"Women's Vertical World Record" Try Coming Thanksgiving Weekend

The clear blue skies promised a great day one of the Women’s Vertical World Record Skills Camp this past weekend, held in Eloy, AZ. This camp was just one of the many such camps leading up to the Women’s Vertical World Record, to be held over Thanksgiving weekend, also in Skydive Arizona. Over the ten jumps during the camp, the sixteen women that were participating worked on different exit positions, getting to the formation safely, and two plane formation loads. The camp culminated in successful formations of up to 22 jumpers.

Sgt Jen Schaben Top Left Side In Black & Gold Army Rig
Photo Courtesy Craig Amrine

Camps like these are ideal for aspiring skydivers who want to learn the ropes to building larger formations, under the guidance of current and past world class skydivers. For the record attempts next month, each formation will be carefully planned, from the exit order of each jumper, to grip sequence and breakoff altitudes. For it to be an official record, each jumper must make it to his or her predetermined slot, and everyone must have the correct grip at the same moment. After the jump, judges scrutinize video and still photos, looking for a single view from one of the camera flyers that shows every grip. Safety is the topmost priority, and there are several measures taken to make sure that everyone makes it safely to the ground.

The current Women’s Vertical World Record is a 20 way, a formation where all 20 participants got to their slots with the correct grip, and the organizers for the upcoming record attempt are looking to double that number next month, hoping for at least a 40 way. As the amount of skill in the sport grows, the record will continue to grow larger and larger.

SGT Jen Schaben, of the Gold Demonstration Team, attended this skills camp, and will attend the official record attempts as well.

FMI: www.armygk.com