

Spectators
Skydive Chicago and Skydive Midwest welcome skydivers from around the country to compete in the USPA National Championships!
September 2-21, 2022
Events
Click to see event location, dates, Chief Judge, registration link, and description!
Canopy Piloting
Canopy Piloting
Location: Skydive Midwest
Official Practice Period: Wednesday, August 31 – Thursday, September 1
Registration: Friday, September 2
Competition: Saturday, September 3 – Tuesday, September 6
Chief Judge: Kolla Kolbeinsdottir
What is CP?
A competition in canopy piloting consists of three rounds in speed, three in distance, and three in accuracy.
During the speed rounds, the pilot’s goal is to navigate under canopy through the boundaries of the course in the fastest time.
During the distance rounds, competitors drag a foot in the water at the beginning of the course and then continue to fly down the course as far as possible. The toe drag is not required for flyers in the advanced category.
In the accuracy rounds, the pilot’s goal is to drag a foot through as many water gates as possible and then land in a specific accuracy zone. More points are awarded the closer to the target the pilot lands. Pilots lose points if they do not stand up the landing.
Canopy Piloting - Freestyle
Canopy Piloting- Freestyle
Location: Skydive Midwest
Official Practice Period: At the conclusion of CP
Registration: Monday, September 5
Competition: Tuesday, September 6 – Wednesday, September 7
Chief Judge: Kolla Kolbeinsdottir
What is CP-Freestyle?
Canopy piloting-freestyle is a separate competition from canopy piloting that is all about style! The competitors have three rounds to complete different moves over the water that are judged based on difficulty and how well they are performed.
4-way Formation Skydiving
4-way Formation Skydiving
Location: Skydive Chicago
Registration: Thursday, September 8
Competition: Friday, September 9 – Tuesday, September 13
Chief Judge: Rina Gallo
What is 4-way FS?
In 4-way formation skydiving, teams made up of four performers and one videographer have 35 seconds of freefall to complete as many formations as possible. For ten rounds, teams exit at 10,500 ft above the ground and are given a different specific sequence of formations to complete each jump. This is the second time that USPA Nationals will have a beginner category! Beginner teams will complete six rounds. The winning team completes the most successful formations!
8-way Formation Skydiving
8-way Formation Skydiving
Location: Skydive Chicago
Registration: Saturday, September 10
Competition: Sunday, September 11 – Thursday, September 15
Chief Judge: Rina Gallo
What is 8-way FS?
In 8-way formation skydiving, teams made up of eight performers and one videographer have 50 seconds of freefall to complete as many formations as possible. For ten rounds, teams exit at 13,000 ft above the ground and are given a different specific sequence of formations to complete each jump. The team to complete the most formations in the given time over ten rounds wins!
16-way Formation Skydiving
16-way Formation Skydiving
Location: Skydive Chicago
Registration: Monday, September 12
Competition: Tuesday, September 13 – Friday, September 16
Chief Judge: Rina Gallo
What is 16-way FS?
In 16-way formation skydiving, teams made up of sixteen performers and one videographer have 50 seconds of freefall to complete as many formations as possible. For six rounds, teams exit at 13,000 ft above the ground and are given a different specific sequence of formations to complete each jump. The team to complete the most formations in the given time over ten rounds wins!
Artistic
Freefly & Freestyle
Location: Skydive Chicago
Registration: Monday, September 12
Competition: Tuesday, September 13 – Friday, September 16
Chief Judge: Bryce Witcher
What is Artistic?
Artistic includes of two sub-categories of competition: freestyle and freeflying. Freefly includes a team consisting of two performers and a videographer, while freestyle includes one performer and one videographer. The competition is made up of compulsory rounds (jumps two and five) where teams complete four specific sequences of moves, as well as free rounds where a team’s individual choreographed routine is scored based on difficulty and execution (jumps 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7). Teams exit from 13,000 ft above the ground and have 42 seconds to perform.
10-way Formation Skydiving
10-way Formation Skydiving
Location: Skydive Chicago
Registration: Tuesday, September 13
Competition Begins: Wednesday, September 14 – Saturday, September 17
Chief Judge: Rina Gallo
What is 10-way FS?
In 10-way FS, each person on a team exits individually as fast as they can and the team builds their formation in the least amount of time possible. Each jump is made from 11,000 ft above the ground and each formation must be successfully held for at least five seconds to count. Each of the six rounds is a different formation. The team with the lowest cumulative time wins!
4-way Vertical Formation Skydiving
4-way Vertical Formation Skydiving
Location: Skydive Chicago
Registration: Tuesday, September 13
Competition: Wednesday, September 14 – Saturday, September 17
Chief Judge: Rina Gallo
What is VFS?
