SkySurfing - Hanging Ten At Terminal Velocity

SkySurfing

Hanging Ten At Terminal Velocity

Broc Bradley

Publication Date: March 1997

Tired of the same old grind? Looking to jazz up your extreme sport - 007 style? Cory Maples of Seymour, Tennessee might have the solution: Take the thrill of skydiving; the challenge of surfing the Bonsai Pipeline; the freedom of snowboarding; combine them into one sport, and you've got the ultimate adrenaline cocktail. It's called Skysurfing-- that's shaken, not stirred.

Cory, who is twenty-two years-old, has been skydiving/skysurfing for over six years. He has more than 1200 jumps, 500 of which are with the board. Most of his "free-fall" time is spent at Skydive Smokey Mountains near his home. His passion for the sport was born during a trip to Las Vegas where he met the late Rob Harris.

Cory and Rob were experimenting with snowboards in one of two wind tunnels designed to simulate free-falling. The other wind tunnel is in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Cory was the first in the country to fly the board in a wind tunnel.

The origins of the skyboard can be traced back to 1980 when skydivers strapped styrofoam boogie boards to their feet and called it "air surfing." In 1987, Frenchman Joel Cruciani was credited with the first skysurfing freefall. Cruciani rigged an ordinary surfboard with snowboard bindings for the film Hibernator.

With the development of the snowboard, it wasn't long before it replaced the boogieboard. Because of flexibility problems and aerodynamic necessities, two California based companies began manufacturing boards specifically for skysurfing.

Skysurfing boards have come a long way since their conception - carbon fiber and graphite honeycomb are the two materials used today. Prices can range from anywhere from 500 to 800 dollars for the latest skyboards. Cory is currently using an advanced board manufactured by Surf Flight. Other costs involved include: Jumpsuit - 200 to 500 dollars; parachute - 1,500 to 3,000 dollars; and certification - estimated cost 1,500 to 2,500 dollars.

Skysurfing competition began in 1990 at the World Freestyle Federation Skydiving Championships in Texas. Jeremy Loftus became the first American to skysurf at the event. During that year Pete McKeeman also introduced the concept of a jumper and camera flyer working together to create a video that is judged later. It also debuted again at the1995 Extreme Games where Rob Harris and Joe Jennings took first place honors.

Credit for the sport's first technical pioneer goes to the Frenchman, Patrick De Dayardon, who brought to life the comic book character "Silver Surfer." A clip from the series was used in a TV commercial, with Patrick, dressed all in white, diving out of an airplane and hanging ten at 12,000 feet. Rob Harris, though, was the first to really master the sport. He was the world champion until his untimely death in 1996. Rob was killed during the filming of a James Bond-like Mountain Dew commercial that still occasionally airs on TV today. Rob was also the double in the Andrew Agassi commercial where he's seen air skiing behind an airplane. Rob's camera partner, Joe Jennings, teamed with Patrick de Gayardon and scattered Harris's ashes while performing at the 1996 X-Games competition.

The top two competitors in the world today are Troy Hartman and Oliver Furrer. In 1997 the sport got a pro tour while the numbers of competitive skysurfers swelled. Recent changes in judging have encouraged more variety in routines, while a growing influence of freeflying techniques has stimulated greater creativity.

Teams are composed of the skysurfer and the camera flyer. At the ESPN X-Games each team is required to make four jumps in the preliminary round, and the top five teams then make one additional jump in the finals. Teams are judged on technical merit and artistry. Three judges view the video of each 50-second jump and rate the two components. The first is a technical mark for the difficulty and execution of the jump. The second is presentation, where artful camera work and creative team interaction come into play. A melding between the cameraman and the artist is a must. It's that interaction that separates the good from the great. This also includes a variety of requirement, meaning that each jump must be substantially different from the preceding one.

Typically only 12 teams will make the Extreme Games. Qualifying events are held in five locations during the year: Sebastian, Florida; Paris Valley, California; Spain; Switzerland; and San Diego. The meets usually consist of ten rounds held over a weekend. Teams are scored on a scale of one to ten and are averaged over the ten rounds. Maneuvers include layouts, flips, twists, and spins (see terms and maneuvers box).

For those interested in getting involved in skysurfing you may have to do some checking around in your area - not all drop zones permit skysurfing. Of those that do, most will require a board recovery system. This device deploys a small parachute attached to the boarding case it's cutaway at altitude. Most places may require a minimum of 200 jumps before you are allowed to skysurf. Good freestyle techniques will probably need to be demonstrated and, depending on the drop zone, a "first board" course may also be required. Currently, only the Paris Valley D.Z. offers the course on a continuous basis. Skydive Sebastian, in Florida, will offer the course on an occasional basis.

Cory is currently working on getting his jumpmaster rating (a rating that allows him to do tandem and A.S.S. Jumps) and hopes to open his own drop zone in the Smoky Mountain area. When asked what else he'd like to mention about this up and coming sport, he said, "Just the words of my late friend Rob Harris, 'Live while you live.'"