Parachuting Canopy Piloting Description

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What is a Canopy Piloting competition ?

Canopy Piloting involves a series of tasks designed to test a parachutist’s ability to control his canopy and fly accurately. Each task starts with the parachutist navigating through a number of gates which are situated over water. The parachutist has one of three goals, depending on the task; complete the course in the shortest time, therefore having the highest speed, complete the water section and then land on a target as accurately as possible, or achieve the longest distance from the entry gate before touching down.

The World Games Champion Parachuting Canopy Piloting is the competitor with the highest total number of points from all completed rounds of all events

Speed – Drag Speed (2 rounds) and Full Speed (1 round):

A competitor’s score for a round is the time measured from Gate 1 (Entry Gate) to Gate 5 (Exit Gate)

For each round, the competitor flying the shortest time scores 100 pts (100%) – other competitors results are calculated as a percentage of top competitor

Distance (3 rounds):

A competitor’s score for a round is the distance measured from Gate 1 (Entry Gate) to the first point of ground contact after Gate 5 (Exit Gate) or, when landing in water between:

• Gate 1 – Gate 2: result of 10m
• Gates 2-3: result of 20m
• Gates 3-4: result of 30m
• Gate 4 – Gate 5: result of 40m

For each round, the competitor flying the longest distance scores 100 pts (100%)– other competitors results are calculated as a percentage of top competitor

Accuracy (3 rounds):

A competitor’s score for a round is the sum of watergate points and landing zone points, less penalty zone points and points deducted if a competitor fails to make a stand up landing (-10pts)

For each round, the competitor with the highest sum of points scores 100 pts (100%) – other competitors results are calculated as a percentage of top competitor

Program of Events

Competition: 36 competitors
3 rounds – Accuracy
2 rounds – Drag Speed
2 rounds –Distance

Semi-finals: 18 competitors
1 round – Full Speed

Finals: 9 competitors
1 round - Distance

Tell me more !

Canopy Piloting is a fairly new sport, made possible by the development of smaller and faster canopies in the mid 1990’s. The discipline was originally called ‘blade running’ but soon evolved into the format on display at the Games. Competitors compete over a stretch of water for safety reasons because of the high speeds involved - at the same time creating spectacular action as parachutists whizz across the surface of the water, leaving a plume of spray behind them. This discipline requires a high level of skill and experience with many national federations insisting on a minimum requirement of 500 parachute jumps before allowing a competitor to enter a Canopy Piloting event. Many of the competitors at the Games are professional parachutists or work for parachute manufacturers in the development of new canopies.