• FS BigWay Camp 2020

    The best entertainment and education per skydive.

    THE BASICS

    • WAS 22-25th May 2020 -> NOW 30th July - 2nd Aug 2020 
    • Skydive Pink, Klatovy, Czech Republic
    • Four days of jumping. (Wednesday is arrival and warm up day and is strongly recommended).
    • 20 jumps.
    • No stress
    • No blame
    • Just fun, smiles and cheesy high fives.
    • Please be ready for 8am Thurs 30th July. 
    • Release time no later than 4pm Sun 2nd Aug.

    WHO SHOULD BE DOING THIS CAMP

    • Skydivers who want to get bigway current for the summer
    • Skydivers who haven't done multi-plane before
    • Skydivers that want to learn bigway properly
    • Skydivers who want to have a fun trip. Obvs.
    • Skydivers that want a reference for other events

    WHO SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS CAMP

    Skydivers who want multiple completions.
     
    This camp isn't about completions. It's about learning the skills required in a no stress atmosphere. As soon as there is an expectation of completions, the stress increases, decisions are rushed and mistakes are more common. No stress. No blame.
     
    You need to be aware that you will do some jumps in your comfort zone. And then you will be rotated into a slot that you are not comfortable with. 50kg people in the base? 100kg people on the outside? That's what we do. Test yourself.

    There were zero completions in 2018 and 2019. Perfect. But everyone came away more confident about performing under pressure in a traditional bigway environment AND they were all smiling.

    This is how you learn bigway properly.

    MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

    At the start of the event you must have:

    Minimum 50 jumps post FS1.*
    Minimum 5 jumps in 1 month prior
    Minimum 1.5hrs tunnel total of which at least 20mins in the 3months preceding.


    New for 2020:

    Please practice your tracking. Get used to tracking next to someone for a few seconds before fanning out and separating.

    Suggest you try this on at least two jumps ahead of the camp.

     

    Plan and jump a normal FS jump, 2 or 3 way. At 7k, turn and fly as a tracking team. Fan out at 5k, and deploy at 4. These altitudes are just a suggestion, feel free to modify them to make them more appropriate for your jump.

     

    * C licence (200 jumps total) required to jump from high altitude with O2 and to jump the balloons. If you're close, make it happen.

     

    If you can still hit the previous pre-Covid19 requirements you will get more out of the event than if you don't:

    Minimum 15 jumps in 3 month prior
    Minimum 2 hrs tunnel total of which at least 1hr in the 3 months preceding.

     

    HOW TO RESERVE YOUR SLOT

    1) Read this website.

    2) Pay the reg fee. Details in the reg form or available by email.

    3) Fill in the reg form.

     

    (scroll down this website to see the list of confirmed attendees - once registration is open, obviously)

    THE PLAN

    Day 1 plan is to do 11ways (internal camera on one group).

    To get the best results we need to build a strong foundation. A few of you might think progress is too slow on day one but the benefits will show later in the camp.

     

    Day 2. TBC. Depends on current world situation and how current everyone is. If we can do multi-plane, we will. Maybe one (Euro based) group will do multi-plane and one (UK based) group won't. We just won't know til we see everyone.

     

    Days 3 and 4 are planned to be multi-plane. 11 from each plane.

     

    Nominally 5 jumps per day but we'll flex if weather requires it. Option of a 'special' 6th jump on one evening. See below.

    REGISTRATION FEE

    Sliding Scale. The bigway FS scene is ageing. To encourage younger skydivers to join we're using a sliding scale.

    • Registration fee = £140 (equivalent to £35 per day for LO and camera on five jumps - a massive bargain. Equivalent to less than 4 mins in the tunnel)
    • Under 30? Discounted reg fee = £95
    • In full time education? Discounted reg fee = £75 (equivalent to only £18.25 per day, or less than 2 mins in the tunnel)

    Bank transfer preferred. Credit card option exists. Euro bank account details exist too.

     

    The reg fee covers your LO and cameraflyer costs for 5 jumps per day for 4 days.

