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WORLD CUP COMPETITIONS 2004
May 28-30: Lille, France | June 25-27: Hibaldstow, England
July 23-25: Gryttjom, Sweden | August 27-29: Jumptown, New England (USA)

The lists below show the nationality, the name the fastest jump and the best 3-jump meet result - all in kph.

*Unsubstantiated results, reportedly done at a meet in France in 2002. The database from this meet has not been reported to the ISSA.

[Published October 7, 2004]

Results, Gryttjom, Sweden, October 2, 2004.

THE 2004 WORLD RANKING
The 2004 World Ranking is published in the column to the right. Females on top. The published result is the accumulation of the 3 best jumps from a competitors 3 best meets (9 jumps) during the year. In a case where a competitor did not compete or get a result in a total of three meets, the result is the accumulation of his or hers 3 best jumps from 2 competitions (6 jumps). After that, the ranking is based on the three best jumps from one competition, and then on the remaining jumps (if less than 3).

[Published September 19, 2004 - Updated September 12]

AND THE WINNER IS, MARK CALLAND! HE WON IT ALL!
UK’s own, Mark Calland won all of the meets in the 2004 World Cup of Speed Skydiving, including the last one over Jumptown DZ in USA, August 27-29. With that historical feat, there’s no doubt who has earned the overall title for 2004. Mark Calland is the man. Behind him, Arnold Hohenegger set a new Austrian record, finished 2^nd in the US meet, and climbed to 2^nd on the overall 2004 ranking when Ken Hansen failed (again) to get a meet result. Hansen was in 2^nd overall before the meet, and had a slim, albeit a mathematical, chance to win. He would’ve needed a meet result of 489 km/h (304 mph), IF Calland didn’t do better in the US meet than in any of the previous meets this year. But Calland did do better. By a fraction. And Hansen OB’ed himself right out of the meet, but still managed to grasp the third place in the 2004 World Cup.

[Published September 11, 2004 - Updated September 12]

Results, Jumptown, USA, August 27-29, 2004.

NOTE: Arnold Hohenegger has published pictures from the Speed Meet over Gryttjom, July 23-25, at speed.hohenegger.at.
[Published July 29, 2004]

NOTE: Ann Lindberg, of Stockholm Skydiving Club, has worked on the speed skydiving database. The first result of that work is a comprehensive list of all of the best meet results from November 2000 to date. However, the editor of this site has made a cut in the list at 300 km/h for both the male results and the female results.

UK's CALLAND & MURPHY FIRST, AGAIN!
Mark Calland and Clare Murphy of England won the Swedish event of the 2004 Speed Skydiving World Cup-series over Gryttjom on July 23-25.
THE MALE CATEGORY Mark Calland finished with a 458.64 kph (about 285 mph) meet result. When Ken Hansen of Norway, who, after last months Speed Meet in England, was expected to give Calland a run for the money, failed in his attempt and OB himself right to the bottom of the ranking, Thomas Brox of Norway stepped up to claim 2nd place with an impressive 429.72 kph (about 267 mph) meet result. Nico Emanuelsson of Sweden finished third with a new Swedish Record at 412.32 (about 256.26 mph) and a meet result of 408.30 kph (about 253.76 mph).
THE FEMALE CATEGORY Clare Murphy beat her own British Record in the first jump with 419.28 kph (about 260.58 mph) and finished with a meet result of 416.49 kph (about 258.85 mph) ahead of Sweden's Moa Kvarford with 354.90 kph (about 220.57 mph) and Maria Sundesten with 218.47 mph). The participants in Sweden came from England, Norway, Austria, Australia and, of course, Sweden. 
Back row from left: Thomas Brox, Mark Calland, Clare Murphy, Nico Emanuelsson. Centre row from left: Moa Kvarford, Dean Parkinson, Ob 5 Kenobi, Arnold Hohenegger, Maria Sundesten. Front row from left: Anton Westman, Pascal Gagneur, Mikael Kaulanen.
[Published July 26, 2004]

Results, Gryttjom, Sweden, July 23-25, 2004.

