness and\/or underestimating the competition\u2026 Things you cannot have IF you want to become or want to stay a world champion.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Brotherly stuff<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Quick fire answers\u2026<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n