A seasoned skydiver, Simon-Pierre Bouchard, leapt from a plane at an altitude exceeding 4,200 meters, exhilarated by the free fall before opening his parachute. Along with 16 other Canadians, he journeyed to Lake Wales, Fla., on November 22 to break the record for the largest canopy formation. In a synchronized effort, 104 skydivers from various countries descended from eight planes, careful not to intersect their parachutes to avoid potential danger.
For those descending from the highest plane at over 5,700 meters, using oxygen tanks is crucial to prevent hypoxia. The team had a limited time of about 11 minutes to connect their parachutes and form a diamond shape in the sky. Bouchard, a skydiver of over three decades and a pilot based in Quebec City, found this experience unlike any other, expressing his trust in his fellow skydivers despite not personally knowing them.
Among the participants was Quebec City police officer Jean-François Denis, who dedicated nearly five years training and adhering to a strict regimen to meet the qualifications. After hours of anticipation, they celebrated breaking the previous record set in 2007, awaiting official recognition from the International Skydiving Commission and the Guinness Book of World Records. Although aiming to surpass the new 104-person record the next day, they fell short but remain optimistic about future attempts.
The selection process for this event was demanding, requiring qualification at one of eight global selection camps. Creating a canopy formation contradicts traditional skydiving principles, emphasizing the importance of staying clear of other parachutes. Gregory Perrimond, owner of Parachute Montréal, describes canopy formations as a rare art, highlighting the challenges posed by unpredictable winds during such intricate maneuvers.