22-02-2025
UAE: How new skydiving team defeated GCC's best in Kuwait
When Indian expat Jamsheer Thanalot first came across skydiving in Dubai, he was instantly captivated. However, as a salesman earning just Dh1,500, it seemed like an unattainable dream. That all changed earlier this month when he and his two teammates triumphed over seasoned skydivers from across the GCC to claim the top honours at a competition in Kuwait.
'It feels like a dream,' he told Khaleej Times, reflecting on his team's first ever skydiving competition. "We were the least experienced team in our category, competing against teams from the police and military of other GCC countries. When we were preparing for the competition, our main goal was to gain experience. We never imagined we would win."
Jamsheer along with his teammates Elizaveta Oleshchenko and Ramees Mubarak underwent rigorous training by Emirati coach Sawaf Matar to participate in the two-way belly intermediate category in the Kuwait Skydive Formation Championship.
The trio had to perform a series of pre-selected formations during their jumps, with the sequences revealed only on the day of the event. Judging was based on the precision of execution, with only the first 40 seconds of the jump from exit being scored. "After each jump, we submitted the video footage," explained Russian Elizaveta. "No re-jumps were allowed unless under extraordinary circumstances."
Ramees, an Indian national, emphasised that even the smallest mistake could cost them points. "In one jump, we lost two points because I held the right hand instead of the left," he recalled. "We completed a total of 38 sequences over six rounds."
Intense training
Training for the competition was gruelling, with the team dedicating every weekend to practice for over three months. "I weigh 85 kg, and Elizaveta weighs 65 kg, so getting our timings right to ascend together took more than 100 jumps," Jamsheer explained. "Every Saturday and Sunday, we'd spend the whole day practicing at the drop zone in Abu Dhabi."
Ramees noted that the mental focus required for the sport was also a major challenge. "We're flying using our bodies, so when we're jumping our brains need to be fully engaged," he said. 'We cannot afford any distractions whatsoever.'
To ensure full focus, the team kept their phones away and even switched them off while traveling for the competition. Sponsored by Benjelloun and Partners, the team faced off against eight other teams.
Expensive hobby
For Jamsheer, skydiving had been a long-standing dream. After first discovering the sport in 2011, he was finally able to try tandem skydiving in 2019 after becoming an entrepreneur. "I had a fear of heights that I wanted to overcome," he said. "That tandem jump turned into a lifelong passion."
However, he acknowledged the high cost of the hobby. "The skydiving licence costs Dh25,000, and parachutes range from Dh25,000 to Dh30,000, plus maintenance fees," he said. "Each jump also costs between Dh100 and Dh200."
For Elizaveta, the constant challenge of skydiving is what keeps her coming back. "The challenge to improve and the unmatched feeling of freedom while flying have completely captivated me," she said. "Balancing my career, skydiving, and personal life isn't always easy, especially when training and competing. But I'm lucky to have an incredibly supportive husband who encourages me to pursue my passion."
MeanwhRamees, a lifelong adrenaline junkie who enjoys paragliding and other flying activities, found skydiving to be "a natural progression" from all the other activities he enjoyed. "It's my way to relax and release all the stress I've accumulated during the day," he said.
