1st World Wingsuit Performance Flying Championships, Z'Hills, Day 4
Sunday, 6th November 2016
ANOTHER WORLD RECORD This time the record established on Monday by Chris Geiler, USA was broken by Chris himself : Existing record 88.1
Round 1, Time = 94.2 and Round 3, Time = 95.7 In fact the existing record (88.1) has been beaten 11 times in this competion.
One round to go, one of each task. Early start this morning (to make up for the clocks going back an hour last night!). There was another competitor briefing last night to reconfirm clarification on a suit design which had safety issues and could not be jumped during this competition. It was used as a general question and answer session, which led to competitors requesting better information communication - i.e. when on a stand-by and some idea of timing.
Skydive TV continue to work and bring us interviews, and information on the history of wingsuiting, especially interesting as some of the developers are here at this competition. Follow this link to read more. Or watch this episode from Skydive-TV.
There was also a protest made yesterday and so the Jury had something to do! The protest and report are on the Jury Notices page at the foot of this report.
8.45 Our first fifteen minute call is made. Unfortunately as the jumpers arrived this morning for the early start, so did the clouds. They have cleared, the test run has been made, jump run is due North, wingsuit flights due West. At the moment Chris Geiler, USA is still in first place, Travis Mickle, USA in second place and our World Cup Gold Medal Winner, Espen Fadnes, Norway in third. At the end of the first task the positions remain the same. We now have a 45 minute stand-by before the second task gets underway.
12.00 Fifteen minute call for the second task of round 3, Distance, but it was not long before the clouds appeared again and everyone was stood down. 14.00 and we are back on a fifteen minute call trying to complete the distance round. The last lift for today is set for 16.00 hrs.
Ready for the next task!
16.00 hours
The 1st FAI World Wingsuit Performance Flying Championships is over - unfortunately in the Sunshine State the clouds beat us and we did not complete the 2nd and 3rd tasks of round 3. The results are being finalised as I write - subject to the Chief Judge's confirmation we have Chris Geiler, USA as the first Wingsuit Performance Flying World Champion : Travis Mickle, USA Silver medalist and Espen Fadnes, Norway Bronze medalist. The competitors' meeting is about to commence and the Prize Giving is set for 19.00 hrs tonight.
Several members of the IPC Wingsuit Committee were present at this 1st World Championships to listen to feedback and ideas from the competitors. Many interesting ideas and suggestions for changes to the rules were made; notes were taken by the committee for further discussion on "how to" bring some ideas to the rule changes they will propose, to the IPC Plenary Meeting in January 2017, for final approval.
The meeting was closely followed by the medal and award ceremony to acknowledge the 1st FAI World Wingsuit Performance Flying Champion - Chris Geiler, USA:
Chris Geiler, USA – world champion
![](/sites/default/files/article/image/gold.jpg)
Travis Mickle, USA – silver medal
![](/sites/default/files/article/image/silver_medal.jpg)
Espen Fadnes, Norway – bronze medal
![](/sites/default/files/article/image/bronze_medal.jpg)
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S
to all the Competitors and a huge 'THANK YOU' to everyone who worked to make this all possible - from the Drop Zone owner and host, to all his staff in their myriad roles, to the Judges, the Jury and the Scoring System providers without whom this technological discipline would not happen. Thanks to all the meet officials and to our Media Partner Skydive-TV for bringing this discipline to a wider audience. See you all next year at the World Cup!
IPC President (Dr. Rainer 'Exi' Hoenle), Our medal winners and World Champion, Kate Charters, Chief Judge
Tomorrow we start the World Cup in Wingsuit Acrobatic Flying. The Draw will be published at 9.00 a.m. with the first call at 9.45am for 10.00am wheels off. Don't go away.