Above: Photo by Bruno Brokken.
As jumpers gathered at Skydive Perris in California to set the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Women’s World Record for Two-Point Full-Break Sequential Formation Skydive, the phrase on everyone’s lips was, “Women rock!” These women traveled from around the world to lush, beautiful southern California in early October, where sunny skies and swimsuit weather awaited them. And it truly was swimsuit weather, as an unseasonal heat wave overtook Perris that week, sending temperatures to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The amazing group of women from 21 countries came together with one goal—set a world record—and the heat couldn’t deter this crowd. Warm up jumps? Meh, who needs ‘em? The ladies got right to work on day one, practicing the build of the first point. With the exception of a couple of jumps where the outer jumpers deliberately did not take grips, they dug right in. Cathy Coon, Kate Cooper-Jensen, Christy Frikken and Helaine Rumaner led the group, and Lesley Gale and Scott Latinis headed up ground support.
The official record attempts started on day two, and after some fall-rate adjustments the group really started to come together. (Girls fall at a fairly comfortable rate in the 110-miles-per-hour range when they aren’t all leaded up.) The third day was one that will live in the participants’ memories for a long time. There’s a common phrase in skydiving that goes, “The hardest thing to do after a good jump is to have another good jump.” But this group was no ordinary group. Starting from the first jump on day three, the focus and determination of the group dialed up to 11. The first jump was great … with one person out. The second jump was great … with one person out. And so on, and so on.
The group refused to let up, and every jump was quiet, calm, determined and juuuust short of setting the record. Still, the debrief room, loading areas and airplanes were full of smiles and laughter. Optimism and positivity rang out, and the group bonded between jumps with mini-pool parties, mini-dance parties and some cranking music by D.J. Sparkles (aka Erin Lewis).
Point 1. Photo by Kristian Caulder.
Inter. Photo by Kristian Caulder.
Point 2. Photo by Kristian Caulder.
Then it happened. The group of 64 women went up for another attempt. The planes dumped out, the first formation built calmly and smoothly, the key came and the transition to the next point started. The second formation built. But wait, was it really complete?! Nothing said “we did it” quite like the smile on Cooper-Jensen’s face as she started the kick to signal the track-off. After landing, the whispers started: “We got it, right?”
Everyone piled into the debrief room, eager to watch the video. Cooper-Jensen played the video and paused three times: “Point one.” Play. “Inter.” Play. “Point two.” The cheers rang out as point two showed completion! The celebration began, kicked off with Rumaner being thrown into the pool next to her plane and at least 30 girls jumping headlong into the pool to join the celebration. Yep … women rock!
Photo by Bruno Brokken.
About the Author
Laura Galdamez, M.D., D-41824, began skydiving in early 2020. She works as an emergency medicine physician and was a member of the team that set the 64-way total-break sequential women’s world record.