1970 Freefall Exhibition Team receives 2022 Pioneers of Excellence Award

One of the highlights of the Hall of Fame Celebration at Skydive DeLand was the Pioneers Lunch, sponsored by UPT, where the 1970 Freefall Exhibition Team received the museum’s Pioneers of Excellence Award.  Representing the Team: (pictured above)  Donna Wardean-Dann, Ray Cottingham, Sam Alexander, and Jerry Bird.

In 1970, the United States Freefall Exhibition Team (USFET) demonstrated what was then called Relative Work at the World Parachute Championships in Bled, Yugoslavia, and inspired skydivers from all over the world.

Yugoslavia, the host of the 10th World Championships in 1970, was interested in having a United States Relative Work Exhibition Team to introduce big way relative work to Europe and the rest of the world. Norm Heaton, USPA director, worked with Ted Webster to set up a 10-way speed star competition to decide which 10-way team would represent USPA at the Spectator (exhibition) Event. Jerry Bird’s All-Stars, a hybrid team with talented jumpers from both the Taft and Elsinore dropzones, was selected.

After winning the Ted Webster Meet as the Jerry Bird’s All-Stars. the team became the United States Freefall Exhibition Team and went to the Bled, Yugoslavia World Parachute Championships joining as a contingent of the United States Parachute Team. Once there, the team jumped in the Opening Ceremonies for all the world to see and later competed in the Spectator Event and won the Bronze Medal for the United States following Russia and Czechoslovakia.
 
The real goal, however, was to demonstrate Relative Work as a competition event.  While in Bled, there was so much enthusiasm and curiosity about Relative Work. the team felt not only welcome, but sought after by jumpers from many countries around the world. Team members from Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and other countries would come to the USFET tent to find out more about Relative Work.  They were able to take Delegates from other countries Into the air on the big Russian AN-2s to actually experience Relative Work.

The United States Freefall Exhibition Team introduced Relative Work to the world not just visually, but by team members actually jumping and teaching skydivers from across the globe. It was clear that the sport of skydiving was changing and the USFET was a significant inspiration for that change. 

The 1970 Freefall Exhibition Team:  
Ted Webster – Team Sponsor 
Ron Bluff – Team Leader
Jerry Bird – Team Captain
Carl Boenish –  Team Photographer
Ray Cottingham
Joe Morgan 
Stan Troeller
Mike Milts
Russ Benefiel
Max Kelly
Sam Alexander 
Donna Wardean
Bob Feuling
Hal Hurley
Dick Gernand

Photo by Randy Forbes