South African National Skydiving Championships (all disciplines except Canopy Piloting) : 25 April to
2 May 2009
By Liz Cooper C1665

A successful 2009 skydiving nationals (excluding CP) was hosted by Rustenburg Skydiving Club at Mafikeng Airport.

Although this year’s nationals was not large in numbers, with only 63 competitors registered, the PAC 750XL coped very well with the nationals’ demands. Nearly every discipline was entered, with enough teams to add some good competition. The Open FS was well represented and, for the first time in a long while, all rounds were completed.

Team Videots

Team Hoverlord on the trolleys

Atmonauti featured greatly at this year’s nationals. All categories were entered and all rounds done.  It was a great boost and exposure to this up and coming discipline. The CF teams were mostly competing against personal scores, but they still managed to get themselves all wrapped up in the competition.

André and Gerrit pack before their next CF jump

Atmonauts Gerhard, Brendon & Marco

It was great to see some close competition down to the last jump in the junior accuracy.

The weather was gracious to us and we only lost a couple of half days towards the end. We still completed 1244 descents, had only 1 incident and a couple of cutaways.

Project Skyhigh

A prizing giving closed off the meet and was finished off by the competitors dancing the night away.

Thank you to everyone who made the skydiving nationals happen - staff, competitors, aircraft operators, judges and sponsors.