Competitive skydiving teams from all over the world will leap out of perfectly good airplanes in the Shamrock Skydiving Showdown in national skydiving's East Coast season-opener.

To watch for yourself as they fall out of the sky, grab binoculars and a blanket or chair, and claim a piece of turf at the DeLand Municipal Airport. The competition should provide spectators with plenty to watch throughout Saturday and Sunday, March 17 and 18. Skydiving begins 9 a.m. both days.

Between airplane and ground, the parachutists will scramble to grab each other's wrists and ankles to create complex four- and eight-way formations. DeLand's team is the current national and world four-way champion.

"DeLand teams have won the National Skydiving Championship since 2003," Kurt Gaebel said. "Not too many people know how good our athletes are."

From left are Gary Smith, Shannon Pilcher, Natasha Montgomery, Ian Bobo and, in back, videographer Jonathan Taggle, the five members of DeLand Fire. The Fire are the reigning four-way world champions in skydiving.
Gaebel represents Blue Skies-Go Compete National Skydiving League. He said the competition will be fierce this year.

"These are the home-turf defenders, but the threat is stronger than ever before," Gaebel said. "The Army has sent the Golden Knights, and they are professionals."

Skydiving team names are flexible. In 2004, DeLand's team called itself the DeLand Magic. In 2006, it was DeLand Fire. Now DeLand is represented by the DeLand Groove.

DeLand Magic beat the Golden Knights in 2003.

"It is possible to beat pros, but it's very challenging," he said. "They are a very good team."

Gaebel said other hot competitors include the Airspeed Odyssey out of Arizona. Airspeed Odyssey members were the eight-way and four-way champions before DeLand took the four-way and France captured the eight-way honor. Gaebel said Arizona will want its titles back.

FasTrax, from Ohio, has a world class lineup, according to Gaebel, and the team from Norway looks great.

"It's winter in Europe," he said. "Teams [from Europe] are in training camp here and will compete. Norway is already very good. They were contenders at the world championship."

In competitive skydiving, there are 22 different maneuvers and 16 formations. Teams have 35 seconds of free fall to execute the maneuvers and formations chosen for the contest. The ariel acrobatics have to be completed in a specific sequence and in the correct order.

Members of Team FasTrax out of Ohio complete maneuvers during 35 seconds of free fall. The Buckeyes will be in DeLand March 17-18 to give the hometown team, DeLand Groove, some stiff competition for the national best four-way title.
The catch is: None of the teams know what the jumps will be until the night before.

"The maneuvers and formations are all drawn the night before," Gaebel said.

Scoring is based on video footage. The videographer is a key player. The judge is on the ground. The team's videographer must capture every maneuver and formation and give the video to the judge for rating.

If the videographer misses a second of action, points are deducted from the team.

"There is no mercy," Gaebel said.

Once the judge has scored the jump, results are posted on a scoreboard.

Gaebel said the season-opener is an excellent opportunity for teams to throw down the gauntlet, impress the competition, and as size-up their competitors.

The international teams will be sizing each other up for the World Championship, which is a biannual event. The next World Championship will take place in 2008. Teams will qualify for the event at the end of this year.

"They'll be using this one to throw their fists," Gaebel said. "It's critical to impress the competition, and to see how good they are."

DeLand will be represented by Groove members Solly Williams, Gary Smith, Shannon Pilcher and Ian Bobo. Jumps start at 9 a.m. Saturday and will continue, weather permitting, until sunset. The contest will continue beginning 9 a.m. Sunday, and results and awards will be presented Sunday afternoon.

The event is hosted by Skydive DeLand. There is no charge for admission or parking.