Boituva

Boituva is a small town about an hour and a half inland of Sao Paulo and home of Brazil’s National Dropzone, its also now home of Boituva Skydive, a privately run venture owned by James, a bright cheery guy most noticeable because of his bright ginger afro, and almost permanent smile. Boituva skydive was the home of the boogie, its opening boogie, this weekend but as it shares its planes and is separated by a just a walk across the landing area from the National centre we’ve got used to ambling back and forth between the two (ambling seems to be the required method of movement in Brazil, as the temperatures and general pace of life both lend themselves to a more relaxed outlook and attitude). The new centre is still mid construction but already the hotel is nearly completed, as is the bar, hangar and swoop pond so it all looks really promising for the future. The national centre is well established with several shops and schools operating from there, including fly factory with Fabio, Marcus, Flavio and Carlotta, plus the crash test dummies with Mico and his girlfriend Paulo making us feel particularly welcome. In fact, point to note here, Brazil is one of the most friendly welcoming places I’ve ever been to, everyone here seems happy to bend over backwards to help you, for example in nearly a week here we’ve not had to get a taxi back to the hotel once with someone offering a lift every night, very often someone who we’d not even met until a few moments earlier.

With Dan arriving, then Becs and Jim, at least Space were all successfully out in Brazil, big relief and with the arrival of Debs, Jim, Gary and Rob we’ve got a full British contingent, something not far short of a miracle after all the running around last week.

Jumping, or rather landing, in Boituva is fast, 2000ft altitude, the heat of the day and an uneven landing ground make for some interesting landings. A huge windsock is somewhat misleading too, with a slight flicker on the sock indicating a definite breeze on the ground as I discovered following the “first man down” rule effectively going downwind and whistling across the landing area at a terrific rate. The wind (what little there is of it) changes direction all the time too so checking wind direction before take off is next to useless, making me ever thankful for the huge windsock today as I landed a substantial distance away from the DZ on a hillside, amidst cows and termite mounds. From 1000ft I could still make out the windsock and so the best landing direction and so managed a safe (if not altogether dainty) landing on my feet (hopping ditches and termite mounds in the process, but this really was the best “out” in the area). Next followed a trek on foot, almost as interesting as I attempted to negotiate some rather defensive cows, a farmyard with yapping dogs and a very friendly lady who insisted on explaining to me how to get back to the road in a long stream of portugese. When she stopped for breath and I managed to get across that I was English and didn’t understand she repeated the process so this time I nodded, smiled and thanked her then battled my way across the scrub in what I hoped was the direction she had indicated. I was sweltering and wishing I a. at least spoke a handful of portugese, b. had some money on me to get back to the DZ once I reached the road and c. had some water. Boy was I relieved as I got to the road just as the DZ ambulance arrived in search of me, I owe Jonas the driver a beer!

Temperatures are on the up each day, reminding everyone that the Brazilian winter is most definitely over and spring is well under way (for temperatures, think Seville in summer… hot and getting hotter). Clear blue skies and shorts, even in the evening (the shorts that is, not the blue skies, although you do get the most amazing sunsets), nice. Teams from elsewhere have started to arrive, already we have some of the Swiss and U.S. plus others not yet identified. Oh and French. The French arrived in force yesterday, all 20 of them, fully paid up by the French authorities with flights, transport and, most essentially, training all covered. We’ve tried to say hello but have yet to gain eye contact with them maybe the week will see that change, you never know. Should be a good week ahead.