New formations, new team and new perspective – How the 200 way head down world record attempts are shaping up…
Photo by Nathan Roth
After two previous attempts to achieve a 200-way head-down world record, Rook Nelson, the driving force behind this ambitious project, decided it was time for a fresh approach. Meanwhile, across the country, Matt Fry had been studying large formations from the perspective of belly flyers. He observed how the belly flying community consistently expanded their world record numbers and became intrigued by their formation techniques and build strategies. Matt began organizing vertical camps and records inspired by the belly flying approach, incorporating spine-and-rib formations and methodical build plans. Camp by camp, record by record, the results were clear — success and efficiency improved significantly. Rook took note of Matt’s progress, and together, they combined their expertise, experience, and shared vision. Now, their focus is set on the 200-way attempts at Skydive Chicago, August 2025, with a renewed strategy and collaborative effort to bring this monumental goal within reach.
How did the collaboration between the two of you come about?
Rook Nelson: After 2 unsuccessful attempts, I knew we had to start over. Matt Fry came to me with a new design and I could tell in our conversation that he was as passionate as I am when it comes to big way skydiving. I believe that our collaboration was exactly what is needed for our next attempts to be successful.
Matt Fry: I came home from the 2022 attempts more motivated than ever. I reviewed footage from the 2018 and 2022 jumps and saw similar challenges that I believed were due to the formation design. While I still think that the 2018/2022 design could work (we were close in 2018), it was clearly very fragile and it certainly wouldn’t scale to the next level (200+). I started looking for alternative designs that could work for 200 and beyond. I dug into the evolution of FS records and how they started with diamond grips and evolved to using whacker lines. This helped them build their first 200-way! I consulted several FS bigway organizers and started engineering alternative formations for a 200-way. I brought my observations and ideas to Rook and he was very open to the idea of a fresh design. Shortly thereafter we agreed to partner up for 2025.
Reflecting on the previous 200-way attempts, what main insights have you applied to the upcoming attempts to improve the chances of success?
Rook: More training, fewer cuts, new formation, and a new approach on how to phase in the attempts. I strongly feel that the new formation design is key. Combine that with less cutting to reduce stress and we have a recipe for success.
Matt: I think the formation is the most obvious change being made. However, while we consulted FS Organizers on their past record designs, we also discussed some of the behind-the-scenes strategies they used to select and manage their World Team. Some of which we’ve incorporated and adapted for our purposes. We’ve also heard feedback from past participants and we are using that to provide a more enjoyable record experience.
Specific changes: Longer build-up. Workshops started in June of 2023 to experiment with alternative designs. Phase 1 camps started 9 months later. Standardization. The workshops have helped develop SOPs that are available for all organizers and participants. This allows everyone around the world to train the same way, and arrive at the record ready to perform.
Team Selection. Instead of picking the best 20 people who attended a specific tryout camp (as an example), we are picking the top 200 flyers who are actively flying bigways (camps, sequentials, records, etc.).
The Bench. The bench isn’t completely gone, but it’s going to be bare bones. Organizers will be more focused on coaching and mentoring throughout the record instead of rotating people in/out with the bench. Fewer cuts, more problem-solving.
Progressive Builds. The record event doesn’t start with 200-way attempts. It will have a progressive buildup starting with smaller formations that eventually assemble into a 200-way attempt. We are relying on an incremental introduction to new sight pictures and new objectives in order to reduce stress and prevent anyone from ‘red-lining’. Keep the goals bite-sized.
Photo by Nathan Roth
In terms of preparation, how are the potential participants being coached differently this time?
Rook: We have designed phase 1, 2 and 3 camps. Phase 1 is for people just getting started. Phase 2 is for flyers looking to hone in their big way skills and don’t want to waste jumps on lower lever phase 1 camps. Phase 3 camps are higher pressure big-way jumps, for example, CA state record etc.
Can you share some of the logistical challenges that come with coordinating such a large event? How are you planning to tackle these differently?
Rook: Infrastructure wise there is no better place than Skydive Chicago. We have the space, facility and team that can handle an event of this caliber. I feel the leg work is going to be building the team. Our goal being that the phase camps help accomplish this by giving everyone a path to success.
