Vol. 19, No. 13

Dec. 2, 1999

Skysurfer enjoys limitless
freedom of movement

The best way I can describe skysurfing is that it's somewhat like being in a weightless environment like a swimming pool, only instead of being surrounded by water, you are surrounded by air and wind and can spin and twirl right side up, upside down or sideways with a sky board attached to your feet," Shannon Fields, Institute of Energy Conversion, said. Fields, with his photographer partner, Keith Larrett, won the gold medal in the Skydiving National Championships in the Intermediate Skysurfing Division in Florida this year. Last year, he came in third. "Why do I do it?" Because it's fun!" he said. "I'm a little nervous before each jump, which is good, because it makes you cautious and safety conscious, but once I'm out of the plane, I feel totally free in a different environment and just enjoy it." He started skysurfing in 1997, and was taught by Dave Briegs, a two-time national champion and the third best in the world, at Free-fall Adventures in New Jersey. His usual camera flyer is Chris Noel. "First you master some maneuvers without the board," Fields said. "Then you start with a small board about two feet long and work your way up to a bigger board--similar to a snow board and about five feet long. The bigger the board the harder to maneuver, but you can spin and rotate faster. All your maneuvers are done while you are in the free-fall stage until you open your parachute. You aren't conscious of falling because your partner is following at the same rate, but, if a bird flies by, you realize you are going down--it's all relative," Fields explained. He usually jumps from 14,000 feet and has 60 seconds of free fall in which to perform. In competitions, teams of two include the skysurfer and the camera flyer, who catches all the action with video and still cameras attached to his headgear. The team is judged by the maneuvers of the skysurfer and his or her presentation to the camera. The photographer goes out of the plane first, holding onto an outside handle by the plane door, and then the sky surfer emerges. The trick is to coordinate the exits, so the partners are together. Just before landing, the skysurfer disengages the board. The new sport was begun in 1989 by a Frenchman and is getting increasingly popular, although there are only two companies in the country making sky boards. Fields first became airborne when he learned to skydive in Laurel, Del. Skydivers go through an intensive seven-step course with instructors before they are qualified. "Skydiving is a sport for women as well as men, and as long as you are in good shape, you can do it any age--look at former President Bush. It's a safe sport. It's only when you are careless or panic and don't carry out the emergency procedures, that accidents occur," Fields emphasized. "I've made 500 jumps with no malfunctions or problems, from helicopters, hot air balloons and planes. Today's rectangular parachutes also are easier to control than the old ones." If interested in skysurfing or skydiving, send e-mail to Fields at <SF@udel.edu>. -Sue Moncure