With cooler temps and summer winding down you would never know it at SDC.

First, I’m going to jump ahead and thank Karl for celebrating his 50th B-Day party at Skydive Chicago.  I like to think that I have seen some pretty cool things in my life but I was floored when his Pyro-Musical took to the Skies.

It took Karl and his staff three days to set up the 27-minute show.  1800 shells were fired to the beat of music.  The timing was down to the second!  Karl told me that he has been saving shells for over a year and that some of which you can’t get anymore.  To start off his show he asked me to do a UFO jump, which seems silly once I saw the show he prepared.  Thanks to Scott and Tracy for helping me out.  The next day the local paper called me to ask what was going on and I told him it was Karl’s Birthday.  They didn’t believe that someone would have such an amazing show for a birthday.  I simply replied, that’s how Skydive Chicago does it!! 

The teams were back in town this past weekend.  It was another battle with the weather but we still managed to get in a handful of jumps.  You can tell Nationals are coming up, as the intensity is getting very serious.   We have decided to add another camp September 19-21.   I am asking for your help to come out on the 19th to keep the Otter turning.  I will offer any experienced jumper that comes out on the 19th all the jumps they can do for $125.   This is only good for Friday and you cannot double manifest.  Please help support your local teams.   Also, on Friday night (19th) I will host an intro freefly seminar.  I will cover everything from just starting to advance moves.  This will start at 8pm in the Skylounge.   There is no charge for this seminar. 

With winter approaching the AFP’s are really starting to increase again.  11 people attended last week’s class.  Frank, Troy, and Biff stayed busy all day!  

Congratulations to local jumper Joel who achieved his Tandem Rating.  Not long after he finished we put him to work.  Way to go Joel and don’t forget your airsick bag. 

Nicole and Allen certainly are keeping the tradition of good food going at SDC.  Eat Up (the new café name) was busy this past weekend.  Starting with a 150-person dinner in the Auditorium and another 50 at the tiki-hut!!  Two bartenders were needed to keep up with the demand.  Former local jumper Dave C brought his band out for the fireworks after party.  I couldn’t believe how busy the place was given a random Saturday night in September.  

Roger Ponce will be in town starting Friday.  He is planning 20 ways on Friday then moving to two planes Saturday and Sunday.

Before I mention this next event I want to state that SDC is simply a host and in no way supports or discourages this event.  We were contacted by the LaSalle County Democrats to host a rally.   Saturday from 2 to 10 pm 6 bands will be playing in the Parking lot for an expected crowd of 2000.  Admission to the event is $10 and food and alcohol will be available.  When you arrive Saturday please tell the parking staff that you are a jumper and you will be waved through to park in the south lawn.  All festival goers will be parked in the Southern part of the grass runway.  Jumping operations will continue as normal.  The Tiki bar will be open for food and drinks after jumping as well.    I must state again that SDC is a venue only and if the Republican Party wanted to do the same thing we would be happy to meet the request.

Coming up:

September 12 Water training

September 13 Night Jumps and High Altitude

September 19-28 AFP in a Week

Don’t forget to book your holiday travels to Sebastian for the 3 annual Invasion December 27- 4.  Can’t make it?  Puerto Rico February 11-15. 

Rook