ISU Skydivers president Jeremy Dubansky jumped alongside some of the best in the nation, participating in his first skydiving competition, after a year and a half of jumping.

Dubansky travelled to Eloy, Ariz. to compete in the U.S. Parachute Association’s national competition, which took place Dec. 28, 2012 through Jan. 2, 2013.

“I didn’t even know events like this existed,” Dubansky, senior in software engineering, said. “It was one of the best atmospheres I’ve been in.”

The goal of the event was to break records, rather than go against another person, said Dubansky.

“Skydiving as sport is a great community to be in,“ Dubansky said. “While we were competing to be the best, it didn’t seem like it.”

The competitors help push each other and made safety a priority, checking each other’s parachutes.

Scores are to show how far one was off the record, according to Dubanksy. Jumpers go through a routine to determine wind patterns before scoring jumps.

Dubansky participated in the canopy accuracy event, in which the jumper attempts to land on or as close to a target as possible. He placed fourth in the event with one jump just under 10 inches from the target.

“I was very impressed,” said Clark Coffman, ISU Skydivers adviser and associate professor of genetics/development and cell biology. “Jeremy hasn’t been jumping that long. It was a focused effort on his part.”

The goal of the event was to break records, rather than go against another person, according to Dubansky.

“It’s not going against one another,” Dubansky said “We’re going for the same cause.”

He travelled to the event alone, but brought a second parachute rig, lent from Skydivers’ treasurer, Jagan Alagurajan.

“My gear is a bit bigger, so I lent it to him,” said Alagurajan, a biochemistry, biophysics and molecular graduate assistant. “It allows him to fly a bit better on the descent.”

Dubansky said he spent a week at the competition, which allows for the unpredictability of the weather. Dubansky also participated in the host drop zone’s annual Holiday Boogie, an event comprised of fun jumps and social events for jumpers, during the trip.

“It’s like a party at night for jumpers,” Dubansky said.

Dubansky said the club aims to return next year with a team to compete. 

Alagurajan and Dubansky said the club is looking to expand to help build the team and anyone interested in joining should know it is easy to get started in skydiving.

The club requires individuals to sign up and fill out a waiver for membership, Alagurajan said.

“We need enough active jumpers,” Coffman said. “We just need a group of four people who have the qualifications to compete at nationals.”

The club will let those interested in skydiving make their first tandem jump at a reduced cost, Dubansky said. Students who wish to continue can obtain certification and may jump with club, including some tickets paid for by the club.

“Some people think most of us must be crazy, but they come and see that we are normal and come from different backgrounds,” Alagurajan said.

The social aspect is one reason Alagurajan said people interested in skydiving should join and should visit one of the club’s meet ups. The club meets at the Boone drop zone and makes jumps together, sometimes working on group formations in free fall.

“Everyone comes for the passion of it,” Alagurajan said.

ISU Skydivers will be at this semester’s Clubfest and will stay in touch with those who are interested throughout the semester as they continue to meet and jump.