U.S. Sweeps The Board At First Ever FAI Swoop Freestyle World Championships | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-06.02.25

Airborne-NextGen-06.03.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.04.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.05.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.06.25

Wed, Aug 30, 2017

U.S. Sweeps The Board At First Ever FAI Swoop Freestyle World Championships

Competition Held In The Heart Of Copenhagen

U.S. skydivers cleaned up at the first ever FAI Swoop Freestyle World Championships, which were held in the heart of Copenhagen over the weekend of 25-26 August 2017. David Ludvik (USA) took the FAI Gold Medal, while teammates Nick Batsch (USA) and Curt Bartholomew (USA) were in silver and bronze positions.

The competition saw 18 of the world’s best Canopy Piloting (Swooping) skydivers take part, performing at an over-water venue in the center of downtown Copenhagen, Denmark.

The FAI Swoop Freestyle World Championships 2017 was the first FAI-sanctioned Swoop Freestyle World Championships ever held, and follows a new collaboration between the FAI and a specialist sports company, A. Sports. The high-impact, adrenalin-fuelled discipline of Freestyle Canopy Piloting is known as Swooping, and involves parachutists flying at high-speed across a ‘Swooping Pond’ to score points based on style and execution.

Where Canopy Piloting events are typically held in airfields and parachute dropzones away city centers, the new FAI Swoop Freestyle World Championships take place in locations chosen to attract maximum exposure and public attention. “We are extremely proud of this first ever FAI Swoop Freestyle World Championship," said George Blythe, the CEO of A. Sports. "It was really well organized and attended by over 100,000 spectators. It was a two-day urban parachuting festival in downtown Copenhagen that went out to the entire world online. It's been a perfect weekend with a very exciting final.”

After an intense and close final round Ludvik won by less than a point. Free concerts, street food, wingsuit displays and bungy-jumping from a 60-metre crane created a festival atmosphere in the heart of the city.

"Congratulations to the winners, and to all the competitors, for an excellent event," said FAI Secretary General Susanne Schödel. Thanks to the organizers A.Sports for putting on a great competition, to the City of Copenhagen for its great support, and to all those who contributed with their Parachuting expertise. We are looking forward to continue working with A. Sports to make the FAI Swoop Freestyle World Championships a big success.”

(Source: FAI news release. Image from Facebook)

FMI: www.fai.org, www.facebook.com/swoopfreestyle

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (06.03.25): No Gyro Approach

No Gyro Approach A radar approach/vector provided in case of a malfunctioning gyro-compass or directional gyro. Instead of providing the pilot with headings to be flown, the contro>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.03.25)

Aero Linx: European Hang Gliding and Paragliding Union (EHPU) The general aim of the EHPU is to promote and protect hang gliding and paragliding in Europe. In order to achieve this>[...]

ANN FAQ: Turn On Post Notifications

Make Sure You NEVER Miss A New Story From Aero-News Network Do you ever feel like you never see posts from a certain person or page on Facebook or Instagram? Here’s how you c>[...]

Airborne 05.30.25: Anti-Helicopter Bill, PW Strike Done, All-Electric Bristell

Also: Duffy Wants $$$, KS Airports, Morningside U’s Aviation School, New Airstrip In ID After 6 were killed in a helicopter crash over the Hudson River, several US Representa>[...]

Airborne 05.29.25: ATC Bonu$, VX4 eVTOL Flies, Starship 9 Test

Also: Hermeus Quarterhorse MK1, Seaplane Rating Guide, Vietjet A330neos, SFO Wacky Weed Bust As the air traffic controller shortage trudges on, the US Department of Transportation >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC