Silver Medal in Freestyle World Championships

BLESMA Member Al Hodgson and his wife Pixie win a Silver Medal at the Freestyle Skydiving World Championships

Read Al's story in his own words:

Pixie has been skydiving for seven years and I have been doing the same for the last ten. I learned to skydive after losing both legs in a terrorist attack in Northern Ireland in 1992 and embarked on an AFF (accelerated freefall) course in March 2000 at Skydive Langar in the East Midlands. Many thought it was not possible and that if I did happen to complete the course I would merely be able to exit an aircraft and deploy a parachute in a stable position.

Freestyle is similar to freeflying but requires a more balletic form. A freestyle team is made up of two people, the performer and camera flyer. The natural course was for Pixie to become the performer and I the camera flyer. Our jobs in the sky are quite different but it is imperative that we work as one,  aware of each other one hundred percent and to have a strong and deep understanding of each other's flying styles to perform at our best with synchronicity. Pixie has to be physically strong and flexible with great balance, I have to be super sharp and powerful, able to move smoothly around, up, over and underneath Pixie with no margin for error, always maintaining Pixie in the centre of the frame.

This year at the World Freestyle Skydiving Championships in Menzelinsk, Russia, after only three years (albeit with incredibly hard work,determination, commitment and sacrifice) we found ourselves actually on the Podium in second place with a silver medal hanging on our chests; shoulder to shoulder with the best freestyle skydivers on the Planet. Having hardly stopped to take a breath for three years, we really felt an almost overwhelming sense of achievement. There we both were; me and Pixie stood in front of a huge crowd of locals, officials and our fellow competitors being cheered by everyone. They were cheering for us, it was like a dream, the best dream!

Even with the effort we had to sustain for a seemingly endless time, our achievement would not be possible without a support structure that  we have been priviledged to receive. We are so very grateful to our sponsors that considered our team to be a worthwhile investment. Our great friend Jan Widgruber, owner and operator of the Beech 99 (the most awsome skydiving aircraft in world), and  Skydive Langar (our home DZ) for all our skydiving needs. BLESMA, The Airborne Forces Security Fund, Airborne Forces, The Soldiers Charity and Airkix for their help with invaluable wind tunnel training.  Thank you also to Simon Brewis. Of course I have to thank my Mum too, I am nearly forty years old and she is still helping me out  from time to time.  This support was essential to our success and our World Championship Silver Medal is for them and for you as much as it is for us. We hope that we did you proud.

Thank you so very much.

Al Hodgson

Photograph courtesy of Bruno Brokken - Thank you for your support.

.................................................................................

Meet our amputee Members

Read the stories of our Members, meet those who need our support

• Matt Wollard, wounded soldier – Afghanistan
• Kevin Woodford, wounded soldier – Falklands
• Jerome Church, wounded soldier – N Ireland
• Joe Davies, wounded soldier – WWII
• Adam 'Goolie' Ball – wounded soldier – Afghanistan

Amputee helping amputee

Rehabilitation and the fellowship of shared experience

BLESMA of course does not only look after amputee soldiers, we also care for limbless sailors and limbless airmen. Rehabilitation activities are not limited to white water rafting – BLESMA takes its members skiing and sailing too. Click here to see limbless soldiers skiing in Breckenridge. Click here to read all about British wounded soldiers sailing the Atlantic. Our work with injured servicemen and women is about amputee helping amputee - the fellowship of shared experience. Our work is about life long welfare support, about campaigning for what wounded soldiers deserve. Our youngest amputee Member is 19 and our oldest is 99 - truly we are BLESMA for Life.

So, if you would like to support our troops we would appreciate your help.

• Click here to receive further information about wounded soldiers
• Click here to vote how informative this injured servicemen site is
• Click here to donate to BLESMA