CALLAND, MURPHY WON - WIEDERKEHR WITH 502.11 kph!
First things first. With a new world record of 502.11 kph (about 312 mph) Marco Wiederkehr of Liechtenstein became the first speed skydiver in history to break the 500 kph barrier in an official competition. This was done over Hibaldstow on June 26 at the UK event of the 2004 Speed Skydiving World Cup. Wiederkehr finished third in the competition with a 3-jump meet result of 464.56 kph (about 289 mph).

With a meet result of 481.03 kph (about 299 mph) Mark Calland of England won the UK Speed Meet over Hibaldstow. Callands meet result is the 2nd best in history. Wiederkehr tops that ranking with a 3-jump meet result of 483.58 kph (about 300.50 mph, first to break the 300 mph barrier for a meet result) from Lapalisse in France 2002. Ken Hansen finished second with a meet result of 472.72 kph (about 294 mph) in the UK World Cup event over Hibaldstow. This is the third best meet result in history. Clare Murphy of England beat Verena Widmer of Switzerland. A complete results list to come...

The National Geographic Television will air a program on the meet on August 1.
[Published July 15, 2004]

The editor of this site beg your pardon for the lack of updates. The reason being the birth of his daughter - a real focus puller. But stay tuned for more...on speed skydiving.

Results, Hibaldstow, England, June 25-27, 2004.

NOTE: Sky News has confirmed that they are going to film at the UK Speed Meet.
[Published June 24, 2004]

UK PODIUM PREDICTION
Predictions are easy to make but difficult to get right, especially those concerning the future. But for the UK meet, some predictions are easier than others, especially when based on past performances. Based on that, the first prediction for the UK Speed Meet - besides Widmer's and Murphy's (see below) expected fight for the gold in the female category - is that Mark Calland of England (left) and Marco Wiederkehr of Liechtenstein (right) will compete for first place in the male category. That is the easiest prediction to make. Wiederkehr has harvested podium places since the beginning. And now, following some ups and downs, Calland is the one to challenge Wiederkehr in his league. But who's got a chance for third place? Well, that's not too hard to predict either. Based on the recent competition, Ken Hansen of Norway (right) has a very good chance of claiming that one, if he can perform at his latest level. However, he might face some serious competition in Philippe Corthésy of Switzerland (left). And without the responsibility of running a meet as in France, Fabrice Lebiedzinski of France could also have been a contender for third place but he recently informed that he will not be able to attend the UK meet. Lebiedzinskis personal record is 453.01 kph. He did that in 2003, over Lille in France. And if you've done it once, you can to it twice. Then, what is left, is to do it a third time in the same meet. With this background, both Corthésy and Lebiedzinski might even put a run in for victory come the day when they manage to find back to their best performances. Corthésy has 458.08 kph as his Swiss National Record, from Switzerland in 2001. That year, he also did a meet result of 430.56 kph. Guess where? In England. If he can do that again, Corthésy might challenge Hansen for a place on the podium. But the race for the third place might be more crowded, yet. Noel Purcell of England has signed up. Here's some Purcell-facts; he posted a meet result of 448.82 kph over Hibaldstow in 2003, and held the English record for a very short while with a 457.95 kph on his best jump. But following that entrance on the Speed Skydiving scene, he did what so many has done before. Flunked. Tried too hard? Wanted too much? He's the only one who knows. Over Spa in Belgium last year, his meet result was 372.28 kph. The road back might be long, he might be lost forever, or he might come back at the same time as Corthésy. Over England. So, Purcell must obviously be considered as one of at least 3 who's in contention for  third place in England this year. Perhaps even better, on a good day. In addition, freeflyers are always wild-cards to be reckoned with, and Rob Silver (England) is a member of "Free Jive", the UK freefly team, so watch out! The UK meet will be an exciting one, indeed! Wiederkehr has called it, "the Dodge City of Speed Skydiving". Speed's up!
[Published June 24, 2004]

NOTE: National Geographic Television has confirmed that they are going to film at the UK Speed Meet. The programme will be 20 to 30 minutes long and will air in August..
[Published June 18, 2004]