     

    PS The sliding scale seems to work so happy to keep it for a third year. Would love to hear your feedback.

    SAFETY

    We all want to come home in one piece...

    • No turns greater than 90deg under 1500 feet. 
    • There shouldn't really be any turns greater than 90deg over 1500 feet either.
    • Land in the same direction, as indicated. OR land well away from everyone else. So far away we can't film you.
    • If your downwind leg is on one side of the landing area, then you should NOT travel the whole width of the landing area on your cross wind leg as you'll be cutting everyone else up.
    • If multi plane, suggest you carry a phone with you. I've landed off on more multi plane jumps than wingsuit jumps. No one wants it to happen. But...
    • Make sure you have the number of the DZ stored in your phone.  
     
    You will need to prove yourself safe in freefall and especially under canopy before we allow you to progress to multi plane. We'll be watching and assessing you from the moment you arrive at the dirt dive (don't be late) until you're back in the packing tent. Be safe. Look out for each other. We want you to jump multi-plane. BUT more importantly we have to make sure that the other 21 jumpers in the group are not put at unnecessary risk.

    EDUCATION

    You should have at least 50 jumps post FS1 (or equivalent) to be considering this event.
     
    You should have at least 2hrs of tunnel flying experience and at least 1hr of tunnel flying in the 3 months prior to the camp although the new requirements are a little less. Tunnel time can be as cheap as £140 for an hours group flying. (www.dynamic6.uk is my group social tunnel flying mailing list)
     
    If you have >200 jumps then you'll be able to take part in the O2 jump(s) from >15k. This is planned for day3. At least one jump. No more than two. Unless everyone has >200 jumps and wants to get high.
     
    You should try some 'tracking team' jumps before you arrive. At least 2 jumps. Try and fly close to each other, start slow and get faster. The aim is maximum horizontal distance travelled.

    Tracking teams are great. But we only seem to use them on the big jumps. This means when you're on the biggest skydive of your life, and your audible beeps 6k, suddenly you're doing something you've never done before. Unneccesary stress. But with practice? You'll nail it.
     
    You should be aware of and understand the following bigway terms;
    • Quadrants
    • Radials
    • Stadium Approach
    • Red Zone
    • Tracking teams

    You don't need experience of doing these though, that's what this camp is for. If we don't make a single completion BUT everyone comes back confident they've got the skills to nail a bigway formation record AND we're all smiling? That would be just perfect.

     

    But obvs... I'd love some cool photos too. That's what facebook is for, right?

    THE SKY(VAN) IS THE LIMIT

    The DZ have confirmed that there will be two skyvans on the DZ. It all depends on how many registrations we have between the FS bigway groups.

     

    Jump tickets at Klatovy are EUR33 each. (price correct as of July 2020)

     

    The planes are equipped with O2 and can go to 19K ASL. Single plane 02 jumps would be more likely than multi-plane 02 jumps.

     

    The cost is 10 euro extra for Flight Level ("FL") 17, and 20 EUR extra for FL19. Klatovy is about 1k ASL so we'd get 16k and 18k to play with.

    THE BALLOON IS THE LIMIT

    The DZ owns two hot air balloons. Two! All jumpable. Approx EUR 106 per jump. They fly every morning and evening if the conditions allow. It's recommended and we'll flex where we can to allow you to jump these.

     

    And no, I've never heard of a multi-balloon jump either.

     

    C licence is required or a logbook showing 200 jumps.

    INNHOPP

    • Innhopps are AMAZING. 
    • We'd jump one evening and land out. Somewhere. Somewhere scenic. Somewhere.
    • Because you haven't seen the landing area, except in a rudimentary drawing, your senses are heightened making it an amazing experience. 
    • Dinner and transport back to the DZ would be included. 2018 there was free beer on the landing area, fire dancers, a cowboy on his horse and a live band. I shit you not. 2019 we landed at a fucking castle and there was free beer on the landing area, dinner and tours of the castle.
    • All the boring stuff is included like ground crew, transport for ground crew, smokes for landing direction, boat crew if near water, extra fuel for the plane, transport home for everyone etc etc, blah blah blah. 
    • We've no idea on costs but last year, if I remember correctly, it was 1 jump ticket plus EUR45.
    • Optional. Also an option to ride the bus there to join us.
    • No need to decide now. Decide at the event.
    • This is not guaranteed to happen. However, we will endeavour to make this happen. It's the icing on the cake.  

