Quit faking it and learn these common formations

Monday, April 5, 2021

You’ve seen and practiced all the basic formations – stars, opens, and zippers. But then the organizer starts throwing out even more oddball names you are expected to know. Expand your repertoire to include all kinds of diamonds, murphies, and bipoles!

And skip ahead to sign up for the intermediate formation printable sheet.

Meeker

A meeker is a fun and sturdy formation that is beginner friendly but hard to launch intact. Also the name of Meeker Monday – a budget-friendly formation skydiving event.

E-Meeker meeker2 meeker

 

 

Phalanx

Four or more people faced the same way, alternating in front and back. You’d know where this comes from if you are familiar with Greek military formations. Or, like me, you play lots of video games.

Q-Phalanx phalanx (2) phalanx

Cat (erpillar)

Cats are done in a two-way or expanded to infinity. If many jumpers link together, it looks like a caterpillar, but everyone calls it a cat. Larger cats are cheated and angled into a circle. It has a high challenge level with more than three people.

15-CaterpillarTop cat Cat

Compressed Accordion

Compresseds are made with two to infiinity people. Huge ones are tricky to make because they float so much.

16-CompressedTop compressed2 compressed compressed3

Pod

A pod is a three-way with two people in a star shape and one person facing away.

pod

Courtesy of perrisorganizers.com
Courtesy of perrisorganizers.com

Diamond

A classic diamond has everyone facing the same direction.

10-DiamondTop diamond

Opposed diamond

A spin on the classic diamond, instead of an outfacer on the top, the person faces inward. It makes the formation easier and can be a great beginner exit option.

opposeddiamond

Courtesy of perrisorganizers.com
Courtesy of perrisorganizers.com

Stairstep Diamond

A stairstep diamond is another variation on the classic diamond. This time it is comprised of two two-way stairstep grips facing each other.

B-Stairstep stairstep

Bipole

Two flyers will in-face, and two flyers out-face in a bipole. A quick tip is to build a close no-contact star first, then have the outfacers turn away together.

14-BipoleTop copy bipole bipole2

Murphy

A murphy is a star with one guy facing out. I’m not entirely sure if this was named for someone or based on the Murphy’s Law joke – with the outfacer having gone “wrong.” If anyone knows, let me know so I can update this article.

17-MurphyBottom murphy

Zig Zag

Zig Zags are beginner friendly and the start of a popular block. It reinforces eye contact for the flyers on the sidebodies – so cross-reference!

21-ZigZagTop zigzag zigzag2

Crank

Similar to a zig zag, but adds the complication of an out facer.

N-Crank crank2 crank

Snowflake

A snowflake is done with 4 to infinity flyers. The inspiration for the name is evident when you look at an 8way version.

1-Snowflake-Top snowlfake3 snowflake snowflake2

Sidebody

Make a sidebody with 2 to infinity flyers. The four-way version is achievable but gets wild when you start adding more numbers.

P-Sidebody sidebody

Satellite

A satellite is built with four to infinity people, as long as the number is even. I also found an old document that referred to this one as a “baby tooth.”

O-Sattelite copy sattelite

Spider

Made famous by the dancing spider skydive. Made popular by being that thing you can do with five people.

Spider spider

Flake/sting

Flaking and stinging isn’t a formation, but a term you will hear. It roughly translates to “stick a dude on the outside.” I’ve heard it refer to making a cat, sidebody, or compressed on some other formation. For example – murphy flake is a cat on a murphy formation. Sideflake donut is a compressed slapped on a donut.

2-SidebodyDonut-InterD C-MurphyFlake

 

 

Now that you are prepared to walk more complex stuff, sign up below for a printable cheat sheet!

 

Christy's coaching offers so much more than simply learning the dive pool--to fly well, one needs to engineer appropriately, walk purposefully, clearly understand the formations, recognize the role each flyer plays, and think. But even more to the point, each person coached receives personal attention to develop their skill, celebrating successes and examining weaknesses.

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