3rd Dubai International Parachuting Championship & Gulf Cup 2011 - Videos

Videos from the 3rd DIPC & GC and Judges scoresheets

You can find the Formation Skydiving Videos for each team and round in Formation Skydiving on the following links:

Results and Videos by uploading the PDF results page you will  be able to access each video

As of 23.12.2011 we have loaded all Formation Skydiving videos - tomorrow we will load the Canopy Formations videos. Then we will load the judges scoresheets.

Susan Dixon and Fay Kimble.

3rd Dubai International Parachuting Championship & Gulf Cup 2011 - Live Results

If you cannot be here to watch the live judging on these huge display screens (two in the arena) then follow this link to access the results as they are posted on the DZ

Only two screens and four disciplines - not a problem - they can be run as split screens.

3rd Dubai International Parachuting Championship & Gulf Cup 2011 - FS & CF Draws

 The Draw for Formation Skydiving 4-way

 The Draw for Canopy Formation 2-way

The Draw for Canopy Formation 4-way

3rd Dubai International Parachuting Championship & Gulf Cup 2011 - Daily Diary - 9th December

Day 9 – The Final Day – Thank you Dubai

A last early morning start for the last rounds on the last day of competition. It was a beautiful morning with the sun rising through the skyscraper backdrop to this amazing DZ. First lifts were the finals of the Accuracy competition. With several tied places this was an exciting finish. We then moved into the first round of Canopy Piloting Freestyle. Although there were rounds outstanding for Distance and Speed, the Meet Director decided that although Freestyle was a demonstration event there was prize money allocated to the winners, and so the organisers wanted a result. The plan was, weather and time permitting, to complete two rounds of Freestyle and one round of Distance. To accommodate this the scheduled stop whilst the Speedboat race in the Marina was filmed (using the helicopters), was cancelled. The race still took place and could be watched from the edge of the DZ, but most people chose to watch the Freestyle.

The morning started with very light winds which increased steadily as the sun got higher. For the second round of Freestyle it was decided to run this as a third round, i.e. free choice of manoeuvre. The combination of an increasing cross wind and complexities of moves tried meant we had many a dramatic finish in the pond. Meanwhile between the freestyle rounds, and sometimes between loads the accuracy competition continued with jump offs for the tied places. Unfortunately, in the end there was insufficient time left before the air show to complete a round of Distance, and so the competition was declared over.

The planned air-show started with the Display Team of the UAE Air Force which was both beautiful and exciting; that was followed by the totally amazing show by Zoltan Aerobatic Demonstration – even though we had benefited from his show during the week, it still took your breath away with the precision and inches perfect performance.

A combined free fall team then built a 40 formation in the sky to celebrate the 40 years of independence of the UAE, followed by the Canopy Formation jumpers attempt at an UAE large canopy formation record. An appropriate way to end an International Parachuting Championship and Gulf Cup.

There then followed a well organised and thanks to Regan the “voice” of the Championships, clearly understood, Prize Giving ceremony and a closing banquet on a transformed DZ. Attended by one of the Princes, all the dignitaries were there, including John Grubbstrom, FAI President, who made a very good speech of thanks to Dubai for this competition and looked forward to next year and the Mondial. Also attending was Jean-Marc Badan, Secretary General of the FAI, Graeme Windsor, President of IPC.

Thank you Dubai – we are all excited at the thought of returning next year for the Mondial, and seeing the completion of the work on the Drop Zone.

3rd Dubai International Parachuting Championship & Gulf Cup 2011 - Daily Diary - 8th December

Day 8 - A day of Standbys, Changes and Frustration

The day started well with a round of Canopy Piloting Accuracy, at the beginning of the round there were very low winds which gradually increasing as the morning went on.  We continued with Classic Accuracy, but did not complete the Team Events.  In the afternoon there were several standbyes for Canopy Piloting Distance, but in the end it was called for the day, having spent several hours waiting, during which time the UAE Airforce practiced their air show, in preparation for the closing ceremony tomorrow.  Canopy Formations completed their 8th round in all events.  Congratulations to the medal winners.  Results available now in PDF form on:

Winners of the Open 4-Way competition - France - photo courtesy of Bruno Brokken,skydivedubai.

