For the second consecutive year, the PD Factory Team earned top honors at the U.S. National Championships of Canopy Piloting. This year's event was hosted in late September by Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Ill. PD factory pilots Shannon Pilcher and Ian Bobo finished 1st and 2nd respectively, defeating 25 other pilots in three rounds each of speed, distance and accuracy. Their performances earned them spots on this year's U.S. Canopy Piloting team, together with teammate Jonathan Tagle, who finished 9th.

High cross winds made this year's competition especially difficult. During the competition, ground winds consistently remained just below limit, while the winds at setup altitude (from 600-1500 feet) were much stronger. Add to it a cross-wind component and it made for very tricky setups, with many competitors making major adjustments late in their maneuvers just to make the course. Needless to say, experience reigned.

In the end, the PDFT earned gold and silver in speed, gold and bronze in distance, and silver in accuracy.

Tagle, who was seriously injured one week prior to the competition, chose not to practice during the warm-up days. Although probably a smart decision health-wise, he struggled early in the meet to find his "mojo," and missed two entry gates in the speed event. He finished powerfully, however, cruising to victory in the distance event and miraculously clawing his way back into the top 10, and onto the U.S. Team.

Canopy Piloting was the final event of this year's nationals docket, and many competitors bolted home immediately following the awards ceremony. For those who stuck around, the PDFT organized a couple of the tightest and smoothest 16-way canopy flocks to date.

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The PD Factory Team took a “divide and conquer” approach over the Labor Day weekend this summer. While Jonathan Tagle and Shannon Pilcher were busy in the U.S. competing at the PST Championships in Colorado, Ian Bobo headed to Holland to defend the team’s winning streak at the European Swoop Tour Finals, held again at beautiful Lake Bussloo.

The typically balmy European weather disappeared, however, and the 38 international competitors descended upon a dreary, cloudy and windy competition site. Spirits rose as the courses took shape for the event at the beautiful park and recreation area surrounding a lovely manicured beachfront lake.

Conditions for the event were very challenging due to the high winds at setup altitude followed by the turbulence behind the tree-lined shore. Organizer Henny Wiggers did an excellent job of keeping the meet on pace, yet managing the safety of the competitors. The standard events of distance, speed, and accuracy alternated between straight and carving courses throughout the weekend.

The competition field had some notable showings including the enthusiastic Belgian contingency, ever ready with a smile and a beer; a staunch Swedish team that at one point was all over the leader board; and the fireplug Australian, Michael Vaughn, who has been tearing up the EST this summer.

Experience and consistency proved its worth in the difficult conditions as many suffered from heart-breaking zeros. In the end, Bobo took the top honors and successfully dealt with the pressures of being the sole “PD guy” at the meet. Fellow American and upcoming powerhouse Tom Delibac took second place, followed in third by the Spanish phenom, Pablo Hernandez. The winners pocketed a prize purse totaling around US$7,000.

Special thanks go out to all the volunteer judges and staff, and to Henny Wiggers for his undying energy and passion for canopy piloting, and for never underestimating the value skydivers put on a great after party.

This summer’s PD Factory Team activities also included some hands-on training of some U.S. Special Forces military units. A small elite group of Navy SEALs visited Skydive DeLand, Fla., Aug 16-19, for an intense training session with the PDFT’s Flight-1 canopy curriculum. The camp coach’s were Ian Bobo, JC Colclasure and Jonathan Tagle.

With low student-to-coach ratios, the plan consisted of a days worth of Essential Skills review and quickly progressed into the focused Air-2-Air program. The main intent of the camp being to renew and revive air skills under canopy for the group’s tactical insertion exercises.

The group’s basic landing skills and accuracy improved quickly on the first day. Most of the attendees are instructors within the SEAL community, and used the camp as an opportunity to hone their skills for their own educational programs. By the second day the coaches had split off into focused groups of two, working core range of motion exercises under canopy with each SEAL.

“Working with these guys was about as good as it gets for the Flight-1 instructors,” said Bobo. “They are sharp, athletic, versatile, and with a can-do attitude that doesn’t quit.”

By the third day, the subgroups made up of two SEALs per coach, were doing much more complex sequential canopy-flight exercises. The final day consisted of some large flocking jumps from altitude with all the participants and the coaches working on dynamic group canopy flight.

“We also put some pride on the line, and some pushups, with a little group accuracy competition between all SEALs and the coaches,” said Tagle.

In the end, some great respect was shared by all those involved, and the PD Factory Team was honored to be apart of this elite group’s progression.

The team would like to offer special thanks to Ron Solo and Emma, for keeping those canopies packed and all the jumpers on pace...and kudos go out to Ramsey Kent for all the ground video work. Mark, lots of respect for all the admin help and vision for the course and its goals. Lastly, to all the SEALs for the hard work and commitment, both in the course and in the line of duty... we salute you.

Follow the PD Factory Team as they continue the dream of flight.

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