By Alesha Capone
While some people read or head to the gym in their spare time, Christian Peric’s favourite pastime is skydiving out of planes miles above the earth.
The Point Cook man, 48, is one of three Victorian mentors with Aussie Bigways, a volunteer-run organisation for skydivers who like doing large freefall formations (skydiving in a group formation).
Later this month, Mr Peric will head overseas to Perris Valley, California, where 150 Australian skydivers are aiming to participate in a single large formation skydive together.
If they succeed, it will set the record for the biggest-ever single Australian large formation skydive.
Mr Peric said the current national record stood at 119 people skydiving in formation, an effort which he was “lucky enough” to participate in during May 2015.
Mr Peric said his interest in skydiving developed when he was a child, as both his father and uncle were defence-force paratroopers. As a youngster, he also lived near an airport and would often see people parachute.
“What I enjoy about skydiving is the camaraderie, the spirit of the people,” he said.
“You’re flying and it’s like nothing on earth.”
Mr Peric said the upcoming record attempt would include skydivers aged from 18 to 70, many whom have spent the past four years in training.
“It ends up being eight airplanes that we will jump out of,” he said.
“People from all walks of life will come together to perform that one and a half minutes of magic.”
See www.aussiebigways.com for details.