      TBC

    FLIGHTS & ACCOM

    • Please be on the DZ for 8am on Day1. DZ registration can be a little slow. We'd like to be on a call for 9am. 
    • You'll be released about 1600 on the Sunday in order to make the late flights home to the UK.
    • I'm working on a hotel package so we can all stay in the same place. Don't feel you have to if you've got a bigger budget. Costs are pretty reasonable. Standard hotel price is about 25-30 euro per night inc breakfast. Expect breakfast to be typically Czech. Expect twin beds to be separate mattresses but one double bed frame. I don't know why, it's just what they do there. 
    • It is likely accommodation will be tricky and single rooms at a premium. :-(
    • Nearest airports are Prague and the ones in southern Germany. Assume Prague will be most popular but suggest you do your own checks. 

    FUN

    I'll be LO for some chilled warm up jumps the day before. My current plan is to fly out and jump the day before. Feel free to join me. Or do your own thing.

    TSHIRTS

    Event tshirts are notoriously hard to get right. I don't do them. I am happy to assist someone else sorting them though.

     

    2018 - event tshirts were crowd sourced. John Horne was 'the man'. He designed them and found a manufacturer.

     

    2019 - The legends of Sun Path Products subsidised the event tshirts - it was a one off. Shirts supplied by Manufactory. Approx USD 70 per shirt. Wow. Amazing. Jemma Westing was the designer to rule all designers.

     

    2020 - tbc. If you want to make it happen, please be my guest. I'm happy to help. Thank you.

     

    Small print

    E&OE. Registration fee is your deposit. Non-refundable but can be swapped if you/we find someone to take your place. By coming on this trip you are confirming that with appropriate training and encouragement you will be able to safely fly 22ways. We will do our very best to help you. However, if you're unable to fly in 22ways safely; your approach is uncontrolled, your tracking is inefficient or your canopy control is reckless, or maybe you're just having a bad day, at some point you will be asked to stand down from the group.

     

    Everything here is reported as I've been told. Be aware though that planes can break. Fuel prices can go up. Weather can be shite. Balloons can be taken out by a bird with a sharp beak. DZOs can offer to pay for a 3rd plane to carry one skydiver to altitude solely to get outside video or they can change their minds. Volcanoes, earthquakes, locust swarms and virus pandemics all happen. Brian is not responsible. Blah blah blah. :-)

  • How do I get a place?

    Did I mention this was first come first served?

    STEP ONE

    Read this website. Be happy with the contents. It has all the information you need. (If it doesn't, email me and I'll make sure it gets listed).

    STEP TWO

    Pay the reg fee. It's on a sliding scale in an effort to encourage younger skydivers into the Bigway FS scene.

    • Registration fee = £140 (equivalent to £35 per day for LO and camera on five jumps - a massive bargain. Equivalent to less than 4 mins of tunnel per day)
    • Under 30? Discounted reg fee = £95
    • In full time education? Reg fee = £75 (equivalent to only £18.75 per day, or less than 2mins of tunnel per day)

    The payment details are in the Registration form or are available by email. I'm not sure how sensible it is to post bank account details on a website.

     

    Reg fee covers LO and cameraflyer costs for five jumps per day for four days. I am a full time skydiver so I do need to earn something per day, I hope you understand. This is not planned to be a profit-gouging event, registration is still pretty reasonable and bigway event costs are notoriously unpredictable. My 13 month old daughter thanks you. x

    STEP THREE

    Fill in this registration form.

