Body Piloting Debuts at the 2025 Australian Indoor Skydive Nationals

 

The 2025 Australian Indoor Skydive Nationals made history with the debut of Body Piloting as an official showcase discipline — the first time it has ever been featured on a Nationals stage anywhere in the world.

Two unique formats were introduced:

• Beginner Round Robin, giving first-time competitors the chance to test themselves in a fair and supportive environment.

• Advanced Knockout Tournament, bringing together Australia’s best and a lineup of world-class international athletes for a high-stakes battle.

Together, these events marked a milestone moment for the growth of body piloting, showcasing its accessibility for newcomers and its potential as a professional, globally recognized sport.

 

Beginner Round Robin Showcase

The Beginner Round Robin featured four rising pilots — Sebastian Smith, Joshua Gannon, Jakob Kapelj, and Shalaura Bromilow — each facing one another once in a clean, easy-to-follow format.

• Busts were recorded for line discipline and trick execution, rewarding control under pressure.

• The format stripped away subjectivity, making it engaging for both competitors and spectators.

Joshua Gannon emerged undefeated (3–0), becoming the first-ever Round Robin Champion, while Sebastian Smith finished second with strong, consistent flying. Jakob Kapelj and Shalaura Bromilow rounded out the standings, gaining valuable competition experience on a national stage.

This showcase proved the concept: a fair, accessible entry point for new athletes and a format that can scale globally.

👉 Read the full Beginner Round Robin recap

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Advanced Knockout Tournament

The Advanced Knockout brought serious firepower, featuring Australia’s top body pilots alongside international names like Kyra Poh (Singapore), Kai Minejima-Lee (Japan), and Wills Bond-Toms Ivans (UK/Latvia).

The intensity of the knockout format — where every mistake mattered — produced some unforgettable clashes:

• Kai vs. Doni Gales was decided by just two busts.

• Kyra vs. Doni delivered an international semi-final thriller, edged out by Doni’s composure.

• In the Grand Final, Doni Gales faced Amy Jamieson, staying calm under pressure to secure his second consecutive knockout title.

The field, the professionalism of the judging, and the broadcast-ready format all underlined that body piloting is ready for bigger stages worldwide.

👉 Read the full Knockout Tournament recap

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Why This Nationals Was Historic

This year’s Nationals was more than just another competition. It:

• Cemented body piloting as a legitimate competitive discipline.

• Proved its ability to run at both grassroots and elite levels.

• Attracted international participation, highlighting its global appeal.

• Showed a clear path forward: expansion into other National Championships, the creation of a dedicated global circuit, and broadcast-ready formats for fans and sponsors.

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The future of body piloting has never looked brighter. From beginner showcases to international showdowns, this debut set the benchmark for where the sport can go next.