{"id":36166,"date":"2021-08-24T13:41:03","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T13:41:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=36166"},"modified":"2021-08-30T07:31:38","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T07:31:38","slug":"sequential-joy-in-klatovy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/sequential-joy-in-klatovy\/","title":{"rendered":"Sequential Joy in Klatovy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It felt like heaven… <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Back over Klatovy \ud83d\ude42
Photo by Antje Grube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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… to be back in Klatovy with the big-way Sequential Gang<\/a>\u2026<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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It\u2019s been a difficult year and a half, to say the least, with the world going through the worst crisis I have personally experienced. Athletes all over the world, in all sports, experienced the same difficulties in training and had to deal with their \u201cnormal\u201d life going to hell. Depending on where you lived the situation was bad or awful, with dropzones closed for long periods of time and with safety regulations that prevented gatherings. The big-way world stopped, our skills suffered from lack of training and we missed our sky family big time.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m aware that, compared with the sufferings everywhere in this period this is a very small issue, really tiny, but this is a skydiving-related article and I am a fanatic big-way lover, so I get to decide the perspective. \ud83d\ude0a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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No envy for the solo flyers… none \ud83d\ude43
Photo by J\u00fcrgen Klaus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Group<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Patrick Passe was our one and only leader for the Klatovy Sequential Gang because Milko was still stuck in the UK, alongside all the Brits that could not make the journey. Patrick had put together an incredibly strong team, eager to shine again at a high-level event. In Hohenems<\/a> most of us managed to get the rust off and we were ready to play with the \u201cbig stakes\u201d again. A few new faces appeared in the mix, all of them super strong 4-way players and big-way enthusiasts. We hope they had lots of fun with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We dearly missed the Brits, who were not allowed to enter the Czech Republic. Over 20 people and Milko Hodgkinson (my favorite big-way captain in the whole wide world) had to stay at home and watch the fun from social media. It was incredibly annoying, especially since the restriction relaxed just one day before the start of the event, too late to make a difference. We really hope to share the skies with you guys as soon as possible! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sequential Gang sending good vibes to their UK friends, with Maddy and Andreea holding the Union flag
Photo by J\u00fcrgen Klaus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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In the meantime we enjoyed a lot the company of Maddy Heath Kelly, the only Brit present in Klatovy. Maddy moved to Belgium some time ago to be with her lovely other half, Angelo, so she could join the event. Many of us are in her debt for the wonderful yoga sessions she coordinated in the mornings so we could be in shape for the event. \ud83d\udcaa <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Morning yoga
Photo by Bogdan Pi\u0219tea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The jumps<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Patrick did an awesome job coordinating alone the 49 happy skydivers that showed up and he made no secret of the fact that he was going to push our skills to the limit! It was FUN! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather was not perfect, but as we managed to do more than the 16 jumps that were initially planned, no one complained. On the first day, Sunday the 8th<\/sup> of August, we split the group in 2 and did only two single-plane jumps, dancing around the clouds that played with us all day. But after that, even if we had some stand-by periods, we played hard and we played better and better!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My favorite formation – 9 pieces flying side-by-side, some of them outfacing
Photo by J\u00fcrgen Klaus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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After the first day Patrick threw at us complicated sequential formations, many times with outfacing people or pieces flying side-by-side and he pushed the acceleration pedal hard when the situation allowed it. I can write ten more pages but sometimes photos speak for themselves and we prepared a nice gallery for you at the end of this article. \ud83d\ude42 A good moment to mention the camera team that flew with us this time \u2013 J\u00fcrgen Klaus and Antje Grube, you are awesome and we thank you very much for the work you have done and the incredible memories you immortalized for us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event ended on Friday with tired, but happy faces all around me. We are especially grateful to the organization of the dropzone for all their efforts in making our stay as perfect as possible.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Snippet from the Sequential Gang fun in Klatovy <\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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