Wingsuit wonders – Local team achieve podium in recent European Championships

Turbo Ice Cloud, a locally-based UK Wingsuit team have just achieved a bronze medal in the European Wingsuit Acrobatics Championships held in the middle of last month at Prostějov in the Czech Republic. “We’re still on a high” stated leader Marlborough’s Jack Peploe, whilst adding that of course they have landed…! Their achievement marked the first medal success for any UK wingsuit team in any international competition.

Who are they? And what did they do? The Turbo Ice Cloud team consists of three wingsuited flyers: Jack Peploe (Flyer A), Matt Webster (Flyer B) and David Picton (Camera Flyer). What they do is frequently described as ‘aerial gymnastics at 120mph’. Does that sound hairy? Yes.

Known simply as ‘Acro’, Wingsuit Acrobatics is considered the pinnacle of wingsuit flying. In the championships teams must complete seven rounds, four involving strict compulsory manoeuvres and three judged purely on creativity. Every move must be performed in synchrony at speeds exceeding 120mph — all captured by the camera flyer, who plays a crucial role in securing the score. 

“It’s aerial gymnastics in freefall,” explained Jack Peploe. “You’ve got just 7,500ft to perform manoeuvres in perfect timing with your teammate, while your camera flyer frames it all. Only the very best flyers in the world reach this level.” 

As well as being marked on the seven manoeuvres they are also marked on style. So even if all the manoeuvres were executed as specified, if not done with appropriate grace, class and dexterity they would get marked down. Bit like Ice Skating and the ‘Style’ marks. As Jack noted they have just 7,500 ft altitude in which to fall and at their speed that goes very quickly.

Jack was clear to state that for Turbo Ice Cloud, as well as being the first UK team to win any medal in International competition, their success marks a defining moment for UK Wingsuiting and proves that British aerial athletes can compete with the best in the world. Turbo Ice Cloud are also three time UK Champions for Wingsuit Acro.

For British Wingsuiting, this result represents a turning point. The sport is still relatively young, but its unique blend of human flight and technical mastery continues to capture imaginations worldwide. 

“UK Wingsuiting was set up to inspire and grow the discipline,” said Peploe. “This result proves that British flyers can compete with the very best. It’s only the beginning — and we hope it inspires the next generation to take flight.”