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The Skydiving Centre/School - history
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FREEFALL IN EVERYONES REACH
The history of SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA started in 1985. This was a beginning of a project, which until then had only been a dream. The aim was to create a full time, professional skydiving centre. The initial project was so successful that during the first year 25.000 jumps were made, making SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA one of the leading skydiving centres in Europe at that time.
Since then SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA has grown to become one of the top three skydiving centers in the world, achieving 134.000 jumps for the year 2001. To date over 1.000.000 jumps have been made at SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA since it’s beginnings in 1985.
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SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA
SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA began with a staff of just 5 people and now employs over 40 people, and has generated a series of satellite businesses around itself. These businesses include parachute manufacturers, manufacturers of various sports material related to skydiving such as jumpsuits, helmets, gloves etc. as well as various skydiving schools and adventure sports agencies. Approximately another 50 people working for these satellite businesses depend on the activity generated by the SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA.
SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA doesn’t only dedicate its activities to experienced skydivers alone; it has also brought skydiving within the reach of the man-on-the-street through tandem jumps. Last year more than 9.000 people made their first jump without any prior formal skydiving training. Some of these included people facing disabilities and difficulties whom, without the tandem system would be unable to experience this sport. They and many others were able to make their dream to fly come true doing a tandem jump accompanied by a professional instructor. They were a part of the more than 50.000 people who have chosen SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA to do their first Tandem jump throughout the center’s history.
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In these twenty years of existence, SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA has been the organizer of some of the most prestigious international events in the World. The events are listed below: |
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1989 VIII world championships in formation skydiving
1993 IV world championships in freestyle and skysurfing
1994 IX world cup in formation skydiving.
1995 III pops world cup
1996 extreme games international tour
1997 spanish championships in freestyle and skysurfing
1998 I european championships in 16-way formation skydiving
1998 I world cup in 16-way formation skydiving
2000 X catalan championships in formation skydiving
2001 XI catalan championships in formation skydiving
2002 XII world cup of formation skydiving, artistic events and canopy formatio
2002 V european championships of formation skydiving and canopy formatio
2002 XXIV spanish national championships
2003 XXV spanish national championships
2004 I open international swoop competition
2004 XXVI spanish national championships
2004 womans eyropean record in cf
2005 spanish record in cf
2005 european freefly record
2005 II open international swoop competition
2005 XXVII Spanish National Championships
2006 XXVIII Campeonato de España
2007 XXIX Campeonato de España
2007 Record Europeo de Freefly
2008 Intento de Record de España de Gran Formación
2008 XXX Campeonato de España |
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Skydive Empuriabrava has also participated in the past in functions organized by as well as for the community, by doing exhibition jumps in various events such as inaugurations, celebrations and as well as fund raising activities. Amongst the numerous functions in which Skydive Empuriabrava has participated in the following stood out the most:
- Reception of the Olympic torch for Barcelona ‘92.
- Inauguration of the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic.
- Spanish Formula 1 Grand prix in 1992.
- The building of a huge blue loop in freefall in an act of solidarity for two persons held hostage by ETA, José Antonio Ortega y Cosme Delclaux.
- The building of a huge black loop in freefall in an act of solidarity for the victims of terrorism on 11M.
- Collaboration with Dalí year by building a huge cross in freefall over Port Lligat as a representation of the painting by Dalí “San Juan de la Cruz”.
- Collaboration with La Marató de TV3.
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SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA is the organizer of several other international events such as the Surf Inn Speed star challenge, the Open Skyrats Trophy and the Captains Cabin Canopy Formation Challenge. It is responsible for bringing together an international concentration of skydivers for skydiving festival events such as the Easter Boogie and the Christmas Boogie. The Christmas Boogie alone attracts over 700 skydivers from all over the world for three weeks in December and January.
Due to the privileged situation and the infrastructure that it possesses, SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA has become one of the primary training destinations for many of the top skydiving teams in the world, such as France and Russia. SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA is also the home of the Spanish National Team in Formation Skydiving, the French and former World Champion Freefly Team, and the French Freestyle (Men’s) Team.
Every year SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA attracts over 25.000 people to Empuriabrava, including skydivers and accompanying people. This is especially interesting for the tourist area of Castelló d´Empuries as this brings a constant flow of tourists throughout the year, which in most cases covers the low season.
Due to these circumstances SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA has been awarded prizes for promotion of tourism in Castelló d´ Empuries for which it received the “Espiga y Timó” from the town council of Castello d’Empuries as well as the “XXII Nit del Turisme” prize from the school of tourism in Girona and “el Sol de la Costa Brava” from the ATA. SKYDIVE EMPURIABRAVA has been the determining factor in the choice of selection of Castelló d´Empuries – Empuriabrava by the tourist department of the Generalitat of Catalunya, as one of three “Sports Tourist Destinations” in Catalunya and Girona.
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