BigGERWay Skills Camp 2023
The next step. It's time to go bigGER.
Mon 31 July - Fri 4 Aug 2023
Skydive Pink, Klatovy, Czech Republic
Sun 30 July - Arrival and warm up day - heavily recommended. Free Load Organising.
Sat 5 Aug - Boogie Fun Jump Day
BigGERWay Skills Camp 2023
The best entertainment and education per skydive.
🪂 THE BASICS
🪂 WHO SHOULD BE DOING THIS CAMP
🪂 WHO SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS CAMP
🪂 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
At the start of the event you must have:
1. JUMPS (200 & 40)
a) At least 200 jumps OR an excellent recent reference.
b) At least 40 jumps in 6 months preceding this event, ie between end Jan - end July
2. TUNNEL HOURS (3 & 1)
a) At least 3hrs tunnel total
b) At least 1hr in the 3 months preceding the camp, ie between end April - end July.
3. REFERENCE
A reference, dated after Jan 2022, recommending that you step up to 40ways. Do not make this up. Do not put down someone's name that you haven't asked.
Exceptions: The 200 jumps is mainly a requirement so that we can do O2 jumps as a group. If you have less than 200 jumps total AND you have excellent references you should definitely speak to us about applying. But easier if you have 200 jumps.
Minimum requirements are there to make sure you learn the most from this event (oh, and 'safety'). More is better.
Practice Jump requirements:
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 five 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.
NOTE: 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.
There will be O2 jumps.
If you don't have a C licence, or a logbook showing 200 jumps, then you will leave the plane at normal altitude and we'll close the door after you. Sorry.
🪂 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.
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(scroll down this website to see the list of confirmed attendees - once registration is open, obviously)
🪂 THE PLAN
You need to be aware that you will do some jumps in your most comfortable slot. And then you will be rotated into a slot that is slightly outside your comfort zone. But we won't be putting 50kg people in the base. We won't be putting 100kg people on the outside. That's what the BigWay Skills Camp is for. And at the BigGER way Skills Camp we want some completions. But don't worry, you won't get pigeon holed, you will try a variety of exit positions and be stretched outside your comfort zone. Expect it. Embrace it. Own it.
The plan is that everyone will come away more confident about performing under pressure in a traditional bigway environment AND you will learn smiling. Probably. You might be a right grump, I can't be responsible for that, sorry.
This is how you learn bigway properly.
Day 1 we'll plan to do some 20ways.
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. Perhaps one O2 jump.
Days 2-5. 40ways. Perhaps 2x O2 jumps from increased altitude later in the week.
Nominally 5 jumps per day but we'll flex if weather requires it. Option of a 'special' 6th jump on one evening. See below.
We plan for 5 jumps a day. You have 2-3 chances to get it right each day. If you have not performed sufficiently well that day, you will be asked to step down from jumps 4&5 to allow the team to make a completion. You will be invited back to join us for the first jump the next day. We hope that you would practice your skills, show your dedication and impress us by joining the Talent Pool 20way group.
If we make the completion, we will explore a sequential, or move slots for everyone for the remaining jumps. If we move slots for everyone, people who have been stood down may be allowed to join us at the LOs discretion. If we are exploring sequential options then we look forward to jumping with you in the morning.
It is not expected that the Talent Pool will step up to take a regular slot on the 40way group. But also it is not impossible.
🪂 REGISTRATION FEE
Same as BigWay Skills Camp. Sliding Scale. The bigway FS scene is ageing. To encourage younger skydivers to join we're using a sliding scale.
Credit card options exist in the registration form. Bank transfer saves 1.4% card handling fee. 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 fourth year. Would love to hear your feedback.
PPS The credit card company takes 20p and 1.4% from every card transaction. After feedback from participants on previous events, I have included a voluntary option to cover the 1.4%. This is totally optional and not expected at all.
PPPS if a simple thing like money is the only thing stopping you from registering... speak to me. We might be able to find a flexible solution. I just want people to jump.
🪂 SAFETY
We all want to come home in one piece...
🪂 EDUCATION
You should have some experience of doing these on 20ways and be ready to display these skills on 40ways.
🪂 THE SKY(VAN) IS THE LIMIT
The DZ have confirmed that there will be two skyvans on the DZ.
Jump tickets at Klatovy are EUR36 each. (price correct as of Nov 2020)
The planes are equipped with O2 and can go to FL20. Single plane 02 jumps are marginally more likely than multi-plane 02 jumps.
