March this year saw the Black Knights start an intensive training package in Perris California. With no less than five new members joining the team, Bdr Kenny Everitt, Lbdr Richie Green, Lbdr Chris Spoto, Lbdr Mike Outon, and Gnr Louis Saunders it proved to be an interesting training camp. when out in America the team were learning a variety of skills to become a display jumper. The parachute team which are now nine strong have been booked for over 40 demos up and down the country, and are now after team training more than happy to get stuck in. Whilst in the US the team ran 3 expeditions with up to 15 students on each course and are due to run another one soon!
For those already familiar with skydiving, the training included Canopy Relative Work (also known as CRW) as part of the parachute display. This involves Stacking two or more parachutes together and moving onto Bi-Hands (side-by-side) and Down-Planes (forcing the parachutes into a high vertical rate of descent) which is always a crowd pleaser. This type of formation work is not only physicaly and mentally challenging, but if things go wrong it can be dangerous too. With a couple of unsettling moments the new team members learnt the true value of CRW.
The team also practiced flag flying and the sometimes tricky art of Demo Landings which involves the whole team successfully landing in a minimum arena area of 100m by 50m. They where also tested by the Californian winds which often blew in two directions at once and managed extremely well. With up to 90 training jumps under everyone’s belts all team members are now looking forward to a very rewarding season.
Team Training 2007
2007 the team had been fortunate enough to achieve a great deal during their annual training camp. During the training all team members had the chance to consolidate not only display parachuting (the bread and butter for the team) but their individual parachuting skills as well. The location for team training for the 2007 season was held in California USA for two weeks. This is a world class parachuting centre with numerous world champions who assisted with the training. There, the newer members where taught the principles of display jumping, with a mixture of ways to exit an aircraft from different altitudes for display purpose. A vast majority of the display training was how to approach and how to land in an arena which is what is required of a display jumper. Jumping with smoke and flags was also concentrated on due to the fact that SSAFA provided the team with new flags for the season and a new parachute for next season.
As well as display parachuting practice for all members of the team old and new, they had to keep they’re Formation Skydiving (FS) skills current for the up and coming competition season back in the UK. During this time, the team leader introduced the team to Canopy Formation (CF), for some members of the team not doing CF for quite a while and for the newer members this new skill was approached with excitement and anticipation. Needless to say, the team opted to “work” more on their CF skills rather than their FS skills due to them needing “more practice”.
In May, three of the team members attended an advanced parachuting course held at the Joint Service Parachute Centre in Netheravon. This was an ideal opportunity for them to take advantage of two World Champion skydivers from the USA, gaining knowledge, tips and valuable advice. There they benefited from tutoring on there FS skills and Canopy Handling.
In the months of June, September and October, two team members went out to Cyprus to help instruct on an Advance parachuting course and build on their FS skills, Free Flying skills and instructional skills. Not only them but the whole team has benefited from the training they received.
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