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Maggie Downs
The Desert Sun
October 5, 2005
Putting together a record-breaking formation skydive is a risky proposition: it involves exceptional skydivers, precise pilots, a ground support crew and a lot of organization.
And ultimately, it all comes down to a perfect 40 seconds in the sky.
Still, 151 female skydivers accomplished a record-breaking skydive on Sept. 30 at Skydive Perris Valley.
"It was the most phenomenal piece of skydiving I've ever seen in my life," said world champion skydiver Kate Cooper, 45, who organized the group of women.
The feat - called Jump for the Cause - also raised nearly $500,000 for City of Hope, a Southern California cancer facility.
The original plan called for 165 women skydivers. However, like any team, some of the members got cut throughout the weeklong practice. Others accrued minor injuries on landing.
The record-breaking jump, accomplished after 18 attempts, included 151 women from 15 different countries leaping from eight aircraft.
It shattered the previous record of a 131-women formation, set in 2002.
"It's physically and mentally difficult to accomplish a skydive this big, but the end result is so much bigger," said Barbara Duke, 49, of Diamond Bar, a two-time breast cancer survivor and participant in the jump.
"I truly believe we are close to a cure (for breast cancer), and we are the women who are going to make it happen."
A jump earlier in the day was thought to have been the record-making skydive. However, the formation was only complete for less than one second and was disqualified by a panel of judges.
During the very next jump, the women built the proper formation and held it for 4.8 seconds.
"To build a skydive, to think you have the record and to be told you didn't do it, that's hard," Cooper said. "But then to turn around in less than an hour and actually get the record, that's incredible."
To participate in the event, each woman had to raise at least $2,500. The rest of the money was raised through a variety of ways, including T-shirt, necklace and bracelet sales, raffles, and a Jump for the Cause calendar.
"It's such a powerful bonding experience to have all these powerful, intelligent, amazing women working together," Cooper said. "We're doctors, lawyers, moms, strippers - and we're all up there, jumping for the same cause.
"That's what's truly great."
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