2004 March - Top of the World Down Under - Kingi in NZ parachute competition

From: Margret

Sent: 20/03/2004 10:43 a.m.

20 March 2004 On Top of the World Downunder A playground in the sky for a modest young man, Kingston, took up sport parachuting last year.  His schoolfriends gave him a tandem ride as a gift for his 18th birthday and a few months later he competed in the New Zealand nationals held at Parakai, near Helensville.  He was awarded the New Zealand Parachute Federation Encouragement Award for 2003.  Kingi's first jump was when he was a week off 11 years as we succumbed to his demand that he have a jump.  The few minutes journey over to Whenuapai introduced him to tandem master. Severn Smith.  Our video filming was abysmal as we tried to deal with autofocus when Kingi left the plane at 8½ thousand feet.  Kingi had enjoyed the thrill of parachuting. Whether by car or van, Kingi makes journeys to Mercer seem so simple; a trip to Taupo for advanced training; up to Paihia the other day; regular visits to Whenuapai or Parakai.  A plane flight to Motueka last year to attend the Good Vibes Boogie gave him further experiences to draw on and the 2003 Christmas stay at Slipper Island off the coast of Pauanui. Over the Waitangi Weekend when the New Zealand Parachute Federation Nationals were held,  Kingi gave support to several teams that did not have a cameraman as a permanent team member and his videoing skills gained first places for three teams.  For the teams that he was in, there was personal success:  2 way Open Grade as cameraman 1st place; 4 Way Open grade, 1st place as cameraman; 8 Way Speed Formation team member 1st place; Freey fly, cameraman 2nd place.  The website for his beloved sport is www.nzpf.org  His next project is to attend more team training in Kuala Lumpur before going to Croatia in September for the World Championships.