Above: Jumpers build a formation on their way to setting the Connecticut Record for Largest Total-Break Three-Point Formation Skydive. Photo by Jeremy Allen.

Skydive Danielson in Connecticut is a small drop zone with a big belly-flying heart. The DZ takes pride in its community of skydivers, many of whom compete nationally, contribute to big-way records and actively improve the sport for new jumpers. At the beginning of each season, Skydive Danielson hosts a series of belly skills camps that provide a structured environment for fun jumpers to develop their core skills.

The season kicked off with the Belly Busters Camp led by Eva Chamard. This camp served as a fantastic introduction to larger group jumps for participants with 4-way experience. The success of this weekend prepared newer skydivers for the following camp, the Vig-Way Camp, hosted by Steve Vigliotti. This camp culminated in a truly remarkable achievement: a three-point 12-way total-break sequential jump that set the state record. This accomplishment was particularly meaningful for jumpers like Bryan Long and Ray Valentin, who had fewer than 200 jumps each.

The final weekend of the belly-skills series focused on Cloud Games. Hao Ni organized a 10-way team that put the skills honed in the previous camps to the test. Their hard work paid off, securing them a well-deserved second-place finish in the competition, just 0.7 seconds behind first place. It was exhilarating to see so many skydivers pushing their limits and experiencing the joy of progression.

Jeremy Allen | D-42982
Richmond, Virginia