{"id":37301,"date":"2021-10-14T15:37:40","date_gmt":"2021-10-14T15:37:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=37301"},"modified":"2021-10-15T13:14:32","modified_gmt":"2021-10-15T13:14:32","slug":"vertical-sequential-world-record-77-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/vertical-sequential-world-record-77-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Vertical Sequential World Record 77-way"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A New Beginning for Sequential Records, under new rules encouraging higher level skydives…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The team – eager to face the challenge
Photo by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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On the morning of 18 September 2021, seventy-seven jumpers set the new FAI Vertical Sequential World Record at Skydive Chicago<\/a>. This eclipsed the seven-year standing 2 point 57-way set at Skydive Spaceland Houston in 2014. <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is the first record to be completed under the new record requirements, which encourage more complex formations than the original rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“The general structure starts with a solid base setting a speedy fall rate to keep the formation fast and stable”<\/em>
Photo by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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As vertical bigway skydives go, the general structure starts with a solid base setting a speedy fall rate to keep the formation fast and stable. Pods surround the base, followed by connecting bridges to lock the pods in place. The formation continues to build from a series of pods and bridges until the desired size is reached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Main organizers Andy Malchiodi and Matthew Fry
Photo by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Enter the sequential skydive. Sequential formations must be formed by releasing grips from the first formation, and forming new grips to complete the subsequent formations. Prior to 2019, World, National, and State sequential records could be completed by a person or sub-group releasing and taking adjacent grips, thereby very minimally changing the formation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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While still difficult in practice, there was something left to be desired to complete a new world record for instance. This was demonstrated in the summer of 2018 with the 3 and 4 point 42-way FAI Vertical Sequential World Records organized by Matt Fry and Melissa Lowe. In 2019, new requirements for sequential World records were proposed to the FAI Skydiving Commission (ISC), which were approved and also adopted by the USPA for National and State records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The biggest change in the rules is the manner in which a formation change is measured. The previous rules measured how many people let go and re-gripped. If vertical flyers followed the spirit of the rules, we were limited. If we followed the letter of the rules, it was ripe for exploitation. The new rules simply measure how many people build new<\/strong> grips, thus forcing more people to be involved in invoking change.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>Matt Fry, VSWR Organizer<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Every big-way exit is spectacular from the visual point of view
Photo by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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I think it\u2019s very important to continue developing each discipline. As seen with the belly record, they’ve plateaued at 400-way, so it was the sequential records that have made continuing and progressing the sport possible. We’re seeing the same thing in vertical formation skydiving, especially since the discipline isn’t growing as fast as previously due to angle flying and wingsuiting.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>Melissa Lowe, VSWR plane Captain and USPA National Director<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Image by Norman Kent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With a new challenge and vision in mind, vertical sequential camps in the following years were experimental in nature, testing the limits of what is achievable in terms of formation complexity and size, while seeking ways to increase the amount of working time in the skydive to build more points. In 2021, organizers Matt Fry and Andy Malchiodi put their heads together to create the first world record under the new rules, which is now the 2 point 77-way VSWR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vertical Sequential World Record 2 point 77 way at Skydive Chicago. Organized by Any Malchiodi and Matthew Fry with plane captains Melissa Lowe Mike Bohn, Katie Hansen Lajeunesse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Given so many variables and unknowns in the world, we wanted to strip down the logistics.  Invite the people we thought could do it, no bench, and just trim people when and if it was needed.  Picking the formations was challenging, as we wanted to do something other than the ‘same old thing,’ but the same old thing is tried and true, so there was a balance.  Concerning the second point specifically, we needed to find the balance between involving as many people as practical, while considering symmetry, balance, and avoiding common pitfalls.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>Andy Malchiodi, VSWR Organizer<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Vertical Sequential World Record 2 point 77 way at Skydive Chicago. Organized by Any Malchiodi and Matthew Fry with plane captains Melissa Lowe Mike Bohn, Katie Hansen Lajeunesse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From a personal perspective, the VSWR experience was extremely structured and well organized. The first day focused on nailing the first point, allowing the formation to properly build in sequence; that is pods, then bridges, and finally wackers. All while doing it fast and clean enough to allow for second and third points. The second day we sorted out the kinks, demonstrated the proof of concept by completing the second point, and just barely missed the record by one grip and one second. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vertical Sequential World Record 2 point 77 way at Skydive Chicago. Organized by Any Malchiodi and Matthew Fry with plane captains Melissa Lowe Mike Bohn, Katie Hansen Lajeunesse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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We chose the structure we did because I’ve seen it work many times over both in my events and others, and the proof is in the pudding. It really chills people out. Invokes trust, people see and trust that a system is in play, and not just swinging for the fences every jump, hoping for the best without a process.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>VSWR Organizer, Andy Malchiodi<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

By the morning of the third day we were all amped and ready, and on the first jump completed the 2 point 77-way Vertical Sequential World Record!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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