Bigways: still brutal, but getting better. A look into our path to the 200-ways by Chad Ross.
The Nature of Type 2 Fun
As described by Google AI:
“Type 2 fun, also known as ‘delayed gratification fun,’ is not enjoyable at the moment, but rewarding later on. It’s the kind of experience that feels tough or challenging while doing it, but afterward, you’re glad you pushed yourself. The joy comes from the accomplishment, the stories, or the lessons learned after the challenge is overcome.”
Photo by Seth Robinson
Why Do We Embrace the Suck?
Big ways suck. They’re expensive. Emotionally and physically consuming. Rigorous, tedious, strenuous, and a handful of other “-ous” words. So why do we do it?
Why do we sit uncomfortably for nearly an hour with an O2 cannula jammed up our nostrils?
Why do we spend hours dirt diving the same single-point skydive while baking in the sun?
Why do we take the physical risk and put total trust in our organizers and friends spilling out of these planes?
Because we are gluttons for punishment, masochistic, and wildly intoxicated with the idea that unachievable feats are attainable.
Command Central at Skydive Perris
Matt Fry and Andy Malchiodi were at the helm of the big-way supertanker at Skydive Perris this past May. Dan B.C. played a tremendous role too, handling logistics and offering insights loaded with decades of experience.The build required countless hours of engineering and slotting. Flyers were matched by both skill and body type: longer wingspans offered broader docking surfaces, while smaller flyers filled hinge points prone to leg traffic. Build discipline and speed governance were critical in the overall design.
In previous events, attacking the base too early often caused chaotic energy, a ripple effect that spread outward. This time, a series of base-driven keys required flyers to hold their slots before taking docks.
The result? A clean domino effect. The 103-way formation built like ducks in a row.
Learning from RW: Swallowing Pride, Shifting Models
So why is this formation unique? Why does it matter?To answer that, we had to check our ego and look back. We had to learn from decades of trial and error in the belly (RW) world — and admit that the existing freefly model wasn’t working at scale. By embracing their engineering models, we’re finally addressing the roadblocks that have kept the 200-way VWR just out of reach.
The new formation uses a made-up (but effective) naming system that’s evolving through trial and error: Flux capacitors, wishbones, circuit breakers, spines, ribs, anchors, vertebrae, it sounds like sci-fi gibberish, but it works.
The old-school RW crew proved it long ago. Now, freefly is catching up and stepping forward.
The 103-Way: A Proof of Concept
The 103-way California State Record is now our proof of concept.Matt Fry and others have been gradually evolving and scaling this formation style over the last few years. The upcoming 200-way attempts at Skydive Chicago this August will follow a nearly identical playbook.
What’s Coming: The Path to 200
The first two days will be focused on dividing the formation into sectors. Each sector — ribs, spines, etc. will train independently to rep out sight pictures and movement patterns.
The core 40-way must be rock solid. Two-plane loads will be used to build consistency in the 8-way base and the supporting 32 flyers around it.Then… it’s go time:
10 planes. 200 bodies. 20,000 feet.
And a shot at making history.
The Takeaway: Embrace the Suck
Through trial and error, and a rethinking of our approach, this thing we’ve been chasing since 2018 finally feels real.
So it’s time to buckle up, embrace the suck, and remember:
“Delayed gratification fun” – and a celebratory tequila shot, await us all at the end of this world record road.
