{"id":53215,"date":"2024-07-09T17:03:23","date_gmt":"2024-07-09T17:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=53215"},"modified":"2024-07-15T13:07:25","modified_gmt":"2024-07-15T13:07:25","slug":"power-play-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/power-play-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"P3 Power Play 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Tight Skyvan exit, image by Kristian Caulder<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Power Play in a nutshell, described by Laura Galdamez…<\/h4><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever had that feeling where you look at a skydive plan put together by an organizer and chuckle to yourself thinking\u2026\u201dhaha, that\u2019s cute\u2026they have so much confidence in us.\u201d Only to land from the successful jump having Craig Girard\u2019s voice screaming in your head, \u201cThat.. Was.. Awesome!!!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That, my friends, is Power Play in a nutshell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Craig Girard watches his 16-way group coming down the hill after a successful Skyvan exit
Image by Craig O’Brien<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Incredible Event<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n

From all over the world, jumpers come together every June in the balmy desert of Perris, California, for what can only be described as a \u2018once-a-year\u2019 kind of jumping experience. Although this year had Dan BC rooting on the jumpers from the ground, there was no shortage of Dan BC-like positivity, fun, and challenge, filling the skies. Part of what makes Power Play such an incredible event is the chance to jump with a different organizer each day. This year\u2019s organizers were Craig Girard, Martial Ferr\u00e9, Doug Barron, and Doug Forth. Each of them brought a different flare to their planned skydives, which was matched only by the variety of camera angles they were captured on by the outstanding team of videographers: Craig O\u2019Brien, Norman Kent, Kristian Caulder, and Carl Schwenk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Martial Ferr\u00e9 watches his 16-way group assemble in front of a beautiful California mountain backdrop. Image by Craig O’Brien<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Challenge and Variety<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Day one involved each group having the opportunity to jump from the Skyvan, while days two and three allowed the jumpers the opportunity to jump in a formation load from two Otters. So, what did the organizers throw our way? Better yet, what didn\u2019t they?? Giant jewels, beasty bipoles, mega in-outs, track-off cat races, bicycle formations complete with spinning wheels, four-person pin double-dutch, and it only gets more exciting from there! What gets us going even more than awesome skydives?? Why not throw in there a little competition jump with the winning group getting a free round of drinks from Doug Barron himself! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
First 60-way formation on the last day, image by Craig O’Brien<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

60-way Madness<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How could it possibly get better? What about combining the whole lot of amazing organizers and jumpers for some crazy 60-way madness on Sunday. Let\u2019s do something easy, like\u2026I don\u2019t know, a totally outfacing base? Even better! Let\u2019s get everyone together in a 60-way formation and THEN have three tiers of jumpers throughout the formation simultaneously outface! But wait, what if\u2026hear me out\u2026we get the entire floater line on the trail plane to hold on with only their right arm, and give a bicep flex with their left arm? Hold on, Bob Bonitz is on that floater line! He is in his 70s and has a bum right shoulder!! Yeah\u2026that happened. <\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0Second 60-way TBS on the last day, four skydivers burble hop into the center of a 60-way formation. Images by Craig O’Brien\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0Second 60-way TBS on the last day, four skydivers burble hop into the center of a 60-way formation. Images by Craig O’Brien\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n

Now you are crazy-talking! Not hard enough you say? Okay, let\u2019s up the ante. Have you ever burble hopped into a 60-person formation?! Well, a select few bad-ass jumpers can now say they most certainly have! What an amazing way to end the day and the event, with a successful signature jump on only the second attempt. The energy in the room was palpable, and the cheer that rang out with the viewing of the successful dive could be heard from the bar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Dan BC giving energy to the jumps, image by Craig O’Brien<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Cool shit planned?<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n

But as amazing as the skydiving was, it was the group of people that really made the event special. There was no shortage of chatter, smiles and laughter throughout the entire event. The camaraderie between the group was like a big family reunion (the kind that you like), and as the rigs got packed up and the gear was stowed, I could only dream about Power Play 2025. Dan BC wasn\u2019t kidding at all when he messaged me about Power Play for this year and said \u201c…do I have some cool shit planned for you?\u201d There\u2019s only one thing left to say: \u201cHeck yeah!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Organizer Doug Barron by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Perris dropzone by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Organizer Doug Forth getting his group in the groove. Image by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
All eyes on organizer Martial Ferr\u00e9. Image by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Jill Stephenson exits the Perris Otter and identifies the base coming from the Skyvan. Image by Kristian Caulder<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Doug Forth prepares to key with strong eyes from Igor across the formation. Image by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Martial Ferre puts his 16-way group to the test with one of his trademark totally outfacing formations. Image by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Martial Ferre leads his 16-way, who seem to be making a fashion statement, green Cookie helmets are the In Thing. Image by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Martial loves to test his group to the max. Image by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Craig Girard keys his group from behind the streamers that he used, because \u2013 “Streamers are fun!”
Image by Kristian Caulder<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Doug Barron leads his group in a challenging mega-in-out warm-up jump. Image by Craig O’Brien<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
 Doug Baron challenges his group with a technical jump that ended with four donuts rotating independently. Image by Craig O’Brien<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Doug Forth leads his group in some compressed-turning craziness. Image by Carl Schwenk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Referencing everywhere is vital for this Martial medley of compressed accordions. Image by Craig O’Brien<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Martial Ferre looks back as his group keeps four compressed lines flying nearly perfectly equidistant. Image by Carl Schwenk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Julie Kleinwort tracks off smiling after a successful Power Play skydive. Image by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlights Video by XianCam<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n