Experience Still Worth Its Weight in Gold

Captain Bánszki, senior officer at the HDF General Staff Training Directorate, achieved an ‘absolute’ victory with his result of 7 centimetres, which also won him a gold medal in his own Master category. Another Hungarian was able to join him on the podium, as Warrant Officer Gábor Hirschler finished in second place with an excellent result of 9 centimetres.

In the team event of the Skydive World Cup Series, Hungary is represented by its national paratrooper team. In Belluno, the team consisting of Sergeant Nándor Buzás, Warrant Officer Péter Gőgös, Warrant Officer Gábor Hirschler, Corporal Bence Hirschler and Staff Sergeant Ferenc Horváth finished in 7th place. Warrant Officer Gőgös is serving in Kecskemét, with the parachute support unit of the HDF 101st Aviation Wing, whilst his comrades are stationed in Szolnok, at the special parachute training centre.

Captain Tamás Bánszki has been skydiving for nearly four decades. He is the technical director of the Hungarian national paratrooper team, so along with asking him about his own success, we also asked him about the team’s performance in Italy and their chances at the World Championship.

What is the secret behind your victory in Belluno?

To be honest, at 55, my right shoulder isn’t in great shape anymore. It was hurting during the competition too, it held me back when it came to making precise movements. Interestingly, though, it was precisely because of these difficulties that I made a point of sitting down between jumps to rest properly. Perhaps this also contributed to being able to achieve such a good result.

Besides the pain, I imagine the competitors also had to contend with the heat.

The World Cup round did indeed take place in sweltering heat. This primarily affected the athletes individually. The heat affects the flight characteristics of the parachute, but as experienced, professional jumpers, we need to know how to deal with this. What really matters to us is whether there’s a wind or not.

To be off by just seven centimetres over eight jumps in three days is a sensational result…

I was on form, it was only my last jump that didn’t go to plan. I managed to ‘hit the bullseye’ seven times in a row or landed very close to the target, bearing in mind we were trying to land on a target the size of a 200-forint coin.

The Belluno event is a truly famous, major one.

It’s the most prestigious competition in our sport. Everyone really wants to win this one. Twenty years ago, I managed to finish first in the overall standings. We’ve also won here several times as a team. I have fond memories of it.

The World Cup round in Italy, held just before the World Military Parachuting Championship, served as a serious trial run. Following the team’s 7th-place result in Belluno, what result do you expect from the team in Slovakia?

We won a bronze medal in the accuracy landing at the 2024 World Military Parachuting Championship, after which we decided to bring in the younger generation. I’m optimistic, but I have to say that, given the huge role experience plays in our sport, it’s almost certain that a young skydiver who’s only been doing it for a couple of years won’t be able to immediately rank among the best at a world championship. To reach the podium, whether as part of a team or individually, you need to be not only extremely skilled but also mentally very strong. It takes time to acquire the necessary skills. We must expect more modest results over the next five years. I would already be very proud of the lads if they were to finish in the top eight at the Military World Championship.

Corporal Bence Hirschler, one of the national team’s young members, believes the team’s preparations have gone well and that the squad is in good form as they head to Losonc.

“Unfortunately, the start of the World Cup season in June didn’t go as we’d hoped, and that was quite a mental strain for everyone, but we managed to get our act together. Things have gone very well for the team since then, which I’m very proud of, because it shows great strength,” said the military athlete, who has been skydiving since 2019 and has completed 1,700 jumps. “We’re heading to the World Championship with confidence; we’ve already had the chance to practice on site, and the competition in Belluno was also good preparation. We’re constantly learning and gaining experience. We form a strong community, and we can achieve a great result as a team if everyone gives their very best. Our seasoned, experienced competitors are still by our side, building us up with their knowledge and presence”, said Corporal Hirschler.