{"id":28599,"date":"2020-10-08T14:20:07","date_gmt":"2020-10-08T14:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=28599"},"modified":"2020-10-09T07:09:26","modified_gmt":"2020-10-09T07:09:26","slug":"1st-greek-formation-skydiving-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/1st-greek-formation-skydiving-record\/","title":{"rendered":"1st Greek Formation Skydiving Record"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To set the 1st<\/sup> official Greek National record with participants from every skydiving club in the country in the middle of a pandemic, could seem a difficult task, but on Friday October 2nd<\/sup> 2020, it finally happened!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Skydiving in Greece is not as popular as in most European countries, where a 14-way formation may sound \u201ctoo easy\u201d to accomplish. The fact that for many years small Cessnas were the biggest planes you could jump out of, and the slow progression of flyers, didn\u2019t help on the direction of setting any National record.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Organization and logistics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the last 6-7 years, a bigger plane, more jumps per year, better flying skills and more time to practice, made it possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As always, the organizing of a National Record attempt, especially for the very first time, is the most difficult task. Aerial photographer Ioannis Vlachiotis had the idea, and after many months of preparation, managed to gather skydivers from all over the country, set the formation \u201cnumber and shape\u201d, and make it happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The choice of the location of the attempt fell on Skydive Athens<\/a>, the only DZ in Greece with a Cessna C-208 Caravan and able to climb up to 14,000ft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The First attempt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that there were no preparation-practice jumps, that the jumpers had never jumped all together before, and a couple of minor mistakes during the exit, the formation was completed right from the 1st<\/sup> jump! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waiting official approval from the FAI judges (Mike Pennock – Netherlands, Randy Connell – USA, Tamara Vorst – Netherlands, Rogier Carper – Netherlands) was full of …  agony! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026  but it didn\u2019t take long. The 1st<\/sup> Greek FS skydiving record was a fact!! History had been made!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The first record – a 14-way formation
Photo by Ioannis Vlachiotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why Not Go Bigger?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

And what a better way to continue the day than\u2026breaking your own record?? A bigger formation (15-way this time) was prepared and already known to the judges, so all they have to do was to \u2026fly the darn thing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good psychology makes a huge difference, especially in such jumps.
After the successful first one, everybody was stress-free, and the new formation was completed again as fast as the 1st<\/sup> one!  Watching the video made sure that all grips were visible but it was up to judges to decide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And they did! 15-way is the official Greek biggest formation skydiving record!<\/strong> Maybe it doesn\u2019t sound very impressive to the skydiving world but it\u2019s a start!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A women\u2019s FS record and perhaps an sequential FS one will be our next goal, but we have to finish the beers first!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Success for the Greek team – the 15-way correctly completed
Photo by Ioannis Vlachiotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

15-way is the official Greek biggest formation skydiving record”<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Congratulations to All Invoived<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Congratulations to all the participants from Skydive Athens<\/a>, Skydive Attica<\/a>, Skydive Greece<\/a>, Skydive Thessaloniki<\/a>, and Hellenic Skydivers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many thanks to all the judges for their help before and during the attempt, Hellenic Aeronautical & Airsports Federation, Skydive Athens<\/a> and Anastasis Sideris for the hospitality, Nikos Pavlidis for sharing knowledge and experience during the ground preparation, our French pilot Sebastien Caline, our ground control, all the packers, and DK rental house<\/a> for covering the event saving lots of GBs of ground video for next generations to remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a camera flyer I just wish for more images in the Greek sky like these in the future!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a camera flyer I just wish for more images in the Greek sky like these in the future”<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The 15 new record holders, coming from all 15 active DZs in Greece
Photo by Ioannis Vlachiotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Record participants:<\/strong> Apostolopoulou Kalliopi, Biskas Apostolos, Kalatzis Spiridon, Karpouzas Nikolaos, Ka\u03bcbourova Maria, Livanos Konstantinos, Mikroulis Alexandros, Pavlidis Nikolaos, Pithamitsis Ioannis, Ptochos Christos, Saldinger Mario, Seferlis Christos, Sideris Anastasios, Sourlis Dimitrios, Zougri Adamantia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organizer & Camera flyer\/Photographer:<\/strong> Ioannis Vlachiotis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The author, Ioannis Vlachiotis, at the end of the event<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Video Story<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Organizer Ioannis tells the story in video…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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