Skydiving disciplines

Canopy formation

Skydivers in a canopy formation are under open canopies, not in freefall as with other kinds of skydiving such as formation or skysurfing. Once out the door, they open their parachutes and then proceed to build different formations by linking together, there can be anywhere from two to a few dozen jumpers in one formation. They connect by putting their feet on another parachute, on the parachute lines, or on another jumper's body. Competition categories include 2-Way Team Sequential, 4-Way Team Rotation, 4-Way Team Sequential, and 8-Way Team Speed.

CFWorldRecord.com : 2005 - 81 way and 85 formations have been successfully completed, and row 10 wings have been hung for the first time.

Formation skydiving

On a freefall jump, teams perform a designated formation or a sequence or series of formations and/or intermediate maneuvers (inter) drawn from the dive pool.

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Freefall style and Accuracy Landing

Freefall Style consists of competitors performing a prescribed sequence of maneuvers in freefall as correctly and as quickly as possible. In Individual Accuracy Landing and Team Accuracy, competitors aim to land on, or as closely as possible to, the center of a target.

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) Largest Freefall Formation record in February 2006 with 400 skydivers linked together thousands of feet above Udon Thani, Thailand.

Artistic events

Freeflying is what it sounds like, free. Freeflyers favor vertical freefall, either head-down, stand-up, or a sit position, as well as all the movements inbetween. Formation Freeflying involves two or more and includes lateral movement and up and down movement to work with other freeflyers.
In Freestyle and Skysurfing, teams perform a sequence of moves for compulsory and creative points during freefall. Freestyle tends to utilize fluid, almost ballet-like movements. Skysurfing utilizes the board to perform moves such as spins and flips.

Canopy Piloting

Skydivers fly their parachutes through a prescribed course over water and land and are judged on their speed, distance and accuracy.

Vertical Relative Work

On a freefall jump, teams perform a designated sequence or series of formations in a head down or upright, vertical axis.

Para-ski

Para-ski originated in Switzerland in the early 1960’s, when Swiss skiers conceived of para-ski as a form of mountain rescue. The concept was to jump from an aircraft, parachute to an open area near the victim, strap on skis, and evacuate the casualty down the mountain.

Original European meets were a timed event which included parachuting onto the mountain, donning skis, and racing a course. Today, the two events are conducted separately. Para-ski international meets and cups have been held since 1964 and World Championships since 1987. Meanwhile, the modern, turbine-powered helicopter has replaced the parachute as the aerial vehicle for transporting mountain rescuers and casualties as well as today’s para-ski competitor.