Discipline description

The SSA is there to help you, the skydiver, obtain skills in order to progress in the sport and to compete at national and international events. The tick boxes on the Membership Application Form determine the funds allocated to each discipline to promote itself. When you renew your membership, please think carefully about your discipline choices before ticking these boxes. You may select as many boxes as you like with your contribution being split accordingly. If you have any questions in this regard, please ask an instructor or an SSA representative (details are at www.para.co.za under “sports”), or contact the PASA office at admin@para.co.za or Telephone / Fax: 021 553-3398.

 
Formation Skydiving (FS)
Formation Skydiving is the ultimate team sport and generally consists of 2, 4, 8 or 16 people. The flying position is belly to earth while forming as many formations as possibly before opening your canopy. FS is about precision flying and using your body to displace wind in order to do the formations. The team is only as fast as it slowest member. There is nothing better than tracking away from a perfect 35 seconds of fully synchronised precision-built formations. FS combines great personal skill with extraordinary teamwork.

 

Artistic Events (AE)
Artistic Events comprises 3 events: Freefly, Freestyle and Skysurfing. These are an expansion of skydiving which includes using any combination of the three flying axes (roll, pitch, and yaw). These positions increase freefall speeds and make new types of formations and routines possible. AE is a three-dimensional art form of skydiving that is constantly evolving with its growth in popularity. It can be immensely enjoyed as solo skydiving as well as in groups once individual skills improve.

 
Canopy Formation (CF)
Here, groups of jumpers leave the aircraft and open their parachutes relatively quickly in pre-determined sequences, allowing them to fly those parachutes together in various formations. CF is an exciting discipline within our sport and appeals to those who enjoy precision flying and doing something different with a parachute than merely landing it.

 

 

 
Freefall Style and Accuracy Landing (S&A)
These disciplines were the first two competitive events in the history of sport parachuting. The two events are often referred to as Style and Accuracy, and the discipline is often referred to as the Classics. In both events the competitor is required to demonstrate his precision abilities relative to the ground. In Freefall Style the competitor maneuvers his body in freefall, as accurately and as quickly as possible, using a target on the ground as reference, and in Accuracy Landing the competitor tries to land as close as possible to a target on the ground.

 

 

 
Canopy Piloting (CP)
Specialised high-speed accuracy flying of high-performance parachutes. Taking some of canopy formation and accuracy landing combined with high performance canopy flight to make for some spectacular viewing. Distance, accuracy and speed are the 3 events that are combined to find the overall winner in this discipline. Normally practised over a body of water, there are some great views of water spray created. For those interested in exploring canopy flight to the full.

 

 

Wing Suit (WS)
Wing suit flying is the newest discipline in competitive skydiving. It uses a specialised jumpsuit in order to fall slower while covering greater horizontal distances. Two flyers and one camera flyer exit an aircraft together and perform a number of set moves or rounds and are scored for each correctly executed move. Competition includes a free round where competitors make up their own routine which is judged on difficulty, execution and artistic flair.