DAY 9: EYE OF THE STORM

“During competition, you will feel an extra surge of adrenaline. Training will tell you that when the adrenaline kicks in, you should compensate by calming your breathing. But part of you is not going to believe the training because so much is at stake, so much effort has been invested. If you’ve prepared well and trained effectively, there’s nothing to doubt. Take that deep breath. You only have one opportunity.  Right here.  Right now.  You only get one shot. Make it count.”

- SFC Matt Davidson

There are 21 countries* competing in 9 different events** at the 2010 World Parachuting Championships here in Menzelinsk, Russia.  And with two years worth of training invested to reach this point, our Team is in the zone and ready for the final three rounds of this competition.  It’s hard to believe that today could be the culmination already.

Todays’ battle cry?

“LAURINBURG.”

Laurinburg, North Carolina is our home Drop Zone.  Located about an hour drive West of our Headquarters on Fort Bragg, it’s where this team has conducted over 95% of their training jumps for the last two years.  Competitors on this team average 1,000 jumps per year – so each Teammate has over 2,000 jumps invested over the last two years working for today.

“Laurinburg.”  It represents all the effort invested in this odyssey to become a Champion – to be the best in the World.  It also reminds of the methodical approach taken to preparing for each jump.  That today is just another day at work – 2 ½ miles above the earth going 120 miles an hour.  Our Team left Laurinburg just over a week ago averaging over 21 points per jump, not only exceeding their goal, but good enough to win this thing.  All they have to do is their best.

We finished yesterday in first place ahead of the French by one point after 7 rounds of competition.  Only three rounds to go.

Breakfast found even veteran jumper and Team Leader SFC Brian Krause visualizing his dirt-dive, a mental preparation technique to help remember all of the movements and positions from exiting the aircraft to deploying his canopy.

It was a quiet bus ride to the drop zone this morning.

GK-8 rides the Bus to Menzelinsk Drop Zone (Photo by @GKJoe)

What’s Ahead Today?

Round 8 – will be a memory jump…one that forces the competitors out of slot half way through the jump.  In doing this, they’ll have to fly one of their team mates positions and have to remember twice as many maneuvers and positions.

Round 9 – a speed round.  This is a fast draw consisting of “randoms” or random formations that may be built very quickly.  It’s a great opportunity to rack up points, but that’s a double-edged sword.

Round 10 – speaks for itself.  A slow draw.  The final jump of the competition, the pressure alone is enough to keep the well-trained sharp.

TEAM USA GK-8 Heads to the plane on the Final Day... (Photo by @GKJoe)

Here’s today’s play-by-play…

Round 8 – A somber series of landings indicated that things did not go as well as hoped.  After scoring this round, USA was trailing France by one.

Round 9 – The enthusiasm of a good jump was great to hear and feel on the drop zone.  Team was content that they had left nothing on the table.  Unfortunately, our 21 points was out done by the French, who had an even better jump scoring 23 points.  This left us in second place with 181 to 183 – behind by three – going into Round #10.

Round 10 – A tough round to make up 3 points.  Waiting on the official score, but things don’t look good.

While we’re waiting, check out this VIDEO from TEAM USA’s Freestyle Team:

2010 WPC TEAM USA Freestyle

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* 21 Countries: Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, Ukraine, and of course, the USA!

** 9 Different Events: 8-Way, 4-Way Open, 4-Way Female, Vertical Formation Skydiving (4-Way), Freefly (2-Way), Freestyle, 4-Way Canopy Formation Rotation, 4-Way Canopy Formation Sequential & 2-Way Canopy Formation Sequential.