{"id":24219,"date":"2020-04-10T10:46:20","date_gmt":"2020-04-10T10:46:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=24219"},"modified":"2025-05-07T18:52:44","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T18:52:44","slug":"big-way-bites-7-how-to-get-on-a-big-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/big-way-bites-7-how-to-get-on-a-big-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Big-way Bites 7 – How to GET ON a BIG-WAY"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

People often approach me with the same question.  \u201cI\u2019m good, I know I\u2019m good, but no one else knows that. How can I get on the \u201cA\u201d list to be invited to all the 100+ way formation events and\/or World Record Events\u201d?
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60-way Women’s Sequential World Record, 2018
Photo by Andrey Veselov<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The answer is \u201cjust add air\u201d.  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Steps to Success<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In order for a person to be invited to these elite loads, they need to be recognized by either the organizers of the event or recommended by persons respected by the organizers of the event.  The easiest way to do that is to attend as many smaller camps or boogies where these people are working so you can show your skills off in a more intimate format. Below I have listed some steps that will help make the transition easier and earn you that treasured invite to a special event.
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Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Attend a big-way camp or boogie event where you will have the opportunity to spend quality time with the organizer. There are a series of big-way camps being organized at several larger dropzones. These events allow a person to make jumps with active organizers and show their talents in a \u201cno fault\u201d atmosphere.  Regardless of the eventual outcome of any specific skydive, each participant can work on and show off their skills to the people who will be evaluating their performance. After the event send a brief e-mail to the organizer reminding them of who you are, asking permission for future recommendations, and thanking them for their time.
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Author Kate Cooper-Jensen conducting a debrief during Women on Wings record event. Photo by Andrey Veselov<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 2 <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Organizers tend to look for quality (not quantity) of recent skydives.  A 4-way or 8 way team, or aggressive tunnel training, is worth more to many organizers on a resume than hundreds of lower quality  \u201cfun jumps\u201d made at various boogies. It\u2019s well known that it\u2019s easier to train a good 4 or 8 way jumper to do big-ways, than the other way around. This is not because the team jumper is inherently a \u201cbetter\u201d skydiver, it\u2019s usually simply because they are more attuned to coaching and learning. In short\u2014they listen better.
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It\u2019s well known that it\u2019s easier to train a good 4 or 8 way jumper to do big-ways, than the other way around” <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n


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