Just kidding about ABC World News Tonight …

We’ve just been told that breaking news is forcing the skydiving segment to tomorrow’s newscast. That’s if, of course, more news doesn’t push it back again. But it is in the queue.

Skydiving on ABC World News Tonight

Skydiving should be the closing segment of tonight’s ABC World News broadcast, unless it gets bumped by breaking news.

A couple of weeks ago Mile-Hi Skydiving in Colorado hosted USPA’s Canopy Piloting National Championships and two other swoop meets in a weeklong event billed as “Swoop Week.” Just before the start, USPA’s PR firm JWalcher Communications convinced ABC World News to send a crew to capture this exciting segment of our sport.

My job most of that Saturday was to assist the crew’s producer, correspondent, camera person and sound person in figuring out what to film, who to interview, etc. They interviewed Jessica Edgeington, Shannon Pilcher and me, and they filmed from many vantage points including from the airplane. We were sure to say that these were highly experienced athletes but who all started with their first jump. We’ll see tonight how they edited all of it, but we can be pretty sure it will make skydiving look edgy and exciting.

CP Nationals

For those of you sick of mind-boggling political scene, there’s something more exciting going on in Denver next week besides the Democratic National Convention. It’s the 2008 USPA National Canopy Piloting Championships, hosted by the Mile-Hi Skydiving Center in nearby Longmont. So far, over 40 skydivers have registered for the chance to become national champions in either the advanced or open class. And the top eight in the open class will be invited to join the US Canopy Piloting Team that will compete at the World Canopy Piloting Championships in South Africa this November.

It’s hard to disagree with someone when they say canopy piloting is the single most exciting spectator sport we have. And the dynamic duo of organizer Frank Casares and meet director Jim Slaton have proven they know how to put on a show. It’s not just a skydiving competition but an extravaganza like no other, with bleachers, narrators, food concessions and the thrill of professional (and not-so-professional) skydivers screaming across the huge pond through colored gates on their way to glory.

If you can’t make it to Longmont next week for the fun and excitement, check our news site for daily updates and pictures of the action. It should be worth your time.