Tony Gonzales clicked this shot of Valerie Thal (top) and Wayne Snyder flying a biplane in front of the water jet during a demonstration jump at Fountain Hills, AZ.

The official emblem and design for this year's National Championships was created by a non-skydiver, artist Butch Thorne of Washington, D.C., who was asked by USPA to suggest the "flavor" of skydiving—which evidently he did successfully, since official 1980 National Championships T-shirts were part of every competitor's daily uniform in Richmond, IN this summer.  (These official championships T-shirts are available to all members, for personal wear and as gifts, through the USPA Store.  To order see page 50.)

Official National Championships photographer Haney Martin caught 1980's new Individual Champions Matt O'Gwynn and Cheryl Stearns as each was presented with medals and trophies:  Matt holds the "Big Shot Glass", emblem of men's supremacy and Cheryl the sterling silver-and-crystal women's championship award.  The presentations were made at the individual awards banquet in Richmond, IN, on June 30th.  Both O'Gwynn and Stearns are now training with the 1980 U.S. Team, preparing for the World Championships in Bulgaria later this month.

The Golden Knights build an 8-way Frisbee in the skies over Yuma, AZ.  USAPT photo.

Thundering into the pea gravel at the Tahlequah, OK drop zone is George McCandless  Photo by George Frey.