Arizona harbored more than one arena of adrenaline-induced sporting excitement for Ohio State students during winter break.
Two members of the OSU Skydiving Club competed in the National Collegiate Skydiving Championships in Eloy, Ariz., from Dec. 27 to Jan. 1. Capturing second place in the two-way competition, in which two people jump together, the OSU skydivers reaped the rewards of hard practice and monetary sacrifice.
“Skydiving is more than just falling out of a plane. It really involves a lot of acrobats,” said Mark Derian, a junior in exploration studies, who competed in two-way competition.
Derian and his partner, Adam Abelow, a senior in aviation, were accompanied to Arizona by their skydiving adviser and coach, Brian Smith. Each year, licensed OSU skydivers, such as Abelow and Derian, travel to Arizona to test their confidence and mental focus while gliding through the air.
Abelow and Derian performed in two-way competition, hustling to execute choreographed maneuvers at 10,500 feet.
“Because our set routine is only announced the night before competition, we really had no chance to practice,” Abelow said.
Creepers, which are similar to skateboards, permit skydivers to simulate their routine while on the ground. Lying on the creepers, which have an entirely flat surface, skydivers can envision the most efficient method of creating formations.
“It takes years and years of experience to get the correct grips mastered, requiring an enormous amount of skill,” Derian said.
Two-way competition consists of three rounds, each round tabulating the number of formations the duo can complete in 35 seconds. Teams that perform the most maneuvers, called points, emerge as victors.
“It’s like throwing yourself at the ground at 13,000 feet,” Abelow said.
Aside from the two-way competition, Abelow and Derian each performed individually in style competition. Style competition measures speed, calculating who can perform a left turn, right turn and backflip the fastest during three rounds. Of nine contenders, Abelow took sixth in style, while Derian grabbed eighth.
“During competition you must stay with your partner, and it is difficult to maintain the same fall rate as someone else,” said Brian Smith, a professor in biological sciences.
Smith, who has jumped more than 700 times in the past three years, offers a skydiving course each spring quarter. His course, Education: Physical Activity & Education Services 139.07, teaches students the logistics of skydiving. Skydivers accelerate their learning with each jump, climbing to higher skydiving levels.
“When I took the class, everyone jumped at Wooster, Ohio, the closest drop-zone for Columbus residents. Besides the opportunity to skydive, everyone also took a written test and wrote an essay,” Abelow said.
Students completing 139.07 are automatic members of the OSU Skydiving Club, which is comprised of about 25 members. Abelow and Derian, each having jumped more than 20 times, are the only two licensed skydivers in the club. Their status qualified them to compete with other skydivers from across the country, including students from Texas A & M, West Point and the Air Force Academy, which garnered top honors in style, two-way and four-way competition.
“Because many military schools have their skydives paid for, they receive much more training and can compete successfully at competition. Many have made the transition from a beginning to advanced skydiver,” Smith said.
Students attempting to hone their skydiving skills must make a substantial monetary sacrifice. To jump-start their skydiving training, college students can pay between $1,500 to $2,000. However, students receive discounts when they travel in groups, specifically when skydiving as a class. At the Wooster drop-zone, students can rent skydiving equipment, which retails from $2,000 to $6,000.
“It’s definitely the most expensive hobby I’ve ever had. By the time I received my license, I’ve probably spent $2,000,” Derian said. After earning his license, Derian now pays a mere $20 per jump.
Required equipment includes a harness, parachute, reserve parachute, helmet and jumpsuit. Automatic activation devices, which calculate the rate of fall, have saved lives, Smith said.
“Three to four million skydives are made each year, with only 30 to 35 fatalities, most accredited to ignorant skydiving methods, especially when nearing the ground,” Smith said.
Smith, an accelerated free fall instructor with the U.S. Parachute Association, coaches Abelow and Derian while they are in mid-air, communicating with hand signals to correct their body position.
Prior to jumping, skydivers must confirm clear and stable weather conditions.
Because temperature decreases with altitude, skydivers endure significantly lower temperatures while gliding through the air. Wind conditions may alter planned landing zones, while thick cloud cover may hinder sky traffic and landing zone visibility.
“More people should realize skydiving is a highly competitive, intense sport. I just can’t get enough of skydiving, and now I’m addicted,” Abelow said. “And yes, I dream about skydiving.”
