Spectacular scenes on Saturday in Roosendaal. Countless donuts, diamonds and stars follow each other in rapid succession in the indoor skydiving center. The jumping figures are performed by 45 teams from different European countries during the international Grand Prix Skydive.
The teams, consisting of four skydivers, must perform as many formations as possible in 35 seconds. The foursome that has formed the most figures without errors after eight jumps wins the championship. Most participants come from the Netherlands and Belgium, but teams from Italy, Sweden and even Lithuania also participate.
Winning is important, but even more important is the passion we share together.
Mandy Feijen from Asten can talk about it. She won the title last year with the Dutch national team ‘Out of the Blue’. Mandy: “Winning is important, but even more important is the passion we share together. For this sport you have to be very attuned to each other. Because we know each other better and better, we grow closer.”
In the vertical wind tunnel, skydivers can perform a free fall similar to a parachute jump. “Yet there are also participants in this championship who have never jumped out of a plane. This form of skydiving has therefore also become a sport in itself,” explains participant Sven Ibens.
The best part is of course jumping out of a plane.
The Belgian has more than ten thousand ‘real’ jumps to his name. “That is of course the best thing. But the advantage of ‘indoor’ is that you are not dependent on the weather.”
Mandy, who has made 3,500 parachute jumps so far, also doesn’t have to think long about what she prefers to do. “The best part, of course, remains jumping out of a plane.”