WIDMER vs. MURPHY
Like Marco Wiederkehr (see below), Verena Widmer of Switzerland is coming to England, aswell. Widmer is a seasoned competitor. A veteran of Speed Skydiving. She has steadily improved over the years and broke her own Swiss record with a 404.72 kph jump over Hohenems, Austria, last year. But since she did not compete in the first meet this year, she is not listed in the ranking to the right. However, with successfully having broken thru the 400 kph-barrier as the third woman in speed skydiving history, placing 2nd in the World Cup-series in 2002 and 2003, and with a 3-jump meet result from Hohenems at 397.58 kph, Widmer means business. But she is meeting a worthy opponent in UK's own Clare Murphy, who was the fastest of the women over Lille in France in May. Murphy finished with a meet result of 398.97 kph and a 406.39 kph as her fastest jump to become the 4th woman in the world to brake the 400-barrier. In doing so, she also wiped Jude Haig's british record from november 2000 off the map. These are the facts.
[Published June 17, 2004]

NOTE: The UK Speed Awareness Weekend at North London Parachute Center, June 11-12, washed out and will be rescheduled, probably for August, reports Mark Calland.
[Published June 17, 2004]

WIEDERKEHR IS COMING TO ENGLAND
Marco Wiederkehr of Liechtenstein has signed up for the 2004 World Cup Competition over Hibaldstow in England, June 25-27. Wiederkehr is an intimidating speed skydiving champion. He always deliver. He never holds back. He won the 2003 World Cup and was the fastest in 2002 in an approved world cup event. He is not ranked in the pre-uk ranking to the right since he didn't compete in France last month. But he competed in Hohenems last year. And won. Over Mark Calland. By a hair. Calland's 3-jump meet result was 459.33 kph (about 285.48 mph). Wiederkehr did 460.54 kph (about 286.23 mph). And both of them are chasing the historic 500 kph barrier. Who will be the first? That's impossible to predict. But here are some facts: Calland has done 508 kph in practice this year (fastest single jump, see below). Calland has a fastest single jump track record from recent competitions with 468.03 kph (Hibaldstow 03), 466.20 kph (Hohenems 03) and 468.14 kph (Lille 04). Wiederkehr has a fastest jump track record from recent competitions with 486.47 kph (Lapalisse 02), 473.65 (Spa 03) and 463.29 kph (Hohenems 03). Wiederkehr also has the highest 3-jump meet result in history with 483.58 kph (Lapalisse 02). Does this sound like the UK meet will be interesting? You do the math. Marco Wiederkehr is coming to England to deliver. Calland is ready to greet him...
[Published June 16, 2004]

CALLAND WON IN FRANCE - and did a 508 kph in practice!
UK competitor Mark Calland won the season-opener of the 2004 World Cup Competition over Lille in France, May 28-30. He got a meet result (3-jump score) of 457.79 kph (about 284.50 mph) and a new british record of 468.14 kph (~290.95 mph). Ken Hansen (Norway) and Hervé Diennet (France) finished in 2nd and 3rd place. The field of 21 competitors from England, Norway, France, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Australia and Poland set a whole range of national and personal records, as did Calland. He also broke the 500 kph barrier a few days prior to the competition, in practice, with a 508 kph jump. He chased the historic (bench)mark over Lille, and looks to be in record setting shape this year. The race for the official 500 is on! Hibaldstow, Calland rocks!
More photo's by Arnold Hohenegger - here>>
[Published June 01, 2004]

Results, Lille, France, May 28-30, 2004.

ARNOLD HOHENEGGER'S AUSTRIAN RECORD
It was last year that Arnold Hohenegger established the Austrian Speed Skydiving Record with a 407.73 kph jump during the last world cup event of 2004, over Hohenems DZ in Austria.

Hohenegger's meet-result according to the 2004 rules would have been a 3-jump average of 396.24 kph. What else would be natural to strive for at the Lille '04 event than breaking the 400 kph meet-result barrier, and pushing his fastest jump to 410, 420 or even better?

