18 Oct 2017

The world flies in for the 2nd FAI World Indoor Skydiving Championships

More than 200 of the world’s best indoor skydivers are converging on Montreal, Canada, for the 2nd FAI World Indoor Skydiving Championships.

The competition, which will see 23 nations take part, will take place from 20-22 October at the SkyVenture Montreal indoor-skydiving tunnel in Laval, Montreal.

“We’re ready to welcome the world, and we hope everyone has a great competition!” Catherine Carignan-Levasseur, WISC 2017 Organising Committee, said.

Indoor skydiving is an air sport discipline that has its roots in skydiving – but rather than jump out of a plane, athletes compete indoors inside a glass-walled, vertical wind-tunnel.

Competitors balance on a jet of fast-moving air, and compete either solo, with a partner, or as a team of four. Competition categories include: Formation Skydiving; Vertical Formation Skydiving; Freestyle/Freefly; and Dynamic. There are open, female and junior categories.

The FAI World Indoor Skydiving Championship is the highest level of competition in the sport. Winning an FAI gold medal is considered the most prestigious medal a competitor can win.

The competition will take place over three days, Friday through Sunday, and will be live-streamed online at The Olympic Channel.

Names to watch include Singapore's Kyra Poh, who will be going for gold in the Freestyle Junior World Championship. The current Freestyle Junior World Champion, Poland's Maja Kuczyska, who always flies in her distinctive white bodysuit, relinquishes her junior status this year as she steps up to the Freestyle Open.

In Formation Skydiving, all eyes will be on Belgium’s 4-Way Open team Hayabusa, as well as Russia’s Black Cat.

Spectators in the Montreal area can watch the competition up close for free - either up close inside, or on several big-screen viewing areas outside. Live scoring will bring the sporting action to life.

Social media will be buzzing as much as the athletes over the three day competition – watch for it on the FAI channels using the hashtag #WISC2017.