FOUR Goulburn skydivers will attempt to make history this month when they participate in a world-record jump for the most number of people linked up in a joint skydive.
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Adrenalin Skydive instructors Ken Richards, Tony Kaine, Derek Murphy and Matt Chambers are heading to the United States to link up with more than 100 other Australian skydivers to break the current large formation skydive record, which is 112 people, which was set in Perris Valley, California in 2010.
To break the record, the 120 skydivers need to link up for more than three seconds after jumping out of seven planes at an altitude of 20,000 feet (6.2km)
In preparation for the Aussie Big Way Record attempt in Perris Valley, California from May 28 to 31 this year, the four men have been participating in training camps in Australia and will also attend two training camps in the USA.
Adrenalin Skydive in Goulburn hosted a three-day training camp on March 13-15 this year, to help the Aussies hone their flying skills in preparation for the record this month. Adrenalin Skydrive
Spokesperson Dawn Tratt said the record attempt is being held in America because none of the drop zones in Australia have enough planes to organise such an event.
“Between five and seven planes are needed to drop such a large group of jumpers into the sky at once,” Ms Tratt said.
One of the skydivers, Mr Richards said the Aussie Big Way is a great opportunity to go overseas - not to mention to break an Australian record.
The 28-year-old started skydiving in 2008, and has since racked up more than 3500 jumps.
“The Big Way is a big commitment - more than 120 people with the same goal. The best part is when everyone gets back on the ground.
Like the three other Goulburn representatives heading to the Big Way event, Mr Richards has a military background.
“When I do things I commit to it. In the army we strive for excellence in everything that we do,” he said.
Mr Kaine (who leaves for the States on May 17) is 47, and has more than 2200 jumps.
His first jump was on his birthday in 1987 in the army.
When he is not teaching people to skydive, and taking newbies on their first tandem jumps, he enjoys flying over to the States for Big Way formation events. Mr Chambers, 63, has more than 2,500 jumps. The former Chief Instructor at Adrenalin Skydive was part of the Aussie Record in 2010.
“It was awesome, on the last day we cracked it (the record) on the first jump. I think we have a good chance this year with all the preparation and practice going on,” he said.
Mr Chambers’ aim is to fly well enough to make it on the team for the record itself, as many are kicked off in the preliminary training camps if their flying skills are not up to scratch.
“It’s great to have your name in the record books.”
Mr Murphy has around 1,600 jumps under his belt and is not new to breaking records.
In 1989 he and a group of friends hosted the highest formal dinner party in Peru on a snow mountain top 23,000ft above sea level wearing tuxes and top hats.
Whatever happens, the men are in for a thrilling time. Adrenalin Skydive has been operating from Goulburn Airport since 2010.