     

    • It's the minimum information we need now.  
    • There will be a later reg form, late July, with more detailed information so that we can make sure you get the most from the camp. 
    • Jump numbers don't need to be precise. To the nearest round number is fine. 
  • Who's got a confirmed slot?

    Did I mention this was first come first served?


    LO1) Brian (obvs). Confirmed in
    LO2) Rob Kendall. Confirmed in
    Vid1) Martin Skrbel, previously attended as participant in 2018 & 2019. Confirmed in.
    Vid2) Emily Aucutt. British Skydiving Instructor of the year 2019. Confirmed in.
    5) Chris Holland, 630 jumps, 21 hrs tunnel, UK, previously attended in 2019. Confirmed in.


    6) Debbie Maline, 840 jumps, 140 hrs tunnel, USA/Germany. Confirmed in. (Not Sunday?)

    7) David Griffith-Jones, 446 jumps, 3 hrs tunnel, UK, previously attended in 2018 & 2019. Confirmed in.
    8) Phil Taylor, 245 jumps, 4 hrs tunnel, UK. Confirmed in.
    9) Martin Clarke, 322 jumps, 6 hrs tunnel, UK. Confirmed in.

    10) Jozef Just, 412 jumps, 15 hrs tunnel, Slovakia. Confirmed in.
     

    11) Veronika Kontarova, 224 jumps, 15 hrs tunnel, Confirmed in.

    12) Stano Bilacic, 825 jumps, 20 hrs, Slovakia, Confirmed in.

    13) Martin Biro, 123 jumps, 4.5 hrs, Slovakia, confirmed in.

    14) Paul Moden, 200 jumps, 2hrs, UK. Confirmed in.

    15) Taras Vozniuk, 580, 10, Slovakia. Confirmed in. Not Sunday(?)

     

    16) Richard Owen, 500, 30, UK. Confirmed in.

    17) Gareth Corfield, 740, 5, UK. Confirmed in.

    18) Fabrizio Colonna, 370, 28, UK. Confirmed in.

    19) Jozef Hloben, 550, 150, Slovakia. Confirmed in.

    20) Lubomir Grofcik, 1360, 6, Slovakia. Confirmed in.

     

    21) Dave Hillwood, 400, 2, UK. Confirmed in.

    22) Jana Faixova, 97, 10, Slovakia. Confirmed in.

    23) Tomas Cacko, 420, 6, Slovakia. Confirmed in.

    24) James Baird, 750, 2, UK. Confirmed in.

    25) Jason Fox, 670, 18, UK. Confirmed in.

     

    26) Morgan Holland, 220, 12, UK. Confirmed in.

    27) Fleur Jones, 899, 30, UK. Confirmed in.

    28) Christian Sanabria, 350, 40, Germany. Confirmed in.

    29) Ivica Just, 80, 13, Slovakia. Confirmed in.

    30) Richard Kolozsi, 600, 200, Slovakia. Confirmed in.

     

    31) Jason Burgoyne, 460, 2, UK. Confirmed in.

    32) Jens Klobe, 1160 jumps, 30hrs, Germany. Confirmed in.

    33) Stefan Kostenbauer, 1500, 20, Germany. Confirmed in.

    34) Jaqueline Marschitz, 545, 17, Austria. Confirmed in.

    35) Stu Bruce, UK, Also attended in 2019. Confirmed in.

     

    36) Gordon Wong, 180, 3, UK/HK. Confirmed in.

    37) Mark Hay, 544, 2, UK. Confirmed in.

    38) Massimo Dal Chiele, 2200, 10. Confirmed in.

    39) Massimiliano Rodofili, 2500, 15. Confirmed in.

    40) Domenico Caparrotti, 1500, 64, Italy. Confirmed in.

     

    41) Cat Brown, 588, 60. Confirmed in.

    42) Ian Longbottom, 475, 4, UK. Confirmed in.

    43) Phil Murray, 450, 10, UK. Confirmed in.

     

    44) Christian Burkhart, 1420, 90. Germany. Confirmed in.

    45) José Bäßler, 800, 40, Germany. Confirmed in.

    46) Ilona Bäßler, 2800, 30. Germany. Confirmed in.

    47) Timothy Veel, 260, 10. Confirmed in.

    48) Peter Ebner, 5950, 3, Germany ??

     

     

    Reserve list:
    1) Franzi Wiesler

    2)

    3)

    4)

    5)

     

    Top top TOP supporters - we love you very much - thank you for donating your registration fee now that you can't make the new 2020 dates. We hope the 2021 event provisionally planned for mid-May fits your diaries.

    1) Elizabeth Hurry

    2) Alex Santau

    3) Nicola Houlahan

    4) Nigel Cross

    5) Padraig Duffy

    6) John Horne

    7) Ken Yeadon

     

     

  • BigWay Camp 2019 and past events

    BigWay Camp 2019 - Paul Rimmington edit

    May 2019

    BigWay Camp was at Skydive Pink Klatovy in Czech Republic. 46 skydivers travelled from UK and Ireland to jump.

     

    Video by Paul Rimmington

    BigWay Camp 2019 - Tom Shorten edit

    May 2019

    BigWay Camp was at Skydive Pink Klatovy in Czech Republic. 46 skydivers travelled from UK and Ireland to jump.

     

    Video by Tom Shorten

    broken image

    BRIT200

    2020-2024

    Brit100 was 1999. It's time to go big again.

    Register your interest at www.brit200.uk

    BigWay Camp 2018 - 22ways

    May 2018

    BigWay Camp was at Skydive Pink Klatovy in Czech Republic. 22 skydivers travelled from UK and Ireland to jump.

     

    Video by Paul Rimmington

    BigWay Fun 2017 - 45ways

    BigWay Fun 2017 was at Skydive Pink Klatovy in Czech Republic. 45 skydivers travelled from across Northern Europe to jump. Don't expect the same standard of skydiving at the camp. Camps are for learning and training. This is a no stress, no blame camp for learning.

     

    And yes, I'm biased, but this is my most favourite event video ever. Credit: Dan Girdea

     

    Paul - the gauntlet has been laid. ;-)

    broken image

    What does Brian know anyway?

    Sept 2015

    World Record 2 point 202way formation. This photo shows the intermediary photo between the two points. Taken over Skydive Perris. Photo by Willy Boeykens

    202way Sequential World Record - My PoV

    I was late diver on a trail plane on a nine plane formation. This is my footage. Can you see the quadrant, the radial, the stadium and the tracking teams? 

    broken image

    BigWay Beginners - Nethers, Langar & Hib

     

    BWB has been running since Caroline Hughes and Skydive Choreography came up with the concept. We teach the basics in a no blame environment whilst providing testing slots for intermediate and experienced skydivers at the same time. BWB has run at Nethers, Langar and Hibaldstow in the past. If you know a DZ that offers a multi-plane experience in 2020, we'd love to know. This photo taken over Hib. Photo by Jon Trevor.

    broken image

    Chasing Tails 28way team - Hib

     

    Chasing Tails competed in the Hib 28way competition from inception to 2013. Brian was captain in 2011 (1st place) and 2013 (2nd place). Photo by Matt Black.

    broken image

    Skydive Spain Xmas Boogie

    Xmas 2008 and 2009

    FS Load Organiser at Skydive Spain Christmas Boogie.

    broken image

    Also likes wingsuits

    Oct 2015

    Large formation wingsuit world record holder - 61way set over Skydive Perris. Photo by Norman Kent.

  • Testimonials

    46 ppl, two groups.

    Rated 4.7/5 from 32 reviews

    23 ppl, one group.

    Rated 4.8/5 from 22 reviews

    It's simply not possible for the 2020 event to be more special than we had in May 2019. Expect a good event where you will learn loads. If BWC2020 is hyped too much so that you're expecting the best skydiving event ever, then if you only get a very good event, then it may be a disappointment.

    Holy crap, the pressure is on! ;-)