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Each week I keep telling myself to get more updates out but the weekends are happening so fast.
The weather has been hit and miss but we are certainly cranking out loads when the weather is good. I apologize two weekends ago for the long calls. I will have two aircraft on call for the rest of the summer. We will have both Otters here come the first week in June.
Rhythm has been really pushing SDC jumpers by hosting their Team for a Day. Jumpers really like them as each event has more and more jumpers in attendance. I was joking with Rhythm that they are cursed with weather but after a short weather hold Saturday the Otter rolled out and got to work.
Here is an update from Rhythm:
Last Wednesday we had our second downtown Chicago bar night at Gamekeepers. 16 skydivers joined us for drinks, food and skydiving videos on three screens. Our next bar night will be June 3rd at Gamekeepers.
This past weekend was our third Team for a Day, and our largest turnout yet. We had three teams on Saturday and two teams on Sunday, and made 23 "team" jumps over the two days.
The groups ranged from experienced skydivers looking for a day of good 4 way, young jumpers wanting to learn more about 4 way, and even a formed team using team for a day as a tool to start their training season. It was great to see everyone learning and having a good time.
Special recognition goes to Beth Schipke and Bob Moore who have attended at least one day of every TFaD weekend so far. :)
Thank you to our cameramen, Pete, Henrik, and Kevin, our awesome packers, and the lovely SDC manifest ladies for keeping us in the air.
Next Team for a Day is June 27&28th and will be the last one until fall. Contact janette@rhythmskydiving.com to sign up or for more details.
Rhythm is training this weekend, starting on Friday. Skip work and come out and join us as loads will be turning starting at 9am. On Saturday night, Rhythm is leading another Continuing Education seminar on techniques for preparing and debriefing skydives. This is not just for team training but for anyone looking to maximize their learning on each skydive.
Finally, our third tunnel camp at Paraclete XP is coming up May 30/31, and we still have some time available. Tunnel is a great way to quickly improve flying skills and confidence at any level. More details here: http://www.paracletexp.com/node/83. Contact janette@rhythmskydiving.com to sign up or for more details.
Thanks to Doug Benke who has been helping us out flying. Doug has been flying for Skydive AZ and has moved back to the area. It’s always nice to have highly experienced pilots up front.
The AFP program is off to a great start having another two graduates. Jay Scholten and Chris Sadowski recently completed the program, congratulations and remember to follow the golden rules! We have 4 more AFP in a week students going through the program this week! We are looking to break last years record for graduates and we are certainly on track.
Speaking of AFP, we are now starting to use GO PRO cameras to film our students. This small, lightweight media camera is perfect for the application. The camera has a 170-degree lens that captures the entire student. The best part is instead of an old VHS tape the student gets his own jump drive. We are creating our own channel on You Tube for the jumpers to upload their video to share with the world. Just another reason why SDC training programs are second to none!
We have completed our first campground meter reading and for the most part everyone was under the allotment. Please be sure to turn lights, A/Cs, electronics, etc. off when leaving for the week to avoid extra charges.
Bram Clements from SkydiveRating.com is here running an AFF course. We have 5 candidates going through the course. Combine the course with the 4 A-license in a week students and the caravan will be flying all day!
Swoop club ran its first meet of the year. The course was distance and after all the feet were added up Frank (soon to be Daddy) came in first, with Kenny in second, and John Zagoda in Third. Thanks John for setting up the course and running the meet.
SDC now has a dedicated Facebook page that’s updated with events, announcements, and schedules. Be sure to join to get the latest info and updates. Don’t’ forget the banner advertising that you can get from our website and post on your social web pages that can earn you $10 per click!
Coming up this weekend, Rhythm will have their first training weekend. To help keep the plane turning on Friday we are offering $14 jumps. This is for experienced jumpers only. Standard will also be training so you can expect 16+ loads for Friday!
Todd and Lisa will be organizing RW this weekend. The following is a post from them:
Join us for RW organizing on Saturday, May 23rd and Sunday, May 24th!!! Our goal is to improve and accelerate your RW skills by jumping with the same group all day. This will not necessarily be 4-way skills – the purpose is learning and working on basic RW skills. This includes exits, diving toward a formation, working on fall rate, and tracking. Our target audience is AFP grads to intermediate RW jumpers. The commitment is up to 6 jumps per day (of course, weather dependent). We will need a minimum of 2 jumpers, with a maximum of 8 jumpers. Depending on the jumpers, we will split into 2 groups; however, you will remain with the same group all day. There is no registration fee! You are only responsible for your jump ticket (and, packing, if you choose). You can commit to Saturday and/or Sunday. However, you must sign-up ahead of time. Please – no later than Thursday, May 21st. You can contact us thru Facebook (Lisa DeSimone); or, email us at zaats@sbcglobal.net. We will respond and confirm your commitment. See you Memorial Day weekend!
In addition to this weekend Steve Verner will be hosting a Coach’s Course. This rating is a stepping-stone for all other ratings. If you are interested in becoming an instructor you need to sign up for this course. Contact Steve@bigeyesky@hotmail.com for more info.
After jumping Rhythm will host another continuing education. These low-key seminars help further knowledge into the sport. There is no cost for the seminar and it will be held downstairs in the AFP classroom.
Wow there is a lot happening this coming weekend! Both the Otter and Caravan will be on the flight line to help keep the calls short.
Finally, I’d like to ask for your help. As you read we are going up head to head with Ameren to stop the construction of 138kv power lines down the railroad tracks. This will not only be an eye sore it will be a hazard to you as a jumper. Think about having a long spot over the river. Then, trying to make it back and coming up a little short. You have to land on the hillside where a handful of people have. However if Ameren has their way you will have a 138,000 volt 90 foot high power line to make it over before you can land. So, now you have a choice, land in the power line or River. There is a petition that is located in Para-Concepts and manifest that we are asking for you to sign to express your concern as a jumper, spectator, spouse, etc. You can also sign the petition online and get more info at www.foxriveralliance.org. If you have any questions please contact me rook@skydivechicago.com
SDC is off to a great start and with School getting out the tandems are really starting to fill up. I appreciate everyone that visits and calls SDC home.
Rook
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