Team New Zealand at The Canopy Piloting World Cup

<>The Canopy Piloting World Cup was held at Sydney Skydivers in Picton Australia at the beginning of November 2007.

The kiwi Team all arrived 3 days prior to the event to get in some practice on the course, on the fantastic purpose built swoop pond at Sydney Skydivers. A great bit of forethought, unfortunately scuppered by the worst weather anybody at Picton could remember.

Fortunately, the Locals, Sally and Jesse of Team Crux, and Douggs and Cookie and a few other locals were on hand to make sure something was going on, and there was an Impromptu BASE mission from a Nearby Bridge to entertain the troops.






<>Team New Zealand got their Team Uniforms and quickly became one slick looking unit.

(Deepseed made sure this was always going to be the case!!).

Deepseed were well represented in the field of Athletes, Deepseed's Mikey Holmes (team GB), Team Sweden Jens and Martin (who finished an amazing 3rd in zone accuracy), The New Zealand Team (Ricky Good, Laszlo, Tukes and Malachi), Cameron Rolfe, Shea Convery, Rodger Mulckey of Team Australia were all trying out or had bought or were sponsored with Deepseed Swoop Gear. Feedback on the pants was generally good, and several great mods were suggested to make them even better, so it was a great experience for us to be around at a premier event like that with so much experience on hand.


<> Deepseed had intended on setting up a Beer Tent / General Chill Out Area in the competitor section , but our supplier let us down badly.

Fortunately, they breed em good in Oz and Terry Wingate saved our bacon by providing his 1970's mega structure tent. There was room for several Deepseed Beanbags, The sound system and the beer Cooler.

The weather did play ball just about long enough to get the competition underway and there was a high level of skill on display. Dingo did a brilliant job trying bringing the gathering crowd into things with his own special brand of Commentary, and was more and more amusing as more and more bottles of beer were passed his way.



At the end of the event, the PD factory team and the other PD staff, proved just what a gulf in class they are and Jay Moledski, having broken several world records during the course of the event, went on to finish 1st Overall.

All in all, a good event, and a valuable experience for all concerned. Here's hoping the weather can improve next time!!


Comment from Ricky Good, highest placed kiwi at the event:

"The event was a wicked experience, seeing the top boys fly and taking in all the info I could has boosted my canopy piloting progression to a whole new level. The NZ boys did everyone proud considering for most of us it was our 1st major competition. We had an awsome time that we won't ever forget, my ribs still hurt from all the laughing".

Geezer visits Bodyflight Windtunnel in Bedford, England

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In July 2007, I was back in Blighty (that's what us POMs call England...yes I am a POM!) for my kid sister's wedding. I had blagged a free airfare back so figured I would do a spot of business at the same time. One of the places on my list of must do's was the Bodyflight Windtunnel at Bedford, and boy am I glad I made the trip!

Despite my Mum's little Toyota Sat Nav doing it's best to force me to show it my "wild side", and a 5 hour car trip that should have been a 2 hour car trip, I arrived at the tunnel mid-afternoon.

Very, very different from the obvious Skyventure Tunnels that I have been to previously (You know what I mean; there is no mistaking a Skyventure Windtunnel!). If it wasn't for the logo on the door, I would have figured I had come to the wrong place. First impressions of the place for me any way, were not so flash.

But through the big double doors, and up several flights of stairs (which with my big fat gut, the way it is now, was a bit of an effort!!) and then into the reception area and the transformation is amazing.

This place is the most pimped out, impressive, well thought out , well laid out place I have been to so far.

I bumped into a couple of old friends Pete Allum and John McGiver, who sadly were just leaving, but Manager Matt Ariano agreed to show me round the place and be able to take a few photo's. The facilities are outstanding, everything built with purpose and brand new (so unlike many skydiving facilities), there are team rooms, accommodation blocks, a cafe a games room, and in development is a swimming pool and gymnasium.

I then met MD Paul Mayer and after one of those 2 way, I know you from somewhere moments, it turns out that I shared a 2 hour block of time with Paul back in 2001 in the Orlando Tunnel. Little did I know that he would go on to Mastermind a project as impressive as this one surely is. If I had known I probably would have lent him some money to start up with!! (hehe)..