The 39-year old athlete certainly seem capable. At least if we look at his earlier achievements in other skydiving disciplins. He started skydiving in 1987, finished third in the 1989 Austrian Para Ski Nationals, and first in 1990 accuracy. Following a competitive absence, he teamed up with Torald Egger to compete in freestyle as Team H.E.A.T. The duo finished on Austrian podiums in 1999, 2001 and 2002, and 9th in the 2001 SkyEuro Cup and 5th in the 2002 World Cup of Artistic events. Now, it seems, he has set his eyes on Speed Skydiving. With one competition under his belt, Hohenegger took 18th place on the overall 2003 "Best Jump" ranking list. This is not bad, considering other "speedsters" who has been there earlier, like Mark Calland (17th) and Fabrice Lebiedzinski (18th) in 2001. Last year, they did 468.03 kph (2nd) and 453.01 kph (4th) at best. So, congratulations with the Austrian Speed Skydiving Record and good luck over Lille :)
The Austrian Speed Skydiving Record.
[Published May 22, 2004]

THE OTHER LILLE PARTICIPANTS
Here's a look at the other Lille participants, meaning beside those who qualified for the "Pre-Lille Ranking" to the right. That ranking is not handing out any medals or placings to anyone. It is merely a guide to what we can expect based on the performance from the previous official world cup meet, in Austria 2003. In addition, some of the other participants who has registered for the season opener in Lille has competed before, and here are their best jumps (kph) in 2003, 2002 and 2001, dnc is short for "did not compete that year": Emilie Bijan (193.76, dnc, dnc), Jim Chamouard (dnc, 394.39, 398.58), Emmanuel Lassalle (301.25, dnc, dnc), Sébastien Pottie (347.03, dnc, dnc), Franck Vernalde (325.09, dnc, dnc), Anton Westman (392.65, dnc, dnc). This is to give an idea of what to expect in France in one weeks time, on May 28-30. In addition to these there are the other dnc's who has not competed at all before - you can always expect some of those to be an unexpected threat. For instance, did you know that on the overall 2001 "Best Jump" ranking list Jim Chamouard was trailed by Mark Calland and Fabrice Lebiedzinski on 16th, 17th and 18th place? Chamouard's best jump that year was 398.58 kph, Calland's was 392.00 and Lebiedzinski's was 391.51 kph.
By now you might have asked yourself what the point of this post is? The answer is simple: It is all up for grabs - and may the G-Force be with you...
[Published May 21, 2004]

STAN SNIGIR, INJURED
Stan Snigir recently hurt his ankle. Details are sketchy. But obviously, Snigir will not be jumping for a while, but he hadn't been planning on going to the euro stops of the 2004 World Cup, anyway... more>>
[Published May 21, 2004]

THE "PRE-LILLE RANKING" IS A GUIDE
...but as we all know, competition is competition, and the results may vary from one venue to the next. Let's look at Fabrice Lebiedzinski of France... more>>
[Published May 07, 2004]

GROUND-TO-AIR VIDEO AT UK WORLD CUP
"The BPA (British Parachute Association) has ok'd the use of a ground-to-air video system at the UK event. It's and 800 mm fixed lens, and it's in colour, and we have an operator, Mark Calland reports. Also, the ITN television people are very interested in covering the English World Cup event at Hibaldstow in June aswell.
[Published May 07, 2004]

MURPHY, BRENTFORD FIRST AT UK SPEED-WEEKEND
Clare Murphy and Simon Brentford where the two fastest in a field of 15 competitors (two females) at Mark Callands British SA-"Speed Awareness" weekend at Hibaldstow May 1-3. Murphys result was 223 mph (358 kph) while Brentford did 258 mph (415 kph)... more>>
[Published May 04, 2004]

£3000 IN PRIZES AT BRITISH WORLD CUP MEET
"The British World Cup Meet at Hibaldstow in June announces that two company's will sponsor the meet with 3 thousand pounds to cost all the trophy's and prizes. The companies are MSC Installation Ltd, who's putting in 1 thousand pounds, and Coopers who are putting in 2 thousand pounds", reports Mark Calland. MSC Installation Ltd is Callands company. 3000 pounds is about 4550 euro.
[Published May 03, 2004]

