{"id":59621,"date":"2025-06-17T17:46:45","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T17:46:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=59621"},"modified":"2025-06-26T12:45:19","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T12:45:19","slug":"chasing-200","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/chasing-200\/","title":{"rendered":"Chasing 200"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bigways: still brutal, but getting better. A look into our path to the 200-ways by Chad Ross<\/strong>. <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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The Nature of Type 2 Fun<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As described by Google AI:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cType 2 fun, also known as \u2018delayed gratification fun,\u2019 is not enjoyable at the moment, but rewarding later on. It\u2019s the kind of experience that feels tough or challenging while doing it, but afterward, you\u2019re glad you pushed yourself. The joy comes from the accomplishment, the stories, or the lessons learned after the challenge is overcome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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California’s 103-way formation building
Photo by Seth Robinson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Why Do We Embrace the Suck?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Big ways suck. They\u2019re expensive. Emotionally and physically consuming. Rigorous, tedious, strenuous, and a handful of other \u201c-ous\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Command Central at Skydive Perris<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong>: 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong> required flyers to hold their slots before taking docks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The result? A clean domino effect. The 103-way formation built like ducks in a row.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exit shot by Seth Robinson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Learning from RW: Swallowing Pride, Shifting Models<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong> \u2014 and admit that the existing freefly model wasn\u2019t working at scale. By embracing their engineering models, we\u2019re finally addressing the roadblocks that have kept the 200-way VWR just out of reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new formation uses a made-up (but effective) naming system that\u2019s evolving through trial and error: Flux capacitors, wishbones, circuit breakers, spines, ribs, anchors, vertebrae<\/strong>, it sounds like sci-fi gibberish, but it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The old-school RW crew proved it long ago. Now, freefly is catching up and stepping forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 103-Way: A Proof of Concept<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong> will follow a nearly identical playbook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Seth Robinson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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What\u2019s Coming: The Path to 200<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The first two days will be focused on dividing the formation into sectors. Each sector \u2014 ribs, spines, etc. will train independently to rep out sight pictures and movement patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The core 40-way<\/strong> 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\u2026 it\u2019s go time:
10 planes. 200 bodies. 20,000 feet.<\/strong>
<\/strong> And a shot at making history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Seth Robinson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Takeaway: Embrace the Suck<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Through trial and error, and a rethinking of our approach, this thing we\u2019ve been chasing since 2018 finally feels real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So it\u2019s time to buckle up, embrace the suck<\/strong>, and remember:
\u201cDelayed gratification fun\u201d – and a celebratory tequila shot, await us all at the end of this world record road.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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