Meeting Team SKYNAMITE

On our journey to World Championships in Tanay 2020 (>> now 2021) we are experiencing a lot of learnings and progression – as well as personal growth and team development. Find below a little team interview to dive deeper into our training agenda.

Sandra (Outside Center)

How do you motivate yourself in a training season without competition?

Since I’m jumping a new position since this season (previously Rearpiece/Inside Center, now Frontpiece/Outside Center) almost everything is new for me: Outdoor exits, slots switches, etc. So I don’t need a competition target to motivate me to learn everything 😉

What is special about your slot?

The OC often has very dynamic movements, this paired with the necessary overview for placing the axes together with the inside center. Additionally there are the exits, where you need a certain amount of strength standing outside the plane.

Which training gaps do you have until Tanay?

• Individual Skills Training – you can never have enough of that 🙂
• Exit Technique
• B-Slots / various blocks

Favorite block?

A-slot: 13 + 8
B-slot: 2 + 3

Favorite exit?

E + O

Quirks during training?

I am a grandmaster in loitering and leaving my drinking bottle at training camps. It has been spilt on all sorts of jumping sites around the world. But she is like a boomerang – even from abroad she has found her way back umpteen times 🙂

Sylvia (Tail)

How do you motivate yourself in a training season without competition?

For me it is no problem at all to motivate myself this year – despite the cancellation of all competitions. Since we took Verena into the team at the beginning of the year and put Sandra from the inside center to the outside center position, there was and is a lot to do for us in the team. Not only did Sandra have to learn the new position with all the SlotSwitchers in the front piece, we also had to time ourselves in the exits and Yaz and I had to adjust to new piece partners. This is quite a lot of work and since our big goal is the world championship in Tanay, a little more time for training wouldn’t hurt at all 🙂

What is special about your slot?

There are many things I love about the tail position – there are many exciting block moves (e.g. 10 and 3), you are often allowed to throw your piece partner “around” and – because you are technically the last one in the grips – you have to step on the gas all the time to not limp behind. I love such challenges. But also the exits are unique in the tail position: in almost all exits the tail hangs lowest and when you look up into the formation you see not only your team but also the plane and the sky in the background and that is – provided the exit is in place 😉 – every time a great picture.

Which training gaps do you have until Tanay?

Uh, which ones I don’t have… 😉 There are still many areas where I can improve, but currently I’m working on exit timing and not giving keys – at least when I don’t have them…

Favorite block?

Definitely 10! What a great move.

Favorite exit?

Admittedly the 17 – even if this is one of the few exits where I’m not allowed to look down on the team and the plane from below, but jump out from inside. Maybe it’s exactly what makes the exit so exciting for me.

Quirks during training?

You’ll probably have to ask my team mates to get an honest and objective answer. But one of my quirks is that I always have to have enough food with me. Even if I can’t eat everything, but the fact that I’m hungry during training and there’s nothing suitable to eat would drive me crazy…

Verena (Inside Center)

How do you motivate yourself in a training season without competition?

Keeping the longterm goal in mind. It’s just a time shift and you can use the additional time to push and train harder/more. Actually, I think one should always give its best while training, no matter the goals. If you aim for your personal best performance possible, you don’t need a competition goal…Knowing that we all have our good and bad days…

What is special about your slot?

The inside center needs to have the overview of the formation, all grips need to be closed correctly. He also plays a big role in terms of speed as he (for most formations) gives the go/key for the next formation. I love it!

Which training gaps do you have until Tanay?

There are some exits I have to work on. As for any slot, the inside center has an uncomfy position in a few exits. I need to feel comfy in the uncomfy…

Favorite block?

Mhmm, that’s a tough one… I like those with this special piecepartner energy such as 8, 10 or 19. Pick one of those and you have my favourite.

Favorite exit?

17 (b slot)…living on the edge

Quirks during training?

I am theeeee checker. I check my rig quite a lot…working on that… Call me Checkira, Chequille O’Neal or Checkie Kennedy

Yasmin (Point)

How do you motivate yourself in a training season without competition?

To be honest, it feels different than usual. In the other years, at least 4 weeks before the first competition, I noticed a tingling in my stomach when I thought about it. Currently the whole situation is rather abstract. Nevertheless: It motivates me to train because we have developed so well as a team. I’m looking forward to the days together, because I can blend out the madness out there during this time and because I celebrate our progress.

What is so special about your slot?

As a point you are the most flexible particle, you have a few solo performances and have to park your legs backwards – often blind. At the same time, as a point you are also an outside center – rather strong and self-confident with lots of fast moves. I love this mixture.

Which training sites do you have until Tanay?

Everything where I stand outside for an exit, some B-slot blocks like the 8, 18 and 13 still need a lot of training. …well and then there is the 12 – which is said to be the most expensive block in the world (permanent construction site!). In addition to that I happen to be very impatient, which I have to learn to control so I don’t steal any keys 😉

Favorite block?

Everything with fast turns or solos, like the 2, 3, 4, 7 etc. But I also like to be turned around like in the 1, 22 B-slot or 4 B-slot. Basically it’s nice when blocks feels like a clockwork.

Favorite exit?

I like the F – especially nice when it comes out really well and everyone is happy and starts well into a formation like the 16.

Any quirks during training?

I always have to have my hair well tucked away, so I put on a cap under my helmet and tie a hair tie around the cap – my teammates say I look like Olive from Popeye. And long creeping gives me a bad mood, because I always get a stiff neck as a point.

Ralph (Video)

How do you motivate yourself in a training season without competition?

The goal is and remains the World Championship in Tanay. Corona has given us time to train more than we had planned until the World Meet. This will allow us to be even better prepared one year later to show our performance there. In the meantime I set myself goals regarding my performance. For example, to be a bit closer or steeper above the team. A kind of competition against myself. So I have a small competition on every training weekend in which I want to exceed my performance of the previous training weekend.

What is special about your slot?

That the team is constantly trying to burble me. 😉

Which training gaps do you have until Tanay?

After the exit – fly a little faster into the optimal position. On some exits the team rebuilds immediately after leaving the door. The team is getting faster and faster, so I have to fly faster into the perfect position.

Favorite block?

Blocks? Randoms are much easier for the cameraman to film.

Favorite exit?

Aren’t they all the same? 😉 With some exits the count is harder to see than others because of how they stand in the door. A highly visible count makes the cameraman’s life easier.

Quirks during training?

I probably check my chest strap about 15 times and the handdeploy again after the red light came on. … And the piece of cake during lunch break.