Matt: One logistical challenge with this type of event is the cost. Bringing in multiple aircraft is no cheap endeavor. In 2025 we will run our record concurrently with a 250-way FS State Record attempt. This should help distribute some of the expected expenses. Another challenge is the time it requires for aircraft to land, taxi, fuel, load, and take off again. Doing this for 10 aircraft is very time consuming. Using their experience from hosting previous records, SDC is taking steps to expedite the process so that many of these steps are handled in parallel.
How are you handling team selection this year?
Matt: The goal is to assemble a team with the best chances of safety and successfully building a 200 person formation. With that goal in mind, there are a couple of driving philosophies.
For example, competing is one of the best ways to learn how to compete. Most professional athletes enter regional and national competitions before arriving at a world level competition (the Olympics, for example). By that same reasoning, setting records would seem to be a great way to learn how to set a record. To that end, we are less focused on traditional “tryouts” and instead are encouraging more regional records to help us train and select our team.
Another change is that in the past, different regions of the world were allocated a fixed number of invitations.
Now, we have a single pool of 200(ish) invites, and are using a team of organizers from around the world to help us select the best team, regardless of where they live. By using a more collaborative process for invitations, we hope to provide a more consistent selection process.
Photo by Nathan Roth
Are there any new safety protocols in place?
Rook: I have never wavered from goal #1 on all of my big ways: Everyone goes home safe. With a lower stress (no cuts) environment I believe flyers can stay calm and not get amped up and make mistakes.
What are the most significant mental or physical challenges you’ve seen in previous records, and is there any energy put towards equipping participants to manage and perform under the intense pressure that week?
Matt: It’s not uncommon to see folks who are absolutely overwhelmed, especially on those first couple of 200-way attempts. When you combine sensory overload and a pressure to perform, we see a deterioration in discipline and performance. We have 3 steps in mind to minimize these stressors for participants.
- Lots of regional records incorporated into the training schedule. Hopefully everyone has some record experience before arriving at the 200-way so they arrive having the confidence to perform.
- A progressive build up that starts with 60-ways. Before the 200-way attempts begin, everyone will have an opportunity to build their part of the formation in a smaller group. After the 200-ways begin, flyers will be given incremental goals for each jump to keep the expectations manageable. For example, if your slot is on the outside of the formation, you may not be permitted to dock on jump 1. We want you to focus on a clean and efficient approach. Having a progressive build up helps set everyone up for success.
- A bare minimum bench. We are committed to the team we select. Hopefully this reduces the fear of being cut and encourages a more collaborative environment among the team. Less replacement, more mentoring.
How do you plan to keep the energy and morale high among the team?
Rook: I believe creating a feedback loop where flyers have an avenue to be heard and action taken when necessary will keep any frustrations at bay. Like we have in the past we will have a DJ/ hype man to get the energy going as we board the planes.
Matt: We also plan to have a more structured schedule for each day of attempts, so participants can anticipate down time to rest and/or get food.
Looking beyond the record, how do you hope this event will influence our community?
Rook: Never give up. Records should be hard and that’s why they sometimes are unsuccessful. If it was easy no-one would want it ’cause everyone would have it. The vertical elite is just that, a VERY small group of people that will achieve something no-one else ever has.
Matt: Record participants invest so much of themselves in the pursuit of making history. I hope their success inspires others in our community to set big goals and train hard.
How big do you think we can go in future if we crush this 200-way?
Rook: There are no limits in skydiving. Only the ones we put on ourselves.
Matt: I think 240 would be our likely limit due to freefall time and the number of aircraft needed. To exceed that would require use of military aircraft (e.g., C-130s) and/or high-altitude jumps (i.e., above 20,000 ft) which require use of a bailout oxygen system. Both of those are possible, but dramatically compound the logistics involved.
What should someone do who is hoping to be a part of the next record attempts?
Rook: Get involved as much as you can. Start reaching out to the organizers of the phase 1 camps.
Where can people learn more?
There’s more info on our Vertical Elite web page or The Vertical Elite Facebook page.
Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Email Matt Fry: fryformations@gmail.com
Any sponsors you’d like to mention?
Huge thanks to UPT, Performance Designs, LB Altimeters, SSK, Cypres, Cookie Vertical Suits and Skydive Perris for their ongoing support.
