They say, “Do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” The sentiment is nice, but the reality is, if you really love something- you work hard for it. Professional skydiving instructors have done a lot to get where they are. Just because skydiving is fun doesn’t mean it isn’t also hard work. So, what does it take to become a tandem skydiving instructor? Read on to learn about the training, prerequisites, pros and cons to becoming a tandem instructor.
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When is the best time of year to skydive?
The best time of year to skydive depends on where you live. If you live in the Midwest, most skydiving centers are seasonal. Skydive Midwest operates from early April until early November and is closed during the winter months. Mid-summer has some of the best skydiving weather but there are some surprising benefits to jumping in early spring and early fall. Here are some of the pros and cons to skydiving during each month of our season.
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Fear of heights
One of the excuses we hear for not skydiving is a fear of heights. Being afraid of heights (acrophobia) is one of the most common phobias. 1 in 3 people express discomfort or distress when exposed to heights. Ironically, even licensed skydivers report having a fear of heights. If acrophobia is so common, how are so many people skydiving? The answer to this is a little more nuanced than you might think.
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When is the best time of day to skydive?
When booking a skydive, most people think about the best time of year to skydive but they don’t consider what time of day to book. While you can skydive pretty much any time during daylight hours, there are some benefits and disadvantages to certain times of day.
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Tandem Skydiving Weight Limit
Skydiving equipment is extremely durable and well-made. The harness alone can withstand thousands of pounds of force. However, safety is our number one priority and we always abide by manufacturer specifications, federal regulations and USPA requirements.
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Safety in Skydiving: Minimizing Risks
“Is skydiving safe?” This is one of the most common questions about the sport. Although millions of successful skydives are conducted each year and the risks are relatively low, they are not zero. As with any extreme sport, there are inherent risks. However, there are a few things you can do to contribute to your own safety. Most of this information will be taught in your training class on the day of your skydive, but it doesn’t hurt to hear it more than once.
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Skydiving Views: Location is Key
The view is only one of many reasons to go skydiving. But saying “the view” doesn’t really cover what you get to see on a tandem skydive. Because of our location, we are the only skydiving center with views of 2 major midwestern cities and metropolitan areas. As incredible as skydiving over Chicago and Milwaukee can be, that’s not all you get to experience when you jump at Skydive Midwest. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most spectacular things about seeing the world from 14,500 feet when you jump with us.
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Safety Regulations in Skydiving
Skydiving is a highly regulated activity and efforts to make the sport safer have grown exponentially since it began. There are currently 2 governing bodies which regulate most skydiving operations: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the United States Parachute Association (USPA. Though risks cannot be eliminated completely, let’s dive into the efforts to make skydiving as safe as it can be.
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Tandem Skydiving Safety Report
Though it is not required, Skydive Midwest hosts annual retraining and evaluations for contracted tandem instructors. We invite a representative from United Parachute Technologies, manufacturer of the tandem skydiving equipment system, to audit our operation and provide supplemental education for instructors annually.
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Skydiving Video Package
At Skydive Midwest, we offer a lot of options when it comes to video and photos of your tandem skydive experience. We want you to make an informed decision when deciding which package is best for you. For most people, skydiving is a once in a lifetime experience and it’s worth documenting. Just like hiring a wedding photographer, it’s totally worth the investment. In this blog, we’ll give you a better understanding of each skydiving video package as well as the pros and cons so you won’t have any regrets at the end of the day.
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