It was 70 degrees and sunny at Skydive Perris to close out 2024! On December 27-29, 2024, 39 talented wingsuiters from across the United States, as well as representing four other countries from around the world (Brazil, Canada, China, and Korea) got together to pursue a new largest vertical wingsuit no-grip formation world record.
New Category, Vertical WS Record
In February of 2024, the vertical wingsuit formation category was adopted by the FAI ISC (Federation Aeronautique Internationale, International Skydiving Commission) and thereafter the USPA (United States Parachute Association). Wingsuit largest no-grip formations are judged based on a single jump with the declared number of participants flying in the stated formation configuration. The formation is overlaid with a scalable grid, where every flyer is within their allocated space (slot) at the same point in time during the jump. This feat proves to be especially challenging while flying at speeds close to 100-110 miles per hour horizontally, with an average spacing of 6-10 feet between flyers.
World Record!
The 38-Way plus +1 Camera Flyer World Record (pending FAI ISC ratification) also achieved California State and USA National records for the full team. The record was set on jump 13 for the event, which was day 3, jump 3, from an altitude of 16,500 feet AGL.
Tenacity
With tenacity, perseverance, and a bit of humility, the group learned a lot about what team flying takes and looks like. Training the eye to see accurate levels and distances requires recalibration of the mind at times, to compensate for perspectives and accommodate the natural breathing flow of the group in flight.
Opening Doors
In the end, the team walked away with a lot of great memories, new friends from across the country and around the world, zero incidents, and a new vertical wingsuit no-grip largest formation world record. It is truly exciting to think about the possibility of even larger wingsuit formations and record attempts in the future.
Incredible Teamwork
Thanks to Skydive Perris, Squirrel, and our Judges, Steve Hubbard, Mike Pennock, Jami Pillasch, and Jeni Gordon, for their unwavering support on the ground and in the skies. Special thanks also to Will Kitto for being an amazing co-event partner and technologist extraordinaire, and to Nikko Mamallo, who flew camera like a ninja, getting the ‘shot’ amidst 38 burbles. It takes the full team to pull off something like this, and we’re unbelievably proud of what we’ve accomplished!
Video
Great edit by Khoren Mirzakhanian of the WS vertical record:
