How SKYCRU Powered the 2025 Vertical World Record at Skydive Chicago

“SKYCRU checks all the boxes… it has everything you need to do a big way event.” - Rook Nelson, Skydive Chicago

When Skydive Chicago and the Vertical Elite set out to organize the 2025 200-way Vertical World Record (VWR), they needed a platform that could handle the complexity of managing hundreds of international athletes, coordinating evaluation camps across multiple countries, and ensuring transparent communication throughout the selection process. SKYCRU was chosen to power this historic event, and the results exceeded expectations.

The Challenge

Organizing a world record attempt is no small feat. The 2025 VWR required:

• 350+ registrations from athletes across multiple countries
• Multi-stage evaluation camps in USA, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Brazil, and more
• Transparent athlete selection process to choose 200 participants from 350+ registrants
• Clear communication tools to keep all participants informed of their status
• Comprehensive evaluation system allowing camp captains to rate and provide feedback

The organizers needed a platform that could handle registration, coordinate evaluations across continents, consolidate captain ratings, and provide transparent dashboards so athletes could see their status and feedback in real-time.

Why SKYCRU?

When Rook Nelson and Matt Fry evaluated SKYCRU for this event, they identified key features that made it the right choice:

• Score Cards: Comprehensive evaluation and rating system
• Registration Management: Streamlined process for handling hundreds of registrations
• Progress Tracking: Ability to track athlete progression over time
• Status Management: Clear visibility when athletes move up in the selection process

The Solution

SKYCRU provided a comprehensive platform that addressed every aspect of the event:

Registration and Organization

The platform handled 350+ registrations seamlessly, linking each athlete to their respective evaluation camps. The system ensured proper camp linkage and maintained accurate participant profiles throughout the process.

Multi-Country Evaluation Camps

Captains at each camp location could:

• Rate athletes with numeric scores
• Provide detailed notes and feedback
• Submit evaluations per camp
• Ensure data integrity with unique ratings per athlete per camp

Consolidated Evaluation View

Organizers could:

• Review evaluations across all camps in one consolidated view
• Sort and filter participants by rating, feedback, and attendance
• Efficiently identify and select the top 200 athletes
• Access comprehensive reporting tools

Transparent Participant Dashboards

Each athlete had access to their own dashboard showing:

• Current selection status (Selected, Pending, or Not Selected)
• Evaluation scores and feedback from captains
• Scorecards from each camp attended
• Any relevant communication and updates

Communication Tools

SKYCRU’s communication features enabled:

• Mass emails to selected athletes
• Automated status updates reflected in participant dashboards
• Clear communication to rejected athletes with feedback
• Email confirmations and status notifications throughout the process

The Results

The test case confirmed that SKYCRU successfully:

✅ Processed 100% of registrations with correct camp associations
✅ Enabled captains to enter ratings and notes for each athlete
✅ Provided consolidated evaluation views across camps, captains, and countries
✅ Facilitated efficient athlete filtering and sorting by rating, camp, and notes
✅ Selected 200 athletes efficiently and marked them appropriately
✅ Delivered transparent dashboards where participants could view their status, evaluations, and feedback
✅ Functioned communication tools correctly for status updates, reminders, and selections

Key Features That Made the Difference

Transparent Evaluation Process

Athletes could see their progression over time, understand why they were selected or not selected, and access detailed feedback from camp captains. This transparency built trust and engagement throughout the process.

Multi-Stage Management

SKYCRU handled the complexity of Phase 1 and Phase 2 evaluation camps seamlessly, allowing organizers to consolidate results and make informed decisions about athlete selection.

International Coordination

Managing camps across multiple countries required robust coordination tools. SKYCRU provided the infrastructure to handle registrations, evaluations, and communications across different time zones and locations.

Real-Time Updates

Participants received timely updates about their status, ensuring they were always informed about their position in the selection process.

Lessons Learned

This event revealed new challenges that pushed the limits of the SKYCRU platform. By addressing them, we not only adapted SKYCRU to meet the immediate needs but also expanded its capabilities to handle future large-scale, multi-stage evaluations with greater flexibility and precision.

Each use case strengthens the platform, ensuring it continues to evolve alongside the demands of airsports. The VWR event demonstrated that SKYCRU can handle the most complex event management scenarios while maintaining transparency and efficiency.

Recognition

We at SKYCRU are honored to have supported this event and proud that our goals were met. Yet the true achievement belongs to the dropzone, the organizers, and the athletes who trained tirelessly and committed themselves to making the record possible, along with the DZ staff who worked behind the scenes to bring it all together.

What This Means for Your Events

Whether you’re organizing a world record, a major competition, or a local boogie, SKYCRU provides the tools you need:

• Scalable Registration: Handle hundreds or thousands of registrations
• Multi-Stage Evaluations: Coordinate complex selection processes
• Transparent Communication: Keep all participants informed
• Comprehensive Reporting: Access detailed analytics and reports
• International Support: Manage events across multiple countries

Get Started

Ready to see how SKYCRU can transform your event management? Book a free demo to discover how our platform can handle your most complex event challenges.

SKYCRU successfully met all acceptance criteria and delivered a transparent, efficient selection process for the 2025 VWR at Skydive Chicago. The platform proved capable of managing large-scale, multi-stage evaluations while maintaining clarity and engagement for all participants.