Photo By Sgt. L'Erin Wynn | Members of the Golden Knights Women's Four-way formation skydiving team practice their...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. - The women's four-way formation skydiving team returned to training on Oct. 14, 2015, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
After winning the gold medal for the four-way formation event at the Conseil International du Sport Militaire World Games held in South Korea and breaking their own three-time record, Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Davidson, Sgt. 1st Class Angela Nichols, Sgt. 1st Class Laura Davis, Sgt. 1st Class Dannielle Woosley and Sgt. 1st Class Scott Janise (cameraman) got back to what they feel is the best job in the Army and are preparing for their upcoming national competition season.
As for their record, completing 33 aerial formations in 35 seconds while free falling 6,000 feet at 115 mph is no small feat.
Training took place at Paraclete XP Indoor Skydiving, an indoor skydiving facility housing the country's largest wind tunnel at 16 feet in diameter and located just outside Fort Bragg.
The wind tunnel is a free-fall simulator, which allows the team to maximize their aerial training and lessen the physical risks associated with jumping outdoors.
"It's really an incredible tool," said Sean Capogreco, audio visual documentation specialist for the Golden Knights and a former Golden Knight himself. "They can crank the wind [speed] up past 120 mph."
Indoor skydiving is usually reserved for rainy days, but the team is gearing up for the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale World Indoor Meet in Prague, Czech Republic, later this month.
What sets this U.S. national team apart and ahead of the rest is their focus on the standards set by the International Parachute Commission.
Amongst the international teams, it is well-known that the All-Army team trains specifically for four-way competition and primarily IPC.
"IPC is more difficult, containing more rounds and requiring more formations to be built in a shorter amount of time," said Davidson. "For us, we train at a higher level and to come down is a lot easier for us."
In addition to deploying from an aircraft and aside from the wind tunnel, various methods of training are incorporated when preparing to fly.
Physical, mental, group, individual, on-ground and in-air training are required for peak performance in this sport.
“I would say that you have to be in shape, but maybe 80 percent of it is going to be mental," said Davis, one of two center positions on the team. "It’s controlling your body impulses and where you want your limbs to go, so that you tense your core and rely on the muscle memory from the training before."
Davis said that every method of training employed lends to the muscle memory needed to multitask during a free fall.
In-air training consists of jumping from an aircraft from an altitude of 10,500 feet.
The four-way formation team practices jumping as much as possible to ensure the best training experience.
On-ground training consists of one of two methods. The team members can walk the jump to get used to the movements of where each team member has to go. They can also do what is known as "creeping" the jump.
Each of the four members lay down in a circle about 15 feet in diameter on small, individual skateboard-type contraptions called "creepers" to practice. The wheels enable them the same fluidity they would have in the air.
The "creepers" make it easier to know the angles in which their bodies will need to be, which mimics the in-air movement. This allows the team members to plan what they will do. The team then moves to the wind tunnel, which becomes a dry run to prepare for an outdoor jump.
"It's on rhythm," said Davidson, the point position for the female four-way team. "So, it's like a metronome and there's a certain cadence to the jump, so you can rely on that."
Each team member maintains their physical conditioning in a different manner.
"We all have our methods," said Davis of her teammates. "Like running, cross-fit, yoga, swimming and biking, we all have our own flavor."
Formation skydiving is an extremely physical sport. Flying at high altitudes then slowing the body from 100 mph to zero in order to land is physically taxing.
For all things physical, the physiological aspect is an integral part. This season, to further prepare for the task at hand, the team included a new form of training.
Each team member relies heavily on mental preparation and visualization.
"We worked with mental conditioning coaches this year," said Davidson. "So that was a lot of the breathing and heart rate and being in the [zone] where you're going to have your highest level of performance."
This last competition and gold medal win has shown the proof of high-level training, be it mental, in-air or on-ground.
Every team member agrees that maintaining the mental agility to keep focus is the most essential piece of formation skydiving. Their goal is to top their last performance and continue setting and breaking their own records.
| Date Taken: | 10.21.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.21.2015 19:53 |
| Story ID: | 179547 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 157 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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