{"id":61077,"date":"2025-11-26T18:01:36","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T18:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=61077"},"modified":"2025-11-26T18:01:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T18:01:40","slug":"train-like-a-champion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/train-like-a-champion\/","title":{"rendered":"Train Like a Champion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Yohann Aby on what it really takes to win in artistic skydiving<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The artistic disciplines are the most beautiful within skydiving but they are also among the most unforgiving competitive environments in sport. Every move you practiced, every hesitation you ignored, every hole in your preparation becomes brutally visible in the 45 second performance. Talent is essential to become the world champion, but it is actually training, precision, discipline, and control which are the differentiators.

This is the list of some non-negotiables for competing and training if you expect to win. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photographer Ewan Cowie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ground Preparation Determines Your Competitive Outcome<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

70% of your performance is the preparation you do on the ground. The most dangerous mistake competitors make is believing the jump begins at altitude. To be a serious competitor expecting a place on the podium, you must internalise every aspect of the routine. And whether your brain is clear and focused or cluttered and distracted will impact your performance in the sky.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My advice: rehearse mentally until the routine exists in your nervous system, not your memory. Take the time to visualise:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Every transition
\u2022 Every angle relative to camera
\u2022 Every hotspot in your jump<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you cannot execute the full routine in your head without hesitation, and walk it precisely with your teammate(s) on the ground, you should not expect to perform it flawlessly in freefall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photographer Ewan Cowie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Fundamentals Create Championship-Level Skydving Routines<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Fundamentals are the basis of a winning routine. Complex choreography looks impressive, but your jump requires control, stability, precision, and intentional motion. A great routine is just a combination of perfectly balanced fundamentals! My advice: build sequences on proximity and controlled execution first, complexity second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Perfectly timed body transitions with your partner(s)
\u2022 Smooth speed(fast\/slow movement control
\u2022 Clean axis lines
\u2022 Clear entry and clear exit from moves<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the artistic skydiving disciplines, if you take your time between sequences, you will save time during the jump. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photographer Andrey Slepnev<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Camera Flyer Is a Full Team Member<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The camera flyer Is not an accessory Your routine is only as good as the camera that captures it. Competitors who treat their flyer like a cameraman instead of a teammate sabotage their own score. My advice: train together as a unit. The camera flyer needs to be an integral part of the team. He must know through experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Your timing
\u2022 Your speed changes
\u2022 Your reactions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can\u2019t trust your partner blindly in the air, you don\u2019t have a team. You have two separate skydives happening near each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photographer Ewan Cowie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Train for Instability and Recovery<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Things will go wrong. How you respond under stress matters. Anyone can look amazing when everything goes right. Champions look composed when things go wrong. They know how to look nice during chaos.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My advice: train instability, not just perfection and practice recovery, not just choreography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have to anticipate and ask yourself the good questions after:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Off-axis spins
\u2022 Unexpected burble
\u2022 losing balance
\u2022 losing visual<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You ask yourself when everything goes wrong \u201c\u201cwhat will I do, where will I look\u201d. If you constantly ask yourself this question, you will create fluidity in chaos, and only you will recognize it, no one else will suspect it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photographer Seb Chambet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Athletic Conditioning Directly Impacts Scoring<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Physical conditioning is not optional The artistic skydiving disciplines are athletic in nature. Those that come out on top have the strength of a gymnast, the ability to breathe like a freediver, and the controlled balance of a dancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My advice: train the body like an athlete. Any sports where you develop strength, cardiovascular, and balance will aid enormously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Focus physical training on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Core stability under rotation
\u2022\u00a0Endurance and symmetrical strength
\u2022 Hip mobility for seamless transitions
\u2022 Breath control drills to manage tension in exit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fatigue creates instability. Instability loses points. Your conditioning is literally part of your routine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photographer Seb Chambet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Recovery Accelerates Gains<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Recovery is a part of training too often neglected Rest is how the body learns and absorbs the training. Improvement comes from analysis and reflection, not just repetition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My advice: train for a week, digest it for days or weeks, and then come back to train again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spend your recovery time:

\u2022 Reviewing video brutally, without ego.
\u2022 Studying timing discrepancies, not just big mistakes.
\u2022 Distracting your mind with something else (like a round of golf)\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schedule intentional rest, not accidental and forced rest when injured or exhausted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passion for the Process Is Everything<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Last and perhaps the most important non-negotiable: You have to be passionate about training. You must love the process more than the result. The skydivers who only chase podiums quit long before they become winners. The ones who endure and become world champions\u00a0 are in love with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 The drills
\u2022 The rehearsals
\u2022 The repetition
\u2022 The coordination
\u2022 The responsibility
\u2022 The creativity\u00a0
\u2022The craft<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winning is not a reward, its years of devotion to training, repetitions, and choices. But it\u2019s worth it. You will become better in every aspects of your flying and personality (commitment, strength, humbleness, wisdom).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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