If the number of inquires USPA Headquarters has been receiving on a weekly basis is any indication, this year’s National Skydiving Championships at Skydive Arizona is going to be the biggest ever. Here’s some basic information for those interested in competing:

Registration: All competitors, including alternates and videographers, pay a general registration fee of $50. In addition, there is an event entry fee, plus the cost of jumps. Event entry fees are calculated based on the estimated number of participants sharing fixed costs; therefore, more entrants in your event results in lower cost per competitor. Event fees are as follows:

• Formation skydiving and vertical formation skydiving: $100 plus jumps for the first event, $50 plus jumps for each additional event
• Canopy formation: $150 plus jumps for the first event, $50 plus jumps for each additional event
• Artistic events: freefly, $75 plus jumps; freestyle, $125 plus jumps; freefly and freestyle, $150 plus jumps
• Style & accuracy: $200 for one or both events plus jumps

Jump prices are based on fuel prices; if the price of fuel goes up $1 per gallon, jump rates go up $1.50. If current fuel prices remain stable through October, then the price per jump is as follows:

• 2,500-4,000 feet: $22 (accuracy landing)
• 4,001-9,000 feet: $23 (style and CF events)
• 9,001-13,000 feet: $24 (artistic and FS/VFS events)

Here’s a sample calculation: You enter both FS 4-way and 8-way. You’ll pay the $50 general registration fee plus $150 for two FS events, plus $480 for jumps ($24/jump for 10 rounds for two events). Total cost is $680.

Registration is open from the beginning of the official start of Nationals until 5 p.m. the day before your event starts. At approximately 6 p.m. the evening before your event, meet management will announce the draw and hand out individual/ team numbers and assign jump order (you’ll get a copy of the draw).

Skydive Arizona has created a 2012 Nationals Event Page with basic meet information and FAQs. Look for a dedicated Facebook page sometime in September. You can go to Skydive Arizona’swebsite now to check out the DZ’s amenities, aircraft, lodging, food, rigging, transportation options and a motel/lodging list.

Here’s the schedule for Nationals: 

Write competition@uspa.org with any questions; see you there!

Skydiver’s Competition Manual Gets a Makeover!
USPA’s Competition and Communications staffs have been hard at work on a major, long-overdue overhaul of the Skydiver’s Competition Manual—not only implementing the many changes that went into effect at 2011 and 2012 USPA Board of Directors meetings, but also completely reworking the manual into a format similar to the one used by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale and the International Parachuting Commission. As new chapters (formerly sections) of the SCM are completed, they’ll be posted on the website for free downloading. The complete SCM will be available in early July.

Source: News Update from the United States Parachute Association (Web Newsletter)