RAEFORD, N.C.—Top skydivers from across the country will compete in the 2024 United States Parachute Association (USPA) National Championships, hosted jointly by Skydive Paraclete XP and Skydive Chicago. The event kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 29, with practice and competitions spanning most of September.
The skydivers will compete in various disciplines, ranging from the high-speed challenges of canopy piloting, where skydivers reach triple-digit speeds, to artistic routines and large complex formations, to performances in specially designed wingsuits. The competition will begin with Canopy Piloting on Aug. 29 and end with Canopy Formation on Sept. 26.
Skydive Paraclete XP will host the canopy piloting portion of the competition from Aug. 29 to Sept. 4 on-site in Raeford, N.C., just 20 miles outside Fayetteville and 1.5 hours south of North Carolina’s capital, Raleigh.
“We’re thrilled to have Nationals return to Skydive Paraclete XP this year with the Canopy Piloting competition. This event truly shows the magic of skydiving and what’s possible when you’re in the sky,” says Skydive Paraclete XP manager and international skydiving hall of famer Kirk Verner.
The remainder of the competition will be held at Skydive Chicago, in Ottawa, Ill., approximately one hour west of downtown Chicago, from Sept. 8 to 26. Both drop zones will be open to media and spectators who wish to get an up-close and personal view of skydiving at its peak. Attendees at Skydive Chicago can watch fun freefall disciplines from a large LED screen that will broadcast in-air footage from each skydive, in addition to live stream options.
“Elite athletes are coming nationwide to compete in a range of events, showcasing the variety of the sport and how rewarding competition can be,” says CEO of Skydive Chicago and world champion Rook Nelson. “We’re honored to host at Skydive Chicago and show the world what our U.S. skydivers can do.”
The best competitors from nationals will form teams representing the U.S. to participate in future international competitions, including the 2025 World Air Sports Federation World Cup, which will be held in Arizona, Austria, and the Netherlands.
“Nationals is our marquee annual skydiving event,” says USPA executive director Albert Berchtold. “Just as the Olympics represent the pinnacle of athletic achievement for many other sports, Nationals is the ultimate test of skill for skydivers across the nation, allowing these elite athletes to reach new heights in the sport.” To learn more about the 2024 USPA National Championships, visit www.uspa.org.
