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41 women skydivers from 11 countries claim new record

A group of women jumped head-first into the record books. The new world record was set by 41 women from 11 countries  for the largest all-female formation while skydiving upside-down. The event took place over Skydive Arizona midway between Phoenix and Tucson on Friday, November 26, 2010.

The 41 women plummeted through the sky at speeds approaching 200 per hour more than doubling the current record of a 20-way set in Arizona two years ago. They jumped from 16,500 feet, then  had only a minute to join hands and form the twists and turns of a record-setting geometric design before the moment would pass and they would need to release their parachutes.

Organizers Arizona Arsenal, the vertical formation skydiving team from Skydive Arizona, recruited women from several countries, including the United States, Australia, France, Finland, and Israel. Ranging in age from 21 to 44, they work in a variety of professions, including as computer engineers, nurses, pilots, photographers, and professional skydivers.

After leaping from three aircraft flying together more than three miles above the ground, the women built the formation flying with their heads pointed toward the earth – “head-down”  in skydiving lingo.

The record-setting jumpers come together first to form an inner ring, and other women would fly in to build off it. If one woman failed to make it to her part of the design, that attempt was ruined. They completed the record-setting formation just before sunset on the 10th attempt of the event.

Pretty awesome!

Skydive Like a Pro For sheer excitement and high-speed fun, no sport comes close to skydiving. Just about anyone 18 years of age or older can take to the skies after some comprehensive safety instruction. In fact, all it takes is a half hour of ground school to prepare for a tandem jump, the easiest and most popular way to experience skydiving for the first time. Tandem jumping allows students to experience the thrill of freefall from 13,000 feet while securely harnessed to an experienced, licensed instructor.

Another first-jump method called Accelerated Freefall (AFF) allows students to jump solo right away—with two instructors at their side—after four to five hours of intense ground instruction. Just about anyone can earn a license in as few as 25 jumps!

For more information on skydiving and to find a USPA Group Member skydiving center near you, visitwww.uspa.org.