THE CYPRUS National skydiving team is taking part in the world championships in France tomorrow.
The team left for France on Tuesday, and before they left, team member Pelham Georghiades spoke to the Cyprus Mail.
Georghiades has been a member of the team for four years, and represented Cyprus last year as a member of the four-way formation skydiving team.
“As long as you’re fit and healthy, anyone can skydive,” he insisted. “I recommend you try it.”
In January 2007, the British Parachute Association awarded Geroghiades the accolade of ‘Instructor of the Year’. Since then, his list of teaching titles and qualifications has grown.
“I started jumping about eight years ago; I just wanted to have a go. I really loved it. There is no other sport where you can feel 100 per cent free, and the adrenaline rush is an added bonus.”
Adrenaline is nothing new to Georghiades: “I’ve always been interested in sports, and I used to race jet skis. I was Cyprus jet ski champion in 1997 and 1998. I don’t really do that now, as I’m concentrating on skydiving.
“I must have done about 850 jumps.”
In Cyprus, he uses the Kingsfield airstrip on the British base in Dhekelia.
“We have a small club, of which I’m a member. There are currently about 40 active members of the CCSPC; most are English and Cypriot, but we do have other nationalities as well.
“Cyprus provides really good quality jumping. The scenery and weather are fantastic. You can jump at 16 with parental consent, or without at 18,” he added.
“The oldest person I met doing this was in Russia a few years ago. He’d been jumping for over 40 years, and he was in his 70s.”
Now in his 30s, Georghiades makes the most of his sport.
“We’ve taken part in many displays in Cyprus. We like to jump at big events and celebrations. For the last three years, we’ve jumped onto the beach in Larnaca, as part of the Kataklysmos festivities. We’ve also jumped into football stadiums and rugby grounds.
“On September 28, we’ll jump in Larnaca, as part of the sports against drugs event.”
Georghiades wants to encourage more locals to take part in the courses he runs, and enjoy a sport which he loves.
“Anyone can learn to skydive, and the feeling is indescribable. I’m running weekend courses in Dhekelia for people who want to do their first static line jump. In addition, I recently qualified as an accelerated freefall instructor in Crete. This enables me to take groups of students to Spain, to get their ‘A’ licence. This is the first recognised qualification for skydivers, and gives them the freedom to jump anywhere.”
These courses take about three months in Cyprus, but in Spain his students qualify in 8 to 15 days.
“I chose Spain, because they have large drop zones, fast aircraft and high altitude jumps.
“In Cyprus, we are a small weekend club, with maybe eight lifts over the weekend. Each time, we take no more than nine people. The planes have piston engines, which means they are slow at climbing to altitude.
“The Spanish aircraft are bigger, with a capacity of 18.They do an average of 20 jumps during the week, and 40 at weekends. They use turbine aircraft, which are more powerful, and are able to climb to altitude quickly.”
And what of future challenges?
“There are so many other jumps I want to do. I’ve jumped from planes and helicopters. Next I’d like to try sky surfing, and I want to jump out of hot air balloons. I want to do something different. I just want to jump,” he smiles, adding: “My family and my wife are still getting used to the idea of me jumping. I have two young sons, and they’re always telling me they can’t wait until they’re old enough to skydive.”
“I don’t have a problem with that,” he laughed.
n For further information email Pelham Georghiades on [email protected]
