POPS Celebrates Spring
The Parachutists Over Phorty Society held its 49th annual SpringFest April 4-7 at Skydive Lake Wales in Florida. Longtime POPS member Dave DeWolf—who passed away the month after SpringFest—supported the event with a generous donation. The event included competition in sport accuracy, scrambles formation skydiving and the POPS signature event, hit ‘n’ rock (accuracy combined with a sprint to a rocking chair). Karl Poruben served as chief judge. David Hounshell and Cheryl Whitford assisted him, and Kathy Poruben and her sister helped with scorekeeping. And although everyone enjoyed the competition, the best part of SpringFest was the chance for jumpers and former jumpers, as well as their friends and spouses, to reunite.
Harry Moore, James Harrison and Bob Busey were atop the podium in several categories. In hit ‘n’ rock, they scored first, second and third, respectively, and were members of the first-place formation skydiving scrambles team. Moore also took first in sport accuracy, and Busey took third, with Ron McFarland placing second. Dale Bragg, Pete Collins and Mike Urzen took second behind the practically unbeatable Busey, Harrison and Moore team in FS scrambles, with the team consisting of Marvin Emmons, McFarland and Robin Rowe taking third. David Perry, Steve Sears and Michael Tomaselli flew video. Tony Thacker, representing Sun Path Products, provided participants with lots of giveaways at the awards ceremony and banquet.
SpringFest also gave the attendees the opportunity to say goodbye to longtime competitor and POPS supporter Bob Huber, who passed away in February. Huber was a classic accuracy competitor during his early years of jumping. More recently, he was the muscle behind the hit ‘n’ rock chair, holding it steady as competitors slammed into it. Friends and fellow jumpers formed an 8-way above Lake Wales and released his ashes.
POPS will meet next at the POPS Nationals October 2-6 at Skydive Spaceland–Houston in Rosharon, Texas, where the group will join forces with breast-cancer charity Jump for the Rose. More information about joining POPS and upcoming POPS events is available at the recently updated website, pops-usa.com.