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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SDMW Teams Going to the Skydiving World Cup
Multiple Skydive Midwest jumpers have qualified for the 2023 World Air Sports Federation (FAI) Skydiving World Cup in Norway. Being offered a spot on the United States Parachute Team is an honor offered to very few athletes. Only 4 teams from each Formation Skydiving discipline are invited to attend this prestigious event. The World Cup is hosted every 2 years and will be taking place in Voss, Norway in August of 2023.
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Tandem Skydiving Tips
There are a lot of things you absolutely SHOULD DO on your first tandem jump. We’ve compiled a list of our top 10 “dos” for your first skydive experience. Just as every coin has 2 sides, every DO has a DON’T. Let us help you avoid some of the first time skydive pitfalls (pun intended) and get the most out of your jump! Here are the top 10 dos and don’ts for tandem skydiving.
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Skydiving Parachutes
Modern parachutes are an absolute marvel of engineering. Tandem skydiving parachutes are expertly designed with safety, consistency, and heavy workloads in mind. They take the slow and steady approach. On the far end of the spectrum, parachutes designed for competitive canopy piloting take things to a whole new level. These parachutes and their pilots can do an absolutely incredible number of unbelievable maneuvers at mind-blowing speeds.
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Skydiving State Records
Over July 7th, 8th, and 9th, close to 80 skydivers from across the country gathered in Sturtevant, WI for an attempt to set multiple state skydiving records. There were 2 groups of jumpers being organized by Skydive Midwest’s resident teams; NEXT (Formation Skydiving Team) and Chemtrails (Vertical Formation Skydiving team).
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What to wear while skydiving
One of the questions we get a lot is, “What should I wear to go skydiving?” We’ve got a whole list of insider tips that can make your skydive more comfortable when it comes to wardrobe.
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Who Becomes a Licensed Skydiver?
You might imagine all skydivers are just some crazy yahoos. Basically, beach bums of the sky, living out their own endless summer, point break dreams. However, you may be surprised to find skydiving attracts an incredibly diverse group of people. There are more than 70,000 skydivers worldwide and 41,000 are members of the United States Parachute Association (USPA). As of 2022 the USPA has the largest membership in its history! That means there are more skydivers in the world than ever before. Here we’ll discuss what it takes to become a skydiver and some interesting data collected on who makes up the skydiver community.
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Skydiving Age Limits
At almost all skydiving centers in the United States, the minimum age to make a tandem skydive is 18. As far as an upper age limit for skydiving, there isn’t one! If you are in good health and relatively fit, you are mostly likely eligible to jump. The oldest person to go skydiving with us (so far) was 98 years old!
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Travel Guide to Illinois
Skydive Midwest has the distinct advantage of being located halfway between Milwaukee and Chicago. As the closest Chicagoland skydiving center in the Midwest, we are the only dropzone that offers skydiving views of Chicago, Lake Michigan and Milwaukee. While we are technically located in Southeastern Wisconsin, a huge portion of our customers come to skydive from the greater Chicagoland area. After taking in breathtaking views as you skydive Chicago, we have a couple of recommendations for additional stops to consider on your way home.
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Staff Spotlight: Elliot Byrd
Perhaps one of the most accomplished skydivers to call SDMW home is Mr. Elliot Byrd. You might know him from the absolutely incredible photos he takes as Byrd’s Eye Studio. For him, the end product of every project is more than just a memento for the memory book, it’s about capturing an experience in which people are genuinely having a good time and sharing that energy with the world.
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