Team Of 56 Jumpers Set State Record

The saying that everything is bigger in Texas applies to formation skydiving as well. A team of 56 jumpers set the state record for a total break sequential (TBS) jump in August 2024.

A TBS jump is when members of a group formation all release their grips, completely separate, then some back together into a new formation. This is performed several times in the same jump to achieve the sequential part.

Larry Henderson of Skydive Spaceland-Dallas has been organizing these types of jumps for many years, inviting skydivers from around the state and beyond to create imaginative and challenging formations over northern Texas. On a weekend in August he arranged for a team of 56 jumpers to go after the Texas state TBS record.

Despite suffering a broken wrist and having to direct the efforts from the ground on the first day, Henderson had very capable replacements ready to jump in, so to speak. Skydive Spaceland Event Director Scott Latinis took over Henderson’s base captain slot while jumpers Tom Schroeder and Billy Whitaker filled in as plane captains.

The first day was spent on learning the picture when exiting three planes and building the first formation. As was Henderson’s tradition, every day of jumping ended with a full dinner for the team at the drop zone.

On the second day, Henderson was back in the sky directing the team, and 56-way completions were becoming routine. Several attempts were made at the full break and rebuild process and, although there were improvements, the record was elusive.

On Sunday, the third and final day of jumping, the first attempt at the record was very close but missed. The second jump was better but missed by only two points. On jump three it all came together and then all the team had to do was wait for confirmation. An onsite team of judges had to review the video with a fine-tooth comb to make sure all grips were good on all points.

After what seemed like an endless wait, the verdict was in: the announcement was made that the team had achieved success setting the Texas record for a TBS jump at 56! There were many cheers and much celebration!

FMI:  www.uspa.org/