WORLD’S BEST SET TO TAKE PLUNGE
A HIGH altitude ballet will take place above the Gold Coast next year as up to 1000 of the world’s best skydivers fall to earth for the 2018 World Parachuting Championships.
Yesterday Surfers Paradise beach was the landing pad for three of Australia’s best skydivers including Alana Bertram, Archie Jamieson and Rod Benson, who unfurled a 280sq m flag promoting the event.
Athletes representing more than 40 different countries including France, the US and Russia will compete.
Competitors will take off from the Southport Flying Club at Coombabah, fly to 13,500 feet (4115m) and plunge to a drop zone at the Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre.
During the fall they will be filmed by team-mates and judges will play footage on big screens for spectators immediately after the athletes land.
Australian Parachuting Federation national development manager Robert Libeau said the event meant the Gold Coast would be in the global spotlight in the months after the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
“The last time the World Parachuting Championships were in Australia was in 1999 so winning our bid to host this event in our Commonwealth Games city is a real coup,” Mr Libeau said. “(It) will put the region on the world stage once again.”
Mr Jamieson, Gold Coast Skydive’s chief instructor, and dive partner Ms Bertram are currently the Australian freestyle champions but they will have to qualify for the world championships in March.
The event will run from October 7 to 13 next year.