You got your A license. Congratulations! Formation skydiving is one of the first disciplines you can explore, and it’s a fantastic fit for those who enjoy moving fast and competing. It will also help you become a well-rounded and safer skydiver, no matter which disciplines excite you.
While you can learn these skills both in the sky and in the wind tunnel, the tunnel offers unmatched efficiency and cost-effectiveness. So if it’s possible, you’ll want to use a wind tunnel to work on the individual skills listed below.
Jumps 25—50
Basic Formation Skills in Small Groups – Keep groups controlled, with two to four people. Focus on levels, approaching, tracking and stable linked and unlinked exits. If your drop zone has a load organizing program, take advantage of it!
Canopy Skills – Develop excellent canopy skills by taking a canopy course. Becoming safer and more competent under canopy will keep you healthy and skydiving more often.
Individual Skills – Focus on fall-rate control, stability, a solid neutral position and on-level gripping. The wind tunnel is ideal for this, though you can practice some skills in the sky.
The quickest way to build individual flying skills is by getting coaching in a wind tunnel. Photo by Niklas Daniel.
Jumps 50—100
Formation Discipline with Consistent Groups – Work on solid habits like stopping momentum, cross-referencing and on-level gripping in small, compatible groups. Jumping with the same group several times in a row boosts your skills.
Get a Formation Skydiving Jumpsuit – If you haven’t already, find a purpose-specific jumpsuit with booties and grippers. Succeeding in FS is more challenging in pants, a hybrid suit or a freefly suit. Make it easy on yourself!
Individual Skills – For optimal progress, consider regular tunnel sessions or a full tunnel camp. Focus on leg movements for slides and turns. Master complex 2-way shapes like compressed accordions, cats, phalanxes and bipoles. In the sky, concentrate on basic discipline like looking, stopping and flying your slot.
Competitions – Try joining a local, skill-appropriate competition. Informal or rookie meets, 6-way meets or local 4-way meets with a rookie division are all great options.
A 3-way turns points at the Fresh Meet at Skydive Perris in California, an annual event that introduces newer jumpers to competition, pairing two “freshlings” with a coach. Photo by Kevin Pierce.
Jumps 100—150
Train Competition-Style 4-Way – Start learning the formations used in competitions. You don’t need a season-long team; instead, find others who want to practice for a weekend. Seek out a 4-way coach or experienced mentor to get started.
Try Bigger Jumps – Once you feel comfortable getting to and away from small formation groups, you can start going bigger. This is a great time to look into big-way skills camps.
Individual Skills – Use tunnel time to work on controlling momentum, outfacing and linked-piece movements. Use the sky time to work on diving, stadium approaches and superb tracking skills.
Competitions – Try participating in a 4-way meet at the local or regional level. If there’s nothing nearby, consider a cloud-style meet, where judging is performed remotely by video.
Jumpers with a B license are eligible for the beginner class at USPA Nationals, which is a great, low-pressure way to enter the world of national competition. Photo by David Cherry.
Jumps 150 and Beyond
Find a Team – Join a 4-way team and train together. Teams vary from casual to highly motivated. Practice with people who share your goals; competition is optional but not necessary for a great experience.
Go Bigger – If you enjoy bigger jumps, look for skill-level-appropriate events. You can travel the world and participate in skydives of all shapes and sizes that fit with your skill level and goals.
Individual Skills – Continue refining your movements, aiming for precision and automaticity. Add verticals, anticipation and power to your skills.
Competitions – Besides local and regional meets, consider attending the USPA Nationals. If your group enjoys competition, USPA offers an excellent beginner division that promises an incredible experience!
About the Author
Christy Frikken, D-28865, has made more than 16,000 skydives and was a member of world-class formation skydiving teams Perris Fury and SDC Rhythm XP. She is the founder and owner of Fury Coaching, which provides professional coaching for competition 4-way and 8-way FS teams.