Matt Fry

“Mirror Image” Echelon crew throwing down as usual.. With @andymalchiodi & @mountingmountains leading the wave 🧠 🌊 #middleofthehourglass⏳ #shitstight

😳 Total Break Vertical Sequentials 🤩 A few weekends ago Joey had the privilege to experiment with some new ideas. Total break sequential vertical formations, this is where everyone has to let go and take a new grip. While this is something that happens in competition style formation skydiving jumps we normally don’t do that with 20 way formations. Thanks to @mountingmountains (Matt Fry) for again paving a new path for us in vertical flying. The belly jumpers have been doing jumps like this for a little while now. Matt put on this camp to see how it translated to vertical flying. It’s safe to say that we all though it was easier than we were expecting. And we are looking forward to how this translates to even bigger formations. This is just a very small taste of all the new things we tried in the air that weekend. #mixedformationskydiving #skydiving @skydivechicago @cookiehelmets @Ibaltimeters @skydive_sebastian @verticalsuits @gs.gear @optionstudios

Sometimes you have to look back to see how far you've come. Now that we've settled on September 2028 for the next VWR, I thought it was worth revisiting what the last 2+ years of build-up looked like. Footage from @nathanrothphotography @_sethrobison_ @mr.colinconway @performancedesigns @uptvector @ssk.us @cypresaad @verticalsuits @theverticalelite @uptvector @cookiehelmets @skydiveperris #fryformations

Another Nationals is done and in the books. It's always a great bookend to close out the season. This year, I competed in three disciplines and managed to podium in all three as well as set multiple personal bests. Thanks for a fun meet. @natalie_pitts_co @samflys @chipflips @_ryan__george_ @skydiveuspa @uptvector @verticalsuits @cypresaad @ssk.us @cookiehelmets @lbaltimeters @performancedesigns

All set to push the limits in freefall, #SSKathlete @mountingmountains is ready to go FAST as he competes in Speed Skydiving at the 2025 @skydiveuspa National Championships 🪂 The score for each jump is the average vertical speed in km/h, over the fastest 3 seconds within the performance window, using data from the helmet-mounted PLD (position logging device). Follow live scores at /Results or through the link in stories. 🚀 Rooting for you, Matt! #CYPRESUSA #CYPRESaad #SSKinc #USPAnationals

2025 VWR Edit #thebigpicture #middleofthehourglass⏳ #shitstight

Competing is fun, but attending the World Cup as a member of the @usparachuteteam is so damn cool. These events are such a unique opportunity to hang out and chat with competitors from around the world. It felt like an organic extension to last month's world record. This was my first time competing in VFS on the world-level and I couldn't have asked for a better team. Ultimately we closed out the event in fourth place. It was a super memorable experience and it was a great way to close out 2 seasons of training and planning. Hope to do it again soon. #powerlinedronestrike @cookiehelmets @verticalsuits #performancedesigns #UPT #cookiehelmets #sskindustries #cypresaad #lbaltimeters #skydivemidwest

Leadership & Records [⚠️Trigger Warning] I’m so stoked that it’s not just women—but that our community also has some really good male leaders. 😘 The last time I gushed about leadership in our community was after Project 19, but it’s definitely time again! It was such a privilege to watch two leaders from our community pull off an amazing feat. Because let’s be honest: after the 2022 attempts, our big-way community wasn’t exactly frothing to try again. And of course, everyone and their mother knew what needed to change—me included. While word on the street spread about the new formation, I felt that more than just a formation needed to change. After ten years of women’s records, you know the atmosphere and team spirit still have so much more potential. Instead of brushing off the armchair critics, Matt Fry listened. He listened, talked, explained, answered—and then listened some more. One by one, he won people back simply by hearing them out. The changes besides the formation? No bench, sector debriefs, starting with the whole team and ending with the whole team. It created a totally different record experience. And man, was it good to be part of that! It’s a testament to Rook’s leadership that he heeded the call for change. I can imagine it’s not easy to tweak a formula that has been so successful for so long. That takes guts, humility and self-reflection. I deeply respect that. This record reminded me: true leaders serve their community with vision, experience, and dedication. They listen, adapt and grow. Thank you Matt and Rook for sharing your talents with this community 🙏🏻 📷 1. 187-way @_sethrobison_ 2. @simplesnapshots 3-4. @kavdhorst 5. @ewan_cowie_photography #verticalworldrecord #skydiving #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #tribe #inspirationalleadership

My view of the 187-way built over Ottawa, IL on August 22, 2025. Built by everyone who stuck around to see this event until the bitter end and an epic jump to close out the week. @sunpathproducts @verticalsuits @performancedesigns @vigil_aad @cookiehelmets @lbaltimeters @gs.gear @skydivechicago @sdccore @theverticalelite #record #skydive #ottawa #headdown #187 #goingthedistance @mountingmountains @jessejaber

From 20-way in Perris 2 years ago to the 200-way attempts this week. It’s been extremely rewarding to see this journey from start to finish. Great work Matt!!! @mountingmountains @flywithkatie @samflys @theactivestoner @beaukahler @pappyvanwinkle #bourbon #record

After 10 years, we finally did it! We set a new Vertical World Record! I have so many thoughts and emotions I'm still processing. Organizing and preparing for this event has been the most challenging thing I've ever done in skydiving. Admittedly, I've have had a severe case of imposter syndrome ever since Rook invited me to partner up with him to break our 10 year dry spell. Now that it is in the rearview mirror, I could not be more proud of what we accomplished, especially with such adverse weather. This past week we only made 6 official attempts at a world record. Every single jump built larger than the standing record of 164. Jump 1: 177 out of 199 Jump 2: 176 out of 180 Jump 3: 179 out of 180 Jump 4: Built 174 out of 174 and completed a World Record Jump 5: 176 out of 182 Jump 6: Build 187 out of 188. Largest head down build to date What is particularly special to me about this event is that it didn't feel like a traditional record event. Setting a record was the plan but making these events fun was the dream. I wanted to cultivate the positive team atmosphere that is usually reserved for LiveBigz or Elsinore Echelon events. It's about amazing people having a good time both in the sky and on the ground. After we set the record, I was so proud to watch the team rally hard to reunite the team for one last record attempt. Start as a team, finish as a team. It was an honor to have the trust of so many people from around the world. Thank you #188smiles #beapioneer #worldrecord #fryformations @theverticalelite @skydivechicago @verticalsuits @uptvector @performancedesigns @cookiehelmets @ssk.us @cypresaad @lbaltimeters

This is what the path to victory looks like 💪🔥🌎 @theverticalelite @skydivechicago #skydive #worldrecord #skydivechicago #verticalelite #fryformations #victory