300+ skydivers to compete at FAI World Championships in USA
The biggest FAI Skydiving event of the year commences this Saturday 5 October, with over 300 athletes arriving in Beaufort, North Carolina to compete in four spectacular skydiving disciplines: Artistic Events, Formation Skydiving, Speed Skydiving and Wingsuit Flying.
- 15th FAI World Artistic Events Championships
- 26th FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships
- 5th FAI World Speed Skydiving Championships
- 5th FAI World Wingsuit Flying Championships
The huge event in the skydiving calendar runs until 11 October 2024, and the skies above the Crystal Coast Skydiving dropzone will be buzzing with activity as the world’s elite athletes perform with the aim of gaining a world champion title and potentially set new FAI records in their disciplines.
Follow the competition
FAI will publish daily reports, pictures and other multimedia content across its website and social media channels during the whole duration of the competition.
- FAI Facebook page
- FAI Instagram page
- FAI X page
- FAI pictures (Flickr)
- FAI Event mini-site
- Results
- Event website
#faiskydiving #wsc2024
Disciplines & Events
Artistic Events (AE) The two events – Freestyle (with one performer and one videographer) and Freefly (two performers and one videographer) – require the skydivers to fly performing a series of compulsory moves and free routines, in whichever body position they choose: head up, head down or rotating in any of the three axes.
Credit: Brad Merritt
Formation Skydiving (FS) In one of the biggest and oldest skydiving disciplines. The athletes will perform in the following events:
- FS 4-way Open, where four competitors, filmed by a fifth teammate, perform a sequence of figures drawn randomly from a dive-pool during 35 seconds of freefall to complete as many formations as possible.
- FS F4-way Female: As above. All four skydivers must be female.
- FS 8-way: Eight performers have 50 seconds of freefall to complete as many of the set formations as possible, filmed by their videographer.
- VFS: In Vertical Formation, the four competitors flying a head up or head down position must complete as many of the given formations as possible over 35 seconds of freefall.
Speed Skydiving (SP) Skydivers will reach speeds of well over 400 kmph, diving head-first toward the ground to reach the maximum descent rate possible using nothing but their bodies. Speed skydiving is the fastest non-motorised sport in the world and athletes have eight jumps to attempt the fastest vertical speed during three seconds. A speed measuring device is worn by each competitor and collects the data for the judges.
Wingsuit Flying (WS) Two events will take place in this discipline. Wingsuit Flying Performance comprises three flights in three rounds of Speed, Distance and Time. A logging device is worn to collect real time and GPS data. In Flying Acrobatics, two performers and a videographer complete compulsory rounds where teams perform a set of manoeuvres together, as well as free rounds where a team’s choreographed routine is scored based on style, plan, and camera work.
Credit: Spike Harper
A panel of 21 judges will officiate across the four disciplines.
Alberto Martin Paracuellos, President of the FAI Skydiving Commission commented:
“After the successful US Nationals and with the experience of the Mondial in Chicago in 2016, we are looking forward to an excellent event organised by our hosts, in a unique and challenging location next to the ocean. Best of luck to all the participants!”
United States Parachute Association Executive Director Albert Berchtold said:
"We are honoured to bring the 2024 FAI World Championships to North Carolina, a state with a rich skydiving history. It speaks volumes that two of the largest skydiving operators in the country, Skydive Chicago and Skydive Paraclete XP, are coming together to bring the World Championships back to the United States and are doing it in style with the beautiful views of the Crystal Coast.”
Event Schedule
- 5 October: Opening Ceremony
- 6 October: Competition jumps start (Formation Skydiving, Speed Skydiving, Wingsuit Flying)
- 7 October: Competition jumps start (Artistic Events)
- 11 October: Competition Ends. Closing Ceremony
