Current World and National Champions Plan to Swoop to Victory at World Games

July 31, 2013 - PRLog -- Following a commanding performance at the US Canopy Piloting (CP) Nationals in May, Curt Bartholomew and Nick Batsch from Team Alter Ego are ready to repeat that dominate performance at the The World Games in Cali, Columbia, starting Thursday, August 1.

Chosen as two of only 6 US Canopy Pilots to compete at the World Games (organized by the International Olympic Committee), Bartholomew & Batsch are the early favorites to bring home Gold and Silver at the widely covered event.

Although the pair bested the rest of the field by 45 points at the US National Championships and became the winningest CP team in US Nationals history with their 5th collective Gold, they aren’t taking their competition for granted and are always pushing their training and performances to stay on top.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to take part in such a large scale, world class event,” Bartholomew said about the World Games. “I have been dealing with some serious injuries the last few months but I can't wait to perform in front of, and along side so many other sports!"

As teammates, they rely on each other during competitions in planning strategies for each round and discipline. Having won every major CP competition for the past two years, their strength as teammates is paying off.  

“We push and help each other, it’s how we stay on top,” Batsch shared. “Our goal is not just to win, but to win by a staggering separation between us and the rest of the field. We are talking with each other in between every round to make sure we have the right plan for each event”.

As competitors, they are each other’s biggest competition. The pair are consistently in a dead heat with one another until the final jumps of a competition. A margin of only 1.7 points separated the two leading into the final jump at the 2013 US National competition. In second place, Bartholomew jumped first and scored a perfect 100 in Zone Accuracy. Batsch answered with a 100 of his own, maintaining his lead to earn Gold Overall and his 4th US National Championship title.  

“If someone is going to beat me, I want it to be my teammate,” Bartholomew added.


The World Games

The World Games began Friday, July 26 and includes 4500+ athletes from 101 countries participating in 31 different sports. The Canopy Piloting competition at the World Games will be held August 1-4. The CP field is comprised of 36 registered competitors and includes only the very best Canopy Pilots from around the world.

Canopy Piloting

Canopy Piloting competitions are judged over the performances in 9 rounds of competition: 3 rounds each of Zone Accuracy, Distance and Speed. The pilots must navigate a water course at speeds upwards of 100 mph, with each event presenting unique challenges that affect how the pilot maneuvers his canopy. The placement of a toe can be enough to mean the difference between who is on top and who settles for Silver.

Team Alter Ego’s Curt Bartholomew & Nick Batsch

Bartholomew & Batsch currently hold 3 global titles: Bartholomew holds the CP World and Dubai International Parachuting Championships, while Batsch is the current CP World Cup and US National Champion. Immediately following the World Games, Bartholomew & Batsch will travel to Kolmna, Russia for the Canopy Piloting World Cup Championships, followed by the 4th Dubai International Parachuting Championship in December.


Story by: Carrie Transue, Nomad Management & Advertising

Team Alter Ego is a Professional Canopy Piloting team comprised of Curt Bartholomew, Jeannie Bartholomew, Nick Batsch and Ryan Brownlow.  For the latest team news, visit www.facebook.com/TeamAlterEgo or www.facebook.com/TmNomad. To schedule an interview with Batsch, Bartholomew or the team or for more information, contact Carrie Transue, Nomad Management & Advertising, CarrieT@TmNomad.com • 502-777-9418

Photos:
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