BUILD YOUR OWN SWOOP POND
The construction of a swoop pond should be thought out considerably. There are several considerations the builder (DZO/Organizer) should consider.
HOW BIG DOES IT NEED TO BE?- The bigger the swoop pond the better and the safer it will be. A bigger pond makes it less likely for a swooper to miss while attempting a swoop. The most likely (and unfortunate) scenario is a swooper strikes the water but bounces out onto the hard ground (this happened to the DZO at Z Hills). This occurs most often at “Swoop ditches” that are long and narrow. Make the pond as wide as possible or at least 75ft wide.
You also must consider fitting all the competition courses on the water. The best ponds allow for multiple courses to be set up at the same time. If you are building a pond then we assume you are doing so because you want swoopers a safe location to train and hold competitions. If you are considering holding competitions at your new pond then you should make sure all the IPC Canopy Piloting courses will fit on it. In addition, you should consider making the pond large enough to fit any PST courses.
DIMENSIONS- There are several acceptable pond shapes and sizes that you can build at your DZ but they are not all ideal. Here is a list of the most widely used pond shapes:
1) DIAMOND POND-This pond is shaped like a diamond typically measuring 275ft long X 150ft wide X 3 ft deep.
2) SQUARE POND-This pond is shaped like a square typically measuring 250ft X 250ft X 3 ft deep.
3) RECTANGLE POND-This pond is shaped like a rectangle typically measuring 250ft X 100ft X 3ft deep.
4) ROUND POND-This pond has a completely round shape with a typical radius of 125ft making the pond 250ft wide all the way around.
The DIAMOND and SQUARE shaped pond is the most widely used in the industry. The biggest man-made swoop pond is 500ft X 200ft at Skydive Spaceland in Houston, Texas. Again, the bigger the better and swoopers are swooping farther than ever before.
PLACEMENT & POSITIONING-The placement and positioning of the pond is as important as the size itself. The designer should make sure the pond is positioned as far from obstacles as possible and run parallel to the predominant wind line. The RECTANGLE shaped pond is the pond the designer must make sure it is laid out parallel to the predominant wind line. So this is clear, we mean the longest part of the swoop pond faces into the wind (parallel to the wind line). There needs to be enough run out so swoopers can miss, overshoot or swoop beyond the boundaries of the pond without the risk of striking an obstacle. The Pro Swooping Tour’s minimum recommended clearance is at least 300ft in all directions.
MAINTENANCE AND COST–The main factor for maintenance and cost will depend on whether you as the designer use a plastic liner or not. There are several pros and cons when using a liner so we will list both so you can make a solid decision on which way you will choose to go.
PROS & CONS
1) Liners are expensive- One piece liners large enough for the average size swoop pond range between $2,500 and $10,000 USD.
2) Water level must be maintained- The water level must be maintained at all times so the plastic liner is not exposed to direct sunlight. Under direct sunlight the liner will crack and weeds will grow up through these cracks. (labor intensive scenario)
3) Eventually the liner will have to be replaced- Sooner or later that expensive liner will have to be replaced. Also, the pond will have to be drained and the old liner will have to be pulled out which again is very labor intensive.
4) Liner keeps pond cleaner and weed free- The liner will keep your pond cleaner in the beginning and reduce the number of weeds that can grow under the surface of the water.
5) Liners can help maintain the water level- A good liner will help maintain more water since there will be less water absorbing into the ground. You should be aware however that black colored liners used in hot regions accelerate evaporation.
Some of the best swoop ponds do not have liners. If you choose not to use a liner then you can just create a basic maintenance program to help maintain the water level and reduce algae. Pond dyes are widely used. First, the dye makes the water in the pond an attractive dark blue color. Second, it reduces the amount of sunlight in the water, which in turn reduces the amount of algae growth. Weeds and algae grow to the surface of the water. So, what are the main costs associated with maintaining a swoop pond?
1) Water- Hopefully you are building the pond outside of a desert region.
2) Liner- If you choose to use one (see cost above).
3) Pond dye- You will need about four gallons a year.
4) Weed puller- A general maintenance hand that will pull weeds and keep up the pond.
5) Recirculation pump- If you are not using a liner and want to reduce weed and algae growth then purchase and install a recirculation pump.
THIS IS THE BEST KEPT SECRET FOR MAINTAINING A NICE POND.
This little gem is used at golf courses and parks. It typically looks like a small water fountain spraying out of the pond and keeps the water circulating at all times. This greatly reduces most algae growth under the surface of the pond.
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