Pro Swooping tour
{{primary sources|date=March 2010}}
The Pro Swooping Tour (PST) is a professional competition circuit for an extreme form of parachuting called "canopy piloting".{{cite web|title=Pro Swooping Tour Kicks Off 2006 Season|url=http://www.dropzone.com/news/Events/Pro_Swooping_Tour_Kicks_off_2006_Season_635.html|accessdate=21 June 2013}} The PST was formed in 2003 by producer Jim P. Slaton and his associate Lyle Presse. Slaton & Lyle presented the sport's competition format and rules to the International Parachute Committee (IPC) at the 54th annual meeting in Brazil in 2003. The PST's efforts paid off and the IPC accepted the new sport of "Canopy Piloting". The PST created the competition format which gave birth to modern day canopy piloting.
Tour format
Between 2003 and 2007 the PST used a point system to determine the overall ranking of competitors. The PST champion was the pilot who accumulated the most points throughout the competition season. In 2007, the PST transitioned from a point system to an annual championship event at the end of each season. The winner of the annual championships was declared the "Pro Swooping Tour Champion" for that season.
Events introduced
- Bladerunning - 1996
- Speed - 1996
- Distance - 1998
- Accuracy - 2001
- Team Speed - 2002
- Carving Accuracy - 2002
- Freestyle - 2004
- Parabatics - future event
Achievement history
Sport accepted by the International Parachuting Committee (IPC)
Sport accepted by the United States Parachute Association (USPA)
Sport accepted into the Olympic trials
Established a ranking system
Established a set of standard rules
Established a qualification system
Created the Canopy Piloting Circuit (CPC)
Tour champions
2009-NA (comp weathered out)
2008-Nick Batsch
2007-Nick Batsch (championship event)
Jeffro Provenzano (point leader)
2006-Chris Hayes
runner up Stuart Schoenfeld
2005-Francisco Neri
runner up Kaz Sheekey
2004-Jay Moledzki
runner up Jim Slaton
2003-Clint Clawson
runner up Heath Richardson
Past tour stops
2000
Para-Performance Games-Houston, Texas
2001
Para-Performance Pro Cup-Perris, California
Para-Performance Pro Blade-Quincy, Illinois
Para-Performance Games-Perris, California
2002
Red Bull Blade Raid Blade running-Elk Meadows, Utah
Para-Performance Pro Cup-Perris, California
World Freefall Convention-Rantoul, Illinois
Para-Performance World Games-Perris, California
2003
Swoop Festival-Panama City Beach, Florida
Extreme Week-Voss, Norway
South American Open-Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Pro Tour Open-Portland, Oregon
World Freefall Convention-Rantoul, Illinois
1st World Cup of Canopy Piloting-Perris, California
Baja Challenge-Loreto, Baja Mexico
2004
1st Freestyle Open-Perris, California
Swoop Festival-Wildwood, New Jersey
U.S. Nationals of Canopy Piloting-Perris, California
2nd Freestyle Open-Perris, California
2005
U.S. Canopy Piloting Grand Prix-Perris, California
1st Ground Launch Blade running-Isabella, California
Triple Crown of Freestyle-Atlanta, Georgia
Swoop Festival-Chicago, Illinois
U.S. Nationals of Canopy Piloting-Perris, California
CPC Championships-Denver Colorado
GL Blade running Championships-Isabella, California
2006
PST Florida Pro/Am-Lake Wales, Fl
PST Mile Hi Canopy Cup-Longmont, Colorado
PST Air Festival Show-Longmont, Colorado
2007
PST Air Festival-Mile Hi Skydiving
Mile Hi Skydiving Longmont, CO
2008
"Swoop Week" championships
Mile Hi Skydiving Longmont, CO
2009
"Swoop Week" championships
Skydive Spaceland Houston, Texas
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20180322154149/http://proswoopingtour.com/ Official website]