Two unforgettable weeks are being written into the history of Canopy Formation (CRW). More than 130 international athletes gathered for the 107+ Canopy Formation World Record project, creating the largest CRW gathering in decades. Week one was dedicated to high-quality training of the BASE group, and the Women’s World Record Project. Week two kicked off with fast, steady progress toward building larger and larger formations, toward the Record!
“Women like diamonds… but they also like jewels!”
For three days, the all-women CRW team took center stage and walked away with three officially recognized FAI World Records, marking a big milestone for women in canopy formation. We have planned the variety of the largest all-female sequential canopy formations, diamond and jewel shapes, growing larger jump after jump, with the required FAI sequential rule that 35% of the formation must change slots within the same skydive. And incredibly, every jump overlapped with a new record.
Wednesday, Nov 12: Practice Day
We ran two training formations focusing on distinct skillsets:
- The Base — consistent, stable flying, and fast building
- The Movers — the rows performing the sequential transitions
The day went perfect, and everybody’s confidence skyrocketed.
Thursday, Nov 13: The First Records
Right out of the door, we got our first sequential record:
- 16-Way, 2-Point Sequential — FAI World Record
This was the first time an all-women group achieved a two-point sequential of this size. - 21-Way, 2-Point Sequential — FAI World Record
Achieved later that same day, confirming the team’s exceptional consistency and precision. - 22-Way Florida State Record
Friday, Nov 14: The Big One
- NEW: 23-Way, 2-Point Sequential — FAI World Record
We kept pushing and made history again. We called the formation the “Jewel.” Because we flew it as a sequential, its full name became the playful “Jewel–Jewel–Christmas Tree” (for obvious visual reasons!).
We loved the shape so much, we repeated the jump two more times, flying so efficiently we nearly completed a third point.
This achievement marks the largest all-women sequential CRW formation ever officially recognized and highlights their elite mastery of the discipline.
“It was ART in motion. There is magic in CRW — the trust, the teamwork, the perfect coordination. Every move counts.”
— Justyna Sinica (Poland)
Why This Matters
Canopy Formation is a discipline where athletes build complex formations under fully deployed parachutes, flying together and docking on one another’s canopies. To stand out tall and proud, our women’s community chose to create sequential dives, which are more complex, more challenging, and never were done before in women’s CRW records.
Many of us flew new positions for the very first time, learning moves we had never performed before. Watching everyone focus, adapt, and perform at such a high level was simply amazing.
“Women make up only about 14% of the skydiving community, so setting a completely new all-female record is incredibly meaningful.”
— Hanna Albrecht, Main Organizer
A Little History
Women’s CRW records grew steadily through the 1980s and 90s, but then the progress slowed down. The previous all-women record was set in 1997 with a 25-way diamond, an incredible achievement that stood untouched for 28 years.
Women continued participating in major mixed-gender records, the 2007 100-way CRW World Record (standing for 18 years and about to fall this week!), and several large sequential records over the years.
In recent years, the women’s CRW community has been steadily rebuilding. “Newbie camps” have been popping up across the U.S. and abroad, bringing new female jumpers into our discipline every month.
Who We Are
Women from seven countries came together: USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, Czech Republic, Belarus, and Russia. Our community includes:
- Two highly experienced female pilots who trained just as intensely as the rest of us
- Three women who were part of the legendary 2007 World Record
- Dozens who trained at big-way camps and women-led events
- New generations brought in through frequent “pup camps” across the U.S. and abroad
To earn an invitation, each woman had to demonstrate solid CRW fundamentals: flat approaches, smooth echelon flying, consistent docks, and reliable performance.
“We want to use sequential records to bring more women into CRW and grow the skill level to eventually break the 25-way standing record with a sequential dive — hopefully a 36-way.”
— Hanna J. Albrecht
Few jumps that were not fully complete to become the World Records were incredibly valuable, we had a lot of fun and considered them a good practice!
The Team
Organizer:
Hanna J. Albrecht
Organizing Team:
Dawn Hillebrandt
Yuliya Pangburn
Krista Goral
Carmen Juneau
Pilots:
Carmen Juneau
Krista Goral
Judges:
Cheryl Michaels (USA) — On-site
MaryLou Laughlin (USA)
Rina Gallo (Canada)
We are also incredibly grateful to the larger CRW community supporting us. Running our records alongside the 107+ project meant having a massive support structure already in place so our team could focus entirely on flying.
What We Take Forward
After accomplishing all our goals, we feel closer than ever. We are united. We leave this week with:
- A stronger community
- Higher confidence
- A deeper understanding of teamwork and organization
- Shared knowledge
- Genuine care for one another’s success
- And the readiness for the next largest-ever all-female Canopy Formation Record!
