Skydivers join world record attempt at Wellington
Eighty-nine jumps have been made at SA Skydiving on World Skydiving Day as part of a globally coordinated effort.
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Eighty-nine skydivers at Wellington have jumped out of a plane and into the record books.
They joined more than 1000 others around Australia on Sunday, and thousands more around the world, in an attempt at the most skydives ever completed in one day.
Local instructor Greg Smith had the honour of carrying a World Skydiving Day flag on a jump.
He described the event as “a unique opportunity to bring the skydiving community together and make history all at the same time”.
SA Skydiving manager Matt Teager said the event had been a fun celebration of a dedicated community.
“Like any other sport, there’s a really passionate community around it, just like for football, netball or surfing,” he said.
“You can go anywhere in the world to go skydiving and feel welcome.”
He recommended that anyone interested give skydiving a try sometime.
“There’s nothing else in the world like freefall,” he said.
“It’s an extremely unique experience … people get down and can’t describe it.”
He was glad that World Skydiving Day fell in winter for the southern hemisphere: conditions were actually better when the weather was colder, he said, thanks to the colder, crisper air.
Saturday also happened to coincide with a monthly dress-up day at SA Skydiving, so those 89 jumps were made by men and women wearing Mexican gangster gear.
The Australian Parachute Federation coordinated jumpers in 33 drop zones across the country on Saturday.
CEO Stephen Porter said $1 from every jump made would be donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service: “an organisation so loved and trusted by Australians, and one we are always keen to support”.
Participation numbers from around Australia were passed on to the APF’s American equivalent on Monday, so a final tally could be drawn up.
Other participating federations included those in the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.
It was the first time World Skydiving Day had been celebrated, but the record figure will give jumpers something to aim at next year.
- More information: www.worldskydivingday.com.