I couldn't go all that way without trying the place out so I decided to treat myself to half an hour. Dave Sawyer was on hand as a coach and having told him I was rusty as an old sheriffs badge, having not jumped for 4 months, we figured a wee bit of belly flying just to brush up, then onto trying out some back flying.


<> What impressed me most was the sheer size of the tunnel and the quality of the air. As much as I enjoyed the tunnel in Orlando, it is hard to really feel what effect your inputs have (especially on maneuvers such as moving up and forward or back and down, or side slides), but the extra room in this tunnel gives you that extra second or so to feel what you are doing, and it really does make all the difference.

Dave did a stand up job trying to man handle my huge carcass around as I struggled to get to grips with the finer points of back flying, and by the end of the session I was able to turn in place and move up and down (not smooth as silk mind, but a foundation of a skill block was laid).

I tried to swap Paul my shares in Deepseed for his Tunnel (just kidding but it is a tempting thought!!) but left Bedford with some great memories and a commitment to try and make a suit for the tunnel that can take a good thrashing. We now have a couple of suits in Full time tunnel scenarios, and once we have the test data, we will make an announcement.

I would like to thank Paul and all his staff for taking the time to show me round the place and say that, in the immortal words of Arnie..

"I"LL BE BACK"

Freeflying NZ Style

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James McArthur and Brad Pokroy in the skies above Mercer NZ, wearing their Deepseed Inverter suits and Ripping it up!!! Nice One Lads..

Deepseed's Commercial Jumpsuits

Deepseed's Commercial Jumpsuits.

- Staff Jump Suit -
The Deepseed commercial staff jumpsuit has been tested in the harshest of commercial environments and is designed tough to last. Made of the most durable materials we can find, the suit can be made extra tough by adding cordura panels on strategic wear places (knees and butt).
Available in 4 standard sizes small, medium, large and extra large, the Deepseed staff suit is a workhorse.

- Passenger Jump Suit -
Don't have your Tandem passengers feel left out, or get their clothes dirty.The Deepseed commercial suit is an easy way to make all your photographs look great, make your passengers look and feel great and send them away in clean clothes!!
Available in 4 sizes small, medium, large and extra large, the suits are designed to fit all shapes and sizes.

- Student Suit -
This is exactly the same construction as our regular RW suit, but comes with standard Grips and no booties.
Available in 4 sizes small, medium, large and extra large, the suits are designed to fit all shapes and sizes.

Deepseed Camera Accessories

- Handycam Gloves -
Deepseed Handycam gloves are perfect for all types of jumping. The Tandem Handycam glove is made strong with all the best quality materials.For jumping in warmer climates we make a breathable, shorter glove. This helps make the glove more comfortable by slowing down perspiration and reducing heat on the hand and wrist.

- Camera Weather Socks -
Our weather socks are perfect for looking after your valuable camera equipment.They help keep water and moisture away from the camera and also help to protect it from bumps and scrapes.Each sock is designed to allow you to access the camera with the sock on.

The video camera weather sock is made of all the same materials as the stills version; however, because there is not so much call to access the camera, there is no zip on the video camera sock.

Dave at the Goodvibes

Dave just had a trip out of the office at the Goodvibes Boogie. The full story to follow soon. Watch this space....

Deepseed Products Hit Paraguay!

I was offered a job load organizing and a little coaching at the Boogie Guarani 2007, which is the biggest growing boogie in South America;

I jumped at the chance and stretched the 5-day Boogie into a 3-week holiday. I met some awesome people there and learnt how to party the Latin way, which is insane; they really know how to dance.

Thanks to the Deepseed team who kitted me out and gave me the awesome tube to take and made so many people there stoked as they had never had the chance before to jump a tube and had only ever seen photo's.

International KL Tower Jump 2006

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2006.

To make a B.A.S.E jump you have push your self though the protective barrier of fear and step into the void. For some it's an alien move, not readily understood, nor can it be reversed, and it is a step taken voluntarily. The International KL Tower Jump 2006 Merdeka Circuit runs each year in August.There are two options.

The full tour, which lasts for 16 days includes 5 buildings, 2 days at each. The main event is the final three days of this tour held in Kuala Lumpur, off the KL tower.

This year, we are here for the main event. All proceeds go to various charities.We arrived in KL airport on the 21st of August not knowing quite what to expect.