The organisation wanted to make a partial Prize Giving Ceremony to those events which were completed, but in the end had to call it off, as the Crown Prince had stated he wanted personally to present the medals when he attended the Ceremony at the end of the Championships and Gulf Cup.  During the day he had requested to jump on the Tandem organised for a British skydiver, Jamie Fowler, who had been seriously injured 24 years ago on a Royal Marinces Demonstration Jump, but was here with his mother (one of the Canopy Piloting judges) as a guest of the Meet Director.  The sport is very fortunate to have such an enthusiastic and generous patron.

Tomorrow it has been decided to run the Canopy Piloting Freestyle Event first thing and if time and weather permits the final round of Distance.  Also Accuracy needed to complete their semi-final and final rounds in the Female Team and both Individual events.

I apologise for the lateness of this report, but I have had problems with internet connections and judging duties.

3rd Dubai International Parachuting Championship & Gulf Cup 2011 - Daily Diary - 7th December

Day 7 - The day Prince "Fazza" jumps in.

The morning started with Accuracy and the female jumper who had so many re-jumps, on a change of clothes, made successful 6th and subsequent 7th round jumps.  A really bizarre and unique problem for the judges and equipment.  Accuracy continued with round 7, only slowing in the late morning when a Twin Otter was utilised for His Highness Sheikh Hamden Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's jump with a couple of friends, and they swooped the pond - it was nice that he could share the excitement of the event he has done so much to promote.  He has visited almost every day, normally just arriving and quietly watching what is happening on his DZ.

Early afternoon and Canopy Piloting 3rd round of Accuracy was called, but after the first two runs a black cloud moved in under the opening point, and although the helicopter circled for some time, it eventually landed.  The cloud moved away, but the wind that cleared it stayed above limits.  There was an impromptu swimming competition organised with teams relay racing the width of the "pond" attracting more spectators than anything else so far today.

 Eventually the helicopter took off again with Canopy Formations 2-way round 8, but only two teams jumped before the weather got the better of the competition. 

Another early start in the morning - 8.00 a.m for the Canopy Piloting jumpers - depending on the wind it will either be accuracy or distance.

Photographs courtesy of Nicolre Bradfield "On Snap Photography", here with the Canadian team.

3rd Dubai International Parachuting Championship & Gulf Cup 2011 - Daily Diary - 6th December

Day 6 - Completion of the First Event - Formation Skydiving

all three Formation Skydiving Female 4-way teams - British, French and Russian. photo courtesy of Amélie Tirman of the French Team

The day started with a exciting round of Canopy Piloting - Accuracy.  With a building tail wind the water gates did not seem to present too much of a problem, but controlling the landing and achieving a stand up did.  Only one yellow card was handed out this round, to a competitor who tried to stop in the landing zone with a hook turn.  Lucky not to be injured, his public yellow card probably did injure his pride and if that was his only injury he should consider himself fortunate

Pictutre of the Gulf Record Canopy Formation attempt (one wrong grip) - courtesy of Agnieszka Solomon, Judge

Immediately the round finished we moved into completion of round 5 for the Accuracy Female Teams, followed by round 6 Open (mixed) Team Accuracy and Female Teams.  Unfortunately it was not possible to complete round 6 for the women due to one competitor being awarded 4 re-jumps, due to equipment failure i.e. no score given on landing.  Apparently this is not the first competition where this particular competitor has either been very unlucky or there is something about her that upsets the electronic equipment.  She made her re-jumps whilst the Canopy Piloting competitors moved into a round of Speed.  Now they were entering the course with a cross wind and on the carve turned into a headwind.  Only about 20% of the competitors managed to fly the whole 75mts of the course, many managing to keep the canopy flying long enough to run through the exit gate.

We then had to rush back to the hotels to catch the buses which took everyone to the Desert Resort Hotel/Restaurant where we experienced an evening of good food, company and traditional entertainment culminating in a visually mind-blowing firework display.  Thank you to the organisers for providing such a great experience for everyone.  Even the Formation Skydiving judges who had stayed at the drop zone to complete the judging of the final round made it, albeit a little late.

