A thrill runs through Simon-Pierre Bouchard as he skydives from over 4,200 meters, eagerly checking if everyone is in position after deploying his parachute. Bouchard joined 16 other Canadians in Lake Wales, Fla., aiming to break the world record for the largest canopy formation. Over 100 skydivers from various countries leaped from eight planes, ensuring they avoided crossing parachutes to prevent any dangerous entanglements.
The skydivers at the highest altitude, exceeding 5,700 meters, required oxygen tanks to prevent hypoxia. They had a limited window of around 11 minutes to connect their parachutes and form the diamond shape. Bouchard, a skydiving veteran of over three decades, described the experience as unparalleled, emphasizing the importance of trust among participants.
Jean-François Denis, a Quebec City police officer and part of the record-setting group, underwent rigorous training and dieting for five years to qualify. Despite a near miss with reaching 111 participants, the team managed to break the 104-person record. The meticulous process included international judges verifying the feat before it could be recognized by the International Skydiving Commission and potentially the Guinness Book of World Records.
Creating canopy formations, a unique art in skydiving, involves defying conventional safety practices and necessitates a skilled group of individuals. Gregory Perrimond, owner of Parachute Montréal, highlighted the challenges of organizing such a complex event due to the unpredictable weather conditions and the expertise required to execute large-scale formations.