The costs are:
4200m / 13,800 ft AGL is EUR 39.50 (No O2 required)
4800m / 15,750 ft AGL is EUR 45
5200m / 17,100 ft AGL is EUR 56
6000m / FL20 / 19,700 ft AGL is EUR 64
Klatovy is about 1k ASL so we'd get 1k less than stated numbers. ie if we're going to do it, we're going all in. To the top. Well, at least once anyway.
🪂 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.
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And no, I've never heard of a multi-balloon jump either.
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C licence is required, or a logbook showing 200 jumps.
🪂 INNHOPP
🪂 TRAVEL TO CZECHIA & ACCOM
🪂 FUN
I'll be LO for some chilled warm up jumps the day before. My current plan is to fly out on 22nd ahead of the BigWay Skills Camp that is now running directly before this BigGER Way Skills camp.
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After the event I'll be unwinding with some fun boogie jumps on the Monday. Wingsuit rodeos, freefly, big big star formations, 9way tubes. Anything goes. Join me?
🪂 TSHIRTS
Event tshirts are notoriously hard to get right. I don't do them. I am happy to assist and guide someone else sorting them though.
2018 - event tshirts for the BigWay Skills Camp 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 - hahahaha.
2022 - ugh, I was persuaded to do tshirts for my big 3 events of the year. I am still having issues with them. Something (everything?) always goes wrong.
2023 - 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 and secures your place. Non-refundable but can be swapped if you find someone to take your place - I will help as best I can. By coming on this trip you are confirming that with appropriate training and encouragement you will be able to safely fly 40ways. We will do our very best to help you. However, if you're unable to fly in 40ways 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.
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- Places are limited. We need at least 40 to go ahead.
- If your Govt, or the Czech Govt forbids you from travelling there would be a 100% refund.
- If the Czech Govt requires a period of quarantine on entry, then there would be a 100% refund.
- If your Govt allows you to travel but recommends against it for all but 'essential reasons' there would be a 100% refund.
- If your Govt allows you to travel without an essential reason (eg holidays) but imposes restrictions, eg a period of quarantine, then this would be your responsibility.
- Deposits are non-refundable (with the above exceptions) but is transferable. I'd do everything I can to help you find a replacement.
- If the May event is cancelled this event will become a 20way event instead.
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In 2020, some Czech events weren't able to be held but the planes were able to fly to Cottbus in Southern Germany. I'm told their landing area is even larger. I hope we don't have to consider this but we might have to. It's not that far of a drive from Klatovy, a couple of hours so flights wouldn't need changing.
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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, meteor strikes, black holes, zombie hordes and virus pandemics all happen. Brian is not responsible. Blah blah blah. :-)
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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.
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 2.5yo daughter thanks you. x
STEP THREE
Fill in the registration form...
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Who's got a confirmed slot?
Did I mention this was first come first served?
LO1) Brian Cumming
LO2) Rob Kendall
LO3) Fleur Jones
Vid1) Paul Rimmington, previosly attended as cameraflyer in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022.
Vid2) tbc
If we push the plane capacity, we could squeeze 48ppl total onto this camp.
BigGER Way Skills Camp and past events
BigGER Way Skills Camp 2022 - Paul Rimmington Edit
July 2022
Skydive Pink, Klatovy, Czech Republic. 48 skydivers travelled from around Europe to jump.
Video by Paul Rimmington
BigGER Way Skills Camp 2022 - Dave Clarke edit
July 2022
Skydive Pink, Klatovy, Czech Republic. 48 skydivers travelled from around Europe to jump.
Video by Dave Clarke
BigWay Skills Camp 2020 - Martin Skrbel edit
July 2020
Skydive Pink, Klatovy, Czech Republic. 48 skydivers travelled from around Europe to jump.
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Video by Martin Skrbel
BigWay Skills Camp 2020 - Emily Aucutt edit
July 2020
Skydive Pink, Klatovy, Czech Republic. 48 skydivers travelled from around Europe to jump.
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Video by Emily Aucutt
BigWay Skills 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.
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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.
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Video by Tom Shorten
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.
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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.
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And yes, I'm biased, but this is my most favourite event video ever. Credit: Dan Girdea
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Paul - the gauntlet has been laid. ;-)
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?
Testimonials
48 ppl, two groups.
Rated 4.8/5 from 31 reviews
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 BigGERWay Skills Camp to be more special. Expect a good event where you will learn loads. If BigGERWSC21 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! ;-)
Copyright 2020