The 8th Fédération Aéronautique Internationale European Canopy Formation Championships and 10th FAI World Cup of Canopy Formation took place from August 15-21 at the Romanian Airclub located in the southern part of the country in the town of Strejnic Ploiești. New England Wrapture (Adam Bourgun, Justin Jetmar, Chad Neidigh, Sergio Obando, Nelson Pereira, Magaly Sandoval and Brian Stempin, the team’s newest member) from Skydive Danielson in Connecticut represented the U.S. at the event.

As a young team fresh to the competition scene, Wrapture took third in 4-way rotations and fourth in 4-way sequential at the 2018 USPA Nationals. Consequently, the team planned to compete in both 4-way sequential and rotations at the 2019 World Cup, the team’s first international competition. Four teams (including Wrapture) from four countries registered for 4-way rotations, but not enough nations registered for 4-way sequential for the FAI to hold a competition in the discipline.

Since Wrapture was already attending the World Cup as the U.S. Canopy Formation Team, they decided to play along and registered for 2-way sequential, which saw 19 teams from 11 countries compete. 

The Romanian Airclub flew a fleet of single-engine Soviet Antonov 2s, which took about 25 minutes to climb to competition altitudes of about 8,000 feet. However, its slow jump-run speeds provided the CF canopies with surprisingly slow and smooth openings. (CF canopies usually open very quickly.)

Hot Romanian summer weather offered ideal jumping conditions (with the exception of some turbulence in the evenings) for the four days of 4-way rotations. After the eighth and last round of the competition, New England Wrapture was tied for third place with the Romanian team, triggering a jump-off for the bronze. It was in this high-pressure situation that Wrapture put in its best performance of the whole competition, beating the Romanian home team by two points. Russia took gold, and Belarus took silver. Afterward, Wrapture celebrated its bronze medal and Bourgun’s 300th skydive, which the camera flyer made during the event.

In the 2-way sequential event, France A took gold, France B took silver, and Qatar took bronze. Wrapture, inexperienced in 2-way sequential but willing to give it a try, took 19th in the event. In the usual Wrapture fashion, the team sang songs during the long rides to altitude, and the other teams appreciated their sportsmanship. Wrapture is planning to continue to work hard to improve as a team, as well as improve CF in the U.S., by hosting training camps and boogies throughout 2020.

About the Author

Magaly Sandoval, C-46364, is a USPA Coach and a member of the U.S. Canopy Formation Team—New England Wrapture.