Chicagoland Skydive Center: terminal velocity at 12,000 feet
Jumping out of a plane and plunging 12,000 feet with only a parachute attached to the body seems like a crazy idea, but to some, it’s an adrenaline-fueled adventure of a lifetime. Chicagoland Skydiving Center makes it possible to overcome fears and turn nascent jumpers into heroic thrill seekers.
In order to jump, skydivers must drive an hour west of Chicago to the small, rural town of Hinckley, IL, which inhabits the closet diving center to the city. CSC is surrounded by remote cornfields and plains making it an obstruction-free zone. Potential divers must reserve a spot ahead of time either by calling or signing up online. After acquiring a reservation and a lot of courage, first time divers sit through a 20-minute orientation and video presentation that highlights the hazards and rules of jumping. After the quick lesson comes the nerve-racking portion of waiting to dive, which sometimes can be an “arrive and jump” situation or it could take longer depending on the amount of people signed up. Feeling apprehensive? CSC’s lounge offers snacks, coffee, a couch and a HDTV to distract from the anticipatory moment.
For beginnings, it’s required to go tandem with an instructor, but advanced jumpers can fly solo. Once strapped into a harness containing the ever important chute, a group is charted into a small jet plane and flown up to 14,000-18,000 feet. The world looks small from above, but try not to think about the death-defying stunt and just lean forward and let go. The diver and the instructor freefall for a minute before the chute’s activated. Afterwards, sail through the clouds, land safely on the ground and breathe. For those who don’t want to jump but would like to share in the experience, family and friends can ride along in the cockpit for a $50 fee. Also for an additional price, cement the glorious jump with professional digital stills and/or a homemade DVD.
HelloChicago Tip: Keep in mind weather conditions are crucial to be able to jump, so if it’s even partly cloudy, it’s best to call ahead to see if they’re allowing jumps. It also can get quite cold thousands of feet above ground, so dress appropriately.
Posted by Garin Pirnia