In 4-way vertical formation skydiving, teams made up of four performers and one videographer have 35 seconds of freefall to complete as many vertical formations as possible. For ten rounds (six for intermediate), teams exit at 13,000 ft above the ground and are given a different specific sequence of formations requiring flyers to fall with their head or feet towards the ground (vs the traditional “belly-to-earth” body position) to complete each jump. The team to complete the most formations in the given time over all the rounds wins!
Wingsuit - Acrobatic
Wingsuit- Acrobatic
Location: Skydive Chicago
Registration: Tuesday, September 13
Competition: Wednesday, September 14 – Sunday, September 18
Chief Judge: Scott Callantine
What is WS-Acrobatic?
The wingsuit acrobatic team consists of two performers and one videographer. The competition is made up of compulsory rounds where teams complete a set of maneuvers they must do together, as well as free rounds where a team’s choreographed routine is scored based on style, plan, and camera work. Teams have 7,500 vertical feet to perform.
Wingsuit - Performance
Wingsuit- Performance
Location: Skydive Chicago
Registration: Wednesday, September 14
Competition: Thursday, September 15 – Sunday, September 18
Chief Judge: Scott Callantine
What is WS-Performance?
A competition in wingsuit-performance consists of three rounds in speed, three in distance, and three in time.
During the speed rounds, the pilot’s goal is to fly as fast as possible while in the competition window.
During the distance rounds, the pilot’s goal is to fly as far as possible in a horizontal line across the ground.
In the time rounds, the pilot’s goal is to stay in the competition window for the longest amount of time. A position logging device is worn by the competitors to collect real-time data and GPS position. The competition window is 1,000m (3,281 ft) measured vertically.
Canopy Formation
Canopy Formation
Location: Skydive Chicago
Registration: Wednesday, September 14th
Competition: Thursday, September 15 – Monday, September 19, 2022
Chief Judge: Natacha Higman
What is CF?
In canopy formation skydiving, the teams perform a sequence of formations during their descent under canopy. A team videographer flies behind the group to record them for judging. The competitors must link themselves by taking grips with their hands or feet on the lines or risers of their teammate’s canopy for eight rounds.
4-way Rotation: the top competitor in the formation drops grips and flies to the bottom of the formation as quick as possible.
4-way Sequential, 2-way Sequential Open, and 2-way Sequential ProAm: the teams complete a sequence of different formations as many time as possible within working time
2-way Mixed Formation Skydiving
2-way Mixed Formation Skydiving
Location: Skydive Chicago
Registration: Friday, September 16
Competition: Saturday, September 17 – Tuesday, September 20
Chief Judge: Rina Gallo
What is MFS?
In 2-way mixed formation skydiving, teams made up of two performers and one videographer have 35 seconds of freefall to complete as many mixed formations as possible including formations in any orientation (belly, back, head, or feet to the Earth). For eight rounds, teams exit at 13,000 ft above the ground and are given a different specific sequence of formations to complete each jump. The team to complete the most formations in the given time over all the rounds wins!
Speed
Speed
Location: Skydive Chicago
Registration: Saturday, September 17
Competition: Sunday, September 18 – Tuesday, September 20
Chief Judge: Steve Kramer
What is Speed?
Skydiving speed competition is the fastest non-motorized sport in the world. Competitors can reach more than 300mph by orienting their body in an aerodynamic position and wearing tight fitting suits to reduce drag. Flyers have eight jumps to attempt the fastest vertical speed during three seconds of every jump. A speed measuring device is worn by each competitor and collects the data for the judges.
Accuracy
Accuracy
Location: Skydive Chicago
Registration: Saturday, September 17
Competition: Sunday, September 18 – Wednesday, September 21
Chief Judge: Matt McManus
What is Accuracy?
Accuracy is where skydivers compete to land as close to the center of a target as possible. The target is able to measure a distance of 16cm from the dead center and is placed in the center of a 5m air-filled tuffet that cushions the landings for the competitors. Competitors exit the plane at 3,000 feet above the ground and are scored based on the first point of contact with the target. The closest one after ten rounds wins (eight rounds for teams)!
Media Coverage
Check out the media coverage for USPA Nationals 2022 at each location.

ALL events other than CP
September 8-21, 2022

Canopy Piloting and Canopy Piloting-Freestyle
September 2-7, 2022
Pictures and Videos
Info on the best place to find pictures and videos for each dropzone will be here closer to the event.
Media Inquiries
Press Release information and Event coverage will be posted here.
Vendors & Sponsors
Vendors and Sponsors interested in being a part of USPA Nationals 2022 should contact us for more information.
Have a question?
Fill out the form below and we will get back to you within three business days!