Local girls to compete in Indoor Skydiving competition in Dubai
They've been somersaulting and performing acrobatic stunts in a whirlwind vortex since they were only eight and nine.
Kyra Poh, 13, and Choo Yixuan, 14, are part of Team Firefly, the youngest national indoor skydiving team in Singapore since its formation five years ago.
Within a short span of four years, the girls have represented Singapore in international competitions, competing with participants from all over the world, some of whom were twice, or even thrice their age.
They've also won several Guinness World Records in indoor skydiving, including the most number of front flips in a minute.
Early this year, they competed at the Body Flight World Challenge 2015 in Bedford, UK and managed to clinch third place in three categories.
Over the years, the girls have grown fond of each other, often looking out for each other.
Kyra told TNP: "We get along really well and like to encourage each other. We really love flying with each other."
The duo recalled their first time going into the tunnel.
Yixuan described it as "really really scary".
"But as time goes by, you get used to it and you'll enjoy the fun of it."
However, Kyra has always enjoyed riding on roller coasters and really enjoyed it from the get go.
Kyra told TNP: "Frankly, now i can't imagine my life without flying. Especially since I come here once or twice a week. It has become a routine where I just come here (iFly) and have fun.
"You have to learn to balance your studies and sports," added Yixuan. " Indoor skydiving, to me, is a relaxing and a way to de-stress. When you're in the tunnel, you'll forget all your worries."
Team Firefly will be in Dubai from Thursday to Saturday (Nov 26-28) to represent Singapore and compete in the Inflight Dubai Clash of Champions 2015 in the open dynamic two-way free-fly category.
1st Inter-School Indoor Skydiving Competition
Not everyone can say that they had solved math equations while tumbling in a whirlwind vortex.
Last Thursday (Nov 18), iFly Singapore held its 1st Inter-School Indoor Skydiving Competition, "So You Think You Can Fly: School Edition".
The event saw 12 students from six local schools competing in four rounds of iCount, manoeuvering in the tunnel while coming up with a math equation to numbers which are given to them.
The participants first enter the tunnel and are shown a number on a screen.
Then they have to form an equation that will give the number given as the answer.
The shorter the time it takes to finish the equation, the more points they will earn.
Caitlin Braybrook of Tanglin Trust School took first place in the competition while Kuo Pei Yu of Nanyang Girls' High School was second, each winning more than $16,000 worth of flight scholarships with iFly.
The winning school also received $5,000 in cash prize for their Financial Assistance scheme.
Both were also crowned as the newest youth school ambassadors for iFly, the indoor skydiving facility on Sentosa.
Fellow iFly ambassador, local personality Hayley Woo, was present as one of the judges.
"The kids did a really good job. Completing the tasks at 13-16 seconds, their time was awesome!"
Team Firefly was excited at the news of the additions to the team.
"We can't wait to have more people on board the team. It'll definitely be fun and exciting to inspire and teach them and give them tips that we've learnt along the way."
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now