Australian record tumbles at Skysisters
April 28, 2011
Following a week of coaching at the Skysisters event in Toogoolawah, Queensland the girls today broke the Australian all-female record with an impressive 8-way Canopy Stack Formation on their first attempt.
The record which replaces the 5-way record set at Skysisters 2007 was co-ordinated by Jules McConnel, the national champion in canopy formation and silver medallist at the 2010 World Championships.
“I’ve been coaching the girls all week in preparation for this attempt so we’re all really pumped about getting it together on the first jump and setting a new Australian record,” said Jules.
“Canopy formations are probably one of the most male-dominated disciplines in skydiving purely because of how physically taxing it is to fly under canopy for that long. It’s like doing ten minutes of pull-ups at the gym without a break!”
The record was set by Jules McConnel (NSW), Kat Mettler ( QLD), Charlotte van den Burg (QLD), Jill Grantham (VIC), Amy McDermott (WA), Riss Anderson (QLD), Tracey Basman (NSW) and Wendy Smith of New Zealand.
They were certainly in the best possible hands with Jules McConnel who has great experience in large formations being the only Australian female on the 100-way World Record achieved in 2007.
“We are so proud of the girls, the Drop Zone erupted when we saw them holding the formation above us and you could hear the squeals of delight for miles,” said Susie McLachlan, organiser of Skysisters 2011.
“This is what Skysisters is all about, pushing boundaries and breaking records as a group of girls who love what they do.”
The jump was captured by world-renowned cinematographer, Norman Kent who is responsible for filming the skydiving scenes in movies like Terminal Velocity, Point Break and Get Smart as well as Australian skydiving cinematographer extraordinaire, Steve Fitchett.
Ends.
The record-breaking skysisters:
Jules McConnel (Moruya, NSW)
Kat Mettler (Westend, QLD)
Charlotte van den Burg (Toogoolawah, QLD)
Jill Grantham (South Yarra, VIC)
Amy McDermott (Salter Point, WA)
Riss Anderson (Fortitude Valley, QLD)
Tracey Basman (Wahroonga, NSW)
Wendy Smith (New Zealand)
Ends.
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