If you’re dreaming about flying in a world record formation, here are six steps that will get you closer to that goal, no matter where you’re starting from.
Every skydiver who watches a world record formation has probably thought the same thing: “How do people get on that team?” Many believe the slots are already taken, the teams are closed, and there’s no chance for newcomers to break in. That’s simply not true. Yes, the competition is tough. Yes, standards are high. But I’ve seen many skydivers go from watching records to flying in them — not because they were the best in the world, but because they were consistent, committed, and coachable.
Read below for 6 ways to get involved.
1. Shift Your Mindset and Start Preparing Now
Every great achievement begins with a shift in mindset. Don’t buy into the myth that record teams are closed circles. They’re not. But they do demand readiness.
That readiness starts long before the official announcement of a record attempt. You need to be in solid physical condition. Records often happen in extreme conditions – super hot or freezing cold. Weight is sometimes necessary, adding extra work for your body. Flexibility, endurance, and stability matter more than most people realize.
Mental preparation is essential. Record attempts are long days under pressure. Dirt dives, briefings, repeated jumps, weather standbys — it all adds up. If you can’t stay calm and focused, small mistakes multiply.
But preparation isn’t just physical or mental — it’s also social and strategic. To be invited to a record, you first need to make yourself visible to the organizers. That means showing up: attend camps. These events aren’t just about improving your skills — they’re where organizers observe how you fly, how you listen, how you interact with others. They’re where trust begins to form.
Remember that big-way skydiving is a team environment. Reliability, punctuality, and a good attitude often matter just as much as flying skills. Be the person others want to build a formation with — and the invitations will follow.
2. Train with Discipline On the Ground and in the Air
Being a skilled flyer isn’t enough. In big-way skydiving, discipline is what transforms individuals into a functioning team. It starts before you even board the aircraft: arriving early, being focused during dirt dives and debriefs, checking your gear, staying hydrated, and getting enough rest. If you’re unprepared on the ground, it affects everyone in the sky.
But discipline shows itself most clearly during the jump. You must know when to act and when to wait. If a teammate ahead of you hasn’t docked yet, you don’t cut in early to “help.” You hold. You hover. You allow the sequence to unfold exactly as rehearsed. Impatience causes collisions, breaks formations, and can create serious safety risks. The same applies to break-off. If you’re in the second tracking wave, you wait for the first to clear. Skipping your sequence could put others at risk and turn a clean jump into a close call.
Discipline continues under canopy. Stick to the landing pattern. Avoid last-minute turns. Don’t cut others off on final. Every part of the jump matters — and every move affects the people around you. Discipline isn’t just about following instructions. It’s about respecting the team, the plan, and the shared goal.
3. Develop 360° Situational Awareness
Great skydivers don’t just know their own role — they understand the full environment. That situational awareness begins on the ground and continues until the last canopy is safely down. During dirt dives, don’t just memorize your slot. Learn who’s flying near you: to the left, right, on front, behind. Recognize jumpsuits, helmet colors, and grip sequences. In the air, these references help you orient quickly and avoid confusion.
And never get complacent. The moment you think, “This one’s going smoothly,” is often when something goes wrong. The best flyers are constantly scanning, adjusting, and aware of what’s happening around them — in every direction. Situational awareness doesn’t stop after opening. In fact, more accidents happen under canopy than in freefall. Know your landing direction. Respect spacing. Fly predictably. Stay sharp, all the way to the ground.
At break-off it’s important to know your assigned altitude and your wave. But also watch what’s happening. Be ready to adjust. Avoid tunnel vision. In large formations, awareness is what keeps everyone safe.
4. Visualize Every Jump in Detail
Visualization is one of the most powerful tools a big-way skydiver can use. And no, it’s not about vaguely picturing a “good jump.” It’s about running the entire sequence in your mind, from exit to break-off, with clarity and precision.
Before you board the plane, you should be able to mentally see:
• Exit from the aircraft
• Flight path and approach angle
• Stopping point
• Docking grip (which hand, which leg, where exactly)
• The next move if it’s a multi-point jump
Approach visualization is especially critical. Many record attempts were lost because of rushed or misaligned docks. But if you’ve visualized the moment in advance, you’re more likely to arrive stable, on heading, and on level. Grips matter too. A single incorrect grip can disqualify a jump. I’ve seen it happen. Everyone lands thinking it was a record — until video review shows one person took the wrong grip. Don’t let that person be you. Include visual cues in your mental run: colors of your base, jump suit, helmet and rig details of your piece partner. These references help you find your place quickly in the sky. Great skydivers visualize precision. It shows.
5. Fly as a Team — Not Just as an Individual
Big-way skydiving is built on synchronicity. Being a great teammate means more than just flying your slot. It means understanding the formation as a whole — and why every element matters. Listen to the organizers. Understand the logic behind their decisions. Why are transitions sequenced this way? Why are certain grips prioritized? When you understand the “why,” you become more reliable. Never cut ahead in a grip sequence. Never dock out of order. And never put yourself in front of someone else’s path. Wait your turn. Respect the flow.
Teamwork also means consistency. Organizers notice who’s focused, who brings good energy, who shows up without excuses. They remember who is focused during dirt dive, who checks their teammate’s chest strap, who keeps calm under pressure. The best way to get invited back is simple: be someone others trust. Someone others want on the next load.
6. Control Your Emotions — Leave Ego on the Ground
In big-way skydiving, your mental state follows you out the door. If you’re carrying stress, drama, or distraction, it will show in the jump.
I once saw a national record attempt fail not because of bad weather, poor flying, or technical issues — but because a flyer was emotionally distracted by a personal situation. His ex partner was in the same event and his mind wasn’t on the skydive. It cost the team a clean build. Skydiving at this level demands emotional discipline. Think of it like a form of meditation: if you can quiet your mind and focus entirely on the task, you’re already most of the way there.
Your body knows how to fly. Your brain just needs to get out of the way.
Many skydivers think record slots are out of reach. But I’ve seen firsthand: that’s not true. Records are built not just by elite athletes, but by focused, disciplined flyers who are ready when the opportunity comes. If you want it, prepare for it. Show up. Train smart. Be the teammate you’d want next to you in a formation.
And never forget: There’s always room for one more, especially when that “one more” is ready.