THE GUINNESS WORLD RECORD STORY, CONTINUED...
Congratulations goes out to Mike Brooke of France as well, but unfortunately for the wrong merit. The Guinness Book inaccurately states: "The highest speed ever reached in a speed skydiving competition is 524.13 kmph (325.67 mph) by France's Michael Brooke at the Millennium Speed Skydiving Competition over Gap, France, on September 19, 1999." This is wrong. Whoever informed the Guinness Book of World Records about this was either lying out of personal interest, or was just terribly misinformed. In either case, the damage is done, and this is the first step to rectify that error... more>>
[Published May 03, 2004]

THE SWEDISH WORLD CUP MEET AT GRYTTJOM
Stockholm Skydive Club invites contestants to its 2nd International Speed Skydiving Competition and ISSA World Cup event at Gryttjom DZ, Sweden on July 23-25, 2004. Click here for more, then choose "nyheter" to find the news, or click here. Ann Lindberg (picture) is the chairman of the Stockholm Skydive Club, and ran the 2003 Speed Event at the DZ.
[Published April 29, 2004]

THE UK SPEED SEASON BEGINS!
This coming weekend, Mark Calland will run the first "Speed Awareness Weekend", a Larsen & Brusgaard sponsored event. "It is to highlight the fun, but competitive side of this new discipline. Seminars will be run over the course of the weekend to encourage new speed enthusiasts and also to make jumpers aware of any dangers", as the Target Skysports webpage says. The event is also a competition with Pro-Tracks, Pro-Dytters and t-shirts as prizes.
[Published April 28, 2004]

CONGRATULATIONS, LUCIA BOTTARI!
The ISSA extends its honours to Lucia Bottari of Italy for entering the Guinness Book of World Records 2004. A true athlete and sportswoman is receiving due praise for her performances and continued contributions to the sport of Speed Skydiving: "The highest speed ever reached by a woman in a speed skydiving competition is 432.12 kmph (268.5 mph). Italian daredevil Lucia Bottari achieved this record-breaking velocity above Bottens, Switzerland, on September 16, 2002, during the annual Speed Skydiving World Cup.", the 2004 edition of the book says. But there is a less joyful side to this story... more>>
[Published April 23, 2004]

CALLAND ADDS 3rd SA-WEEKEND
Mark Calland recently added a 3rd "Speed Awareness Weekend" to his plans this summer. The third will be at Peterlee Parachute Centre, on July 17-18. The other two are: May 1-3 at Hibaldstow and June 12-13 at North London Parachute Centre.
Contact Calland through The Speed Skydiving Forum.
[Published April 16, 2004]

NOTE: Added the webpage of the Hibaldstow DZ, venue of the English Speed Meet, in the square above. [April 3, 2004]

THE US WORLD CUP MEET AT JUMPTOWN
The 4th World Cup event of 2004 is organized at the Jumptown DZ in Massachusetts, USA, and is up and running with a website, reports Stan Snigir. See above for date, and to follow link, or read more at The Speed Skydiving Forum.
[Published March 18, 2004]

THE FRENCH WORLD CUP MEET AT LILLE
It is possible to sign up for the 1st event of the 2004 Speed Skydiving World Cup, at Lille in France, reports Fabrice Lebiedzinski. See above for date, follow link, or read more at The Speed Skydiving Forum.
[Published March 12, 2004]

Correction of typing error: The date for the French Speed Meet at Lille in the square above was corrected to May 28-30. [Published March 12, 2004]

ADDED, THE 2nd UK SPEED AWARENESS WEEKEND
The second UK Speed Awareness Weekend will be at North London Parachute Centre, June 12-13, reports Mark Calland.
Contact Calland through The Speed Skydiving Forum.
[Published March 12, 2004]

UK SPEED AWARENESS WEEKENDS
The first UK Speed Awareness Weekend will be May 1-3 at Hibaldstow, reports Mark Calland.
Contact Calland through The Speed Skydiving Forum.
[Published March 3, 2004]

LINDA OLSSON, WINNER AT SWEDEN ACTION AWARDS
Linda Olsson won "Folkets Röst" (The Peoples Vote) at the 2003 Action Award in Stockholm, Sweden. She won the award for her achievements in Speed Skydiving with her Swedish Record at 369,97 km/h set at a speed meet at Gryttjom DZ.
[Published Dec 8, 2003]