400-way attempts

Last night, some magic must have come to us as we slept. Many of us awoke without an alarm. We arrived on the drop zone by 7:30 as usual and took out our equipment and prepared it. It’s becoming second nature. Even with 600 people on the field, we seem to know where each other is at all times. We can somehow sense the call for the dirt dive before the announcement just by the way things begin to stir. Relaxed and rested, we made our way to the big apron to meet in full gear. Another beautiful day in Udon Thani. The stories from the day and the night before..

We learned that while we slept, the world learned we are here to make a record. For many of us, skydiving is something that has been part of us for more than half our lives, some more than two thirds. And now, only one day after the American Super Bowl, we have learned that the world wants to hear about our sport--what we do with our lives and what we plan to do in the air this week.

This is not just an event about skydiving. In a country that is not the wealthiest or protected by the biggest armies, our spirit of achievement and imagination is welcome. The King does not need to lend his aircraft. The Royal Thai Air Force does not need to devote its time. The jumpers do not need to spend so much money and travel so far. But we do this, because we believe in World Team and what it stands for: cooperation, imagination, symbiosis, a dream.

We attempted only one 400-way today, but now everyone can see what the formation will look like. The base completed for the first time, and all the practice for the outside lines paid off. Three of the sectors completed, with four others coming very close. The message is clear. The design works. There will be plenty of time to build a 400-way if we slow down. And the decision has been made: 400 or nothing. It was the right decision for the first 100-way, 200-way, and 300-way, and it is the right decision for World Team this time.

The base stayed to practice as the others took the day off. Tomorrow, we begin the three-day assault on the record. Nine jumps left. The best trained and prepared team. World, we will try not to keep you waiting for your new record.