Frequently Asked Big Way Questions

Why is it so difficult to get on a Big Way?

Big Way events require significant effort and resources to be successful and usually are expensive jumps. Accordingly, jump participants must be committed to the success and safety of the team, and have demonstrated disciplined Big Way relative work skills and flying abilities to a known Big Way Captain. These relative work skills and flying abilities are only achieved by participating in local RW leagues, attending Big Way camps, and making large numbers of current RW jumps.

I don't have many jumps, but I have lots of tunnel time and can freefall extremely well. Why can't I get on a Big Way jump?

The tunnel is a wonderful freefall training tool. Unfortunately to successfully fly big way a jumper must not only have extremely good freefall skills, but must also excel in floating and diving exits, patience, flat tracking, and canopy piloting which are not learned in the tunnel. One of the national big way organizers likes to say, "The best big way jumpers are those jumpers who can perform all disciplines well."

Almost all Big Way events are "By Invitation Only". What does this mean to the jumper?

To maximize the probability of success, Big Way organizers have a goal to put together the best jump team available. Big Way jumps are much more expensive than fun jumps and it takes 110% effort by everyone on each jump. Accordingly, the organizer will select jumpers who he or she knows will consistently, successfully complete each jump as planned without impacting any other jumper.

A jumper should therefore make every attempt to get to know Big Way organizers by jumping with them at local and national boogies. This demonstrates to the organizer that the jumper can consistently dock safely with no momentum regardless of the formation fall rate, can fly straight into his slot in the "red zone", is disciplined enough to wait for his dock, has a strong, flat track and is aware of other trackers, and can fly the landing pattern in a consistent, safe manner.

I have jumped in local 20-60 ways, but why can't I get invited to a 100-way Big Way ?

Again you must be known by a Big Way organizer and have consistently demonstrated your skills. One way to do this is to participate in one of the Big Way Camps coached by Big Way organizers. There are a lot of good organizers at dropzones all over the world, but unfortunately if the local organizer is not known nationally or at least by one national organizer that also means you are not known. You must get exposure and jump time with the national organizes.

I am a good RW jumper, but sometimes go low or have off-heading openings, don't seem to fit into the landing pattern or will only swoop my landings. Why can't I get on a Big Way?

Safety is a major concern and in Big Way events this requires the jumper to always be a team player. A jumper who often goes low on a 8-16 way will usually not do well on a Big Way. Jumpers must also be able flat track extremely well for their own safety as well as the safety of their teammates. Successful tracking requires practice and knowledge of Big Way break-off procedures, In addition, jumpers must fly their patterns consistently and land on target in the preset direction regardless of the wind.

Why doesn't the application to a Big Way guarantee a slot in the formation?

Team Captain's review each jumper's application and discuss the individual jumpers canopy skills, attitude, skydiving judgement, and RW abilities. If the Captain's do not know a jumper or do not have a recommendation from someone they know, the jumper's application will probably not be approved. In addition if a jumper is not a team player, or has a history of being late for dirt dives or the plane, talks during dirt dives, or argues with organizers, the jumper's application probably will not be approved.

Only "Approved" jumpers are allowed to participate in Big Way formations and the approval decision is solely that of the Captains. In most cases the dropzone does not know who or why someone was not approved.

What is the Big Way Database?

The Big Way Database is an on-line registration/application system that is designed:

(1)  To assist dropzones with their Big Way events by offering an inexpensive, uniform on-line registration system.   (2)  To help Captain's manage their Big Way participants by giving them the tools necessary to monitor registrations and payments, jumper skills, and to communicate using an event email system.   (3)  To keep Big Way Participants informed of registered and future Big Way events without having to complete multiple applications or use multiple sources for Big Way information.