This was both Alan's and my first trip to Malaysia, and we had been invited here to jump off one of the tallest buildings in the world, for three days; legally!60 jumpers from around the globe had received the invitation to this beautiful city to take part in the International KL Tower Jump 2006 Merdeka Circuit. Alan and I are two of just four kiwis. Neil Jarvis and Livia Dickie are also NZ born.


The taxi driver took us directly to the five star hotel we would be staying at, but not until after our first feeble attempt at bartering his fare down, we got way better at this though! With 3 days before the event to come, we made sure we had a good look around this crazy place. One Malaysian Ringit, about 35c kiwi got us a ride on the monorail, straight to Chinatown!Man, what a culture shock! Locals selling everything from roasted chestnuts, to 20 Ringit cent kebabs, with real satay in a plastic bag. Fake everything and almost anything, you just gotta ask! The smells down the back alleys, mixed with the heat and humidity was intense, Malaysia we love you!

Back at the Concorde hotel, other jumpers were beginning to show. You can spot these mongrels a mile away.The morning of the first day of jumping was here, and after Ting Lau had cooked us omelets as part of our free smorgasbord breakfast every morning, (me and Al couldn't believe our eyeballs), we walked with Triple J up to the KL tower for the jump briefing. "What are you guys gonna do for the first one?", the aussie asks. "I'm gonna do a gainer mate." (His first he says, and he wasn't lying).


Gary Cunningham organized this years event and what an amazing job he has done. The briefing was awesome, leaving no doubt in your mind what we were all getting ourselves into, so bring it on! Cheers to Aziz also for opening this building up to an international crew, you're a legend mate! 9 o'clock on Friday morning, into the express elevator to floor TH 32 (usually out of bounds to the general public), gear up, and up four flights of stairs to the maintenance platform of the KL Menara Tower. 60 people all with B.A.S.E. specific gear on their backs, press everywhere, marshalls roped in with walkie-talkies, and a drop of 980ft just over that edge.

Everyone is watching over the side as we have the first few jumpers exit.The late, great Adam Gibson (R.I.P bro) steps up and throws reverse fronts all the way down the side of this incredible structure, inputs a half twist in his last rotation, pitching facing away from the building, and lands in the car park. There is some talent here! But there's some madness here as well! A three way gets off; an over-confident delay sees one jumper almost wrap himself in his mate's F111. This is the first day! Al mumbles under his breath to me "Let's get off before someone goes in".

The next three days were mind blowing. This structure, with a total height of 1400ft, an exit height of 980ft, and massively overhung, is relatively safe. So the boys got stuck in. Fronts, backs, floaters, multiple rotations, this place is unreal! Interviews, photos, and being introduced to some very important people, made it even more surreal. With a slow gainer it is possible to see your reflection in the windows! Thank you so much Jackie for all the choice photos!!

There were two landing areas. One, at the base of the tower in the car park, and the other, down the bottom of the hill, which we opted for. Locals on scooters were there to pick us up and take us back to the top. Beautiful Malaysian women were then holding lift doors open for us, taking us to the air conditioned conference room at the top. We would pack here with stacks of chairs as weights, then up the service stairs, and off!

The after party was put on by Menara and it was awesome. Exotic dancers strutting down the runway while we ate and drank a huge selection of local dishes, every dinner-time should be like this! Then off to town for more partying. Al and I got into a lot mischief that night, when in Rome they say!Everything about this trip was awesome. Gary Cunningham is a legend, thank you mate, would love to be invited back next year! Kuala Lumpur is an extraordinary place, the locals are so friendly, what an experience.

Thankyou to all those involved, and all the good vibes.

Cheers Deepseed Dave for all the support, you rock brother!

Cheers to everyone! Suck it up!

The Birth of Geeza's Legacy

Geeza has a Baby Girl!!
(Crikey....Is that why he was so fat??)


It seems silly to talk about legacies at the ripe old age of 29 (well near as dammit 30), but that is exactly the way I feel about Deepseed now that I am the proudfather of a Baby Girl (Caitlin).


Dave and I knew back in September when we found out Sally was pregnant that it would be a tough time for the business once she was born, but now that she is here, I am more determined than ever to ensure that when she is old enough, Deepseed will be as familiar to the skydiving community as PD, or Mirage, or Cookie composites and to ensure that the sport of skydiving is still something that people do just because they love to do it, and have great fun doing it.