So at the end of the Formation Skydiving competition we have the following medal, and prize money, winners:

4-way Open - 3rd Dubai International Parachuting Competition

First Place with 205 points, an average of 25.6                 France

Second Place with 197 points, an average of 24.6      Belgium - Hayabusa

Third Place with 174 points, an average of 21.8         U.S.A. II

4-way Female - 3rd Dubai International Parachuting Competition

First Place with 147 points, an average of 18.4                 Great Britain

Second Place with 141 points, an average of 17.6      France

Third Place with 174 points, an average of 21.8         U.S.A.II

Gulf Cup - 4-Way

First Place with 115 points, an average of 21.8          Quatar Tigers I

Second Place with 84 points, an average of 10.5          U.A.E. Red I

Third Place wth 83 points, an average of 10.4         U.A.E. Gold II

Congratulations to all the winners and to all the competitors for a good competition.

3rd Dubai International Parachuting Championship & Gulf Cup 2011 - Daily Diary - 5th December

Day 5 - Windy!

The programme was to start Canopy Piloting Accuracy this morning, but the wind changed all that.  A long standby period was only interrupted by the Canopy Formation Teams coming back ftom their jumps onto the local Racecourse.  They quietly completed rounds 6 and 7 leaving the final round only to be done.  The 2-way competition currently has Russia National Team in first, followed by Australia 2nd and France 3rd.  In 4-way sequential, France are in the lead with Russia second and the USA third.   4-way Rotations have Russia leading with France second and Kazakhstan in third.

At 3.15 the Canopy Piloting competitors were released for the day, and by 4.00 the Accuracy continued, completing round 5 of the Individual and Team Female event, and the start of the Male Individual and Open Team event, round 6.

Photographs courtesy of Nicole Bradfield "On Snap Photography", herewith the Canadian Delegations, as a photographer.

An even earlier start in the morning with 7.40 lift off for Canopy Piloting Accuracy.  Let us hope we have less dramatic landings:

3rd Dubai International Parachuting Championship & Gulf Cup 2011 - Daily Diary - 4th December

Day 4 - Almost over for some, long way to go for others - and all to play for.

An unusual Baloon amongst those helping to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Indepednce Day	Along with the 16way CF stack (pictures to follow) skydivers built a "happy birthday" message with fun and respect.

Another long day for the Accuracy jumpers, early start and late finish.  At least in Dubai it does not run on into the evening, as it is dark by 5.30 - and we are treated to magnificent sunsets at the end of each day.  This is really developing into an interesting and tight competition : at the end of 5 rounds appropriately the Male Individual event has in first place one of the UAE competitors, Al Gaith Ahmed Rashed on 1cm with 4 tied for 2nd place on 2 cm and 5 tied in third place with 3 cm.  Their 6th round commences early tomorrow after the Female 5th round is completed.  The competition here is between the Chinese and Russian competitors with China in 1st and 2nd  Russia in 3rd and Chinese and Russian tied in 4th place.

Whilst Formation Skydiving completed the 7th round, Canopy Piloting filled the middle of the day with two exciting rounds of Distance.  With a moderate following wind for the first round there were no huge scores, but after mid-day the wind picked up and the 2nd round gave some very impressive runs and a few bruise inducing arrivals, as each competitor pushed the limits of their performances.  Many of the judges for Formation Skydiving are also judging Canopy Piloting, and so the 8th round of FS, planned for the afternoon has been rescheduled to later in the week to allow the round 7 scores to be published, and to give those competitors a day off in Dubai.

Meanwhile Canopy Formations continued, by the end of the day 4 rounds of all events had been jumped and scored.  The weather forecast for tomorrow is similar to today and so it is planned to continue with the Accuracy, then Canopy Piloting with another round of Accuracy and one of Speed.  Canopy Formations will continue to take place out on the Racecourse in the town.

3rd Dubai International Parachuting Championship & Gulf Cup 2011 - Daily Diary - 3rd December

Day 3 - the Morning After ....

***Follow the link for Instant Results***  Results

 Another early start for the Accuracy Teams to complete Round 2 and start Round 3.  Meanwhile the "technical problems" which had made the Canopy Formations Judging impossible had finally been solved with the installation of a seperate network for the judging area, thus allowing the dubbing, downloading to the system, and the In Time scoring system to function to its full potential.  So the Canopy Formations also jumped round 3 whilst round 2 was being judged.  By the end of the day Round 3 was completed.

Formation Skydiving also completed two rounds today, leaving the semi-final and final rounds for tomorrow.  Weather permitting this event should be completed with plenty of down time to enjoy Dubai.  Canopy Piloting also completed one round of distance and one of speed.  A good day was had by all.  Accuracy is on early call tomorrow, as normal, when they will complete Round 4.