Tandem at WFFC?

[twoextreem 0]

I'm new to this sport--a wannabe actually. I have been planning on doing tandem for a couple of months now, but haven't been able to because of finances, work, etc. I was going to jump at a DZ close to home, but now thinking it would be cool to do it at WFFC. Get there on Friday night, jump on Saturday and hang around/party Saturday night. Is it weird for a non-skydiver to be going to a skydivers' convention to do this or should I just go to the DZ near my home? FYI--Rantoul is only 1-2 hours from my house.

[AndyMan 7]

Rantoul is a good place to do a tandem, but don't expect to be able to stay around for the parties. Admission to the convention "proper" is pretty tightly controlled, and doing a tandem will not necesarily get you in.

Since you live in chicago, you're so lucky to have 3 aweseome dropzones nearby. You'll have more fun in the social aspect... I'd recomend you give a call to Chicagoland Skydiving (hinkley) , Skydive Chicago (ottawa) , or Millenium Skydiving (kankakee) and do your first jump there.

Chicagoland - www.skydive.com
Skydive Chicago www.skydivechicago.com
Millenium Skydiivng http://www.millenniumskydiving.com/

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[PhreeZone 20]

There are tandems offered along with AFF at WFFC if you want to prusue that while you are there. For information on if you'd be permitted to stay after dary, I'd call the office of the WFFC and ask them.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[Snowwhite 0]

Just to let you know,,,we have this request from tandem jumpers every year, and NO tandem passengers are not allowed into the tent city. We have a strict policy, 50 free fall jumps minimum to get in. You must show your log book to prove this. If however, you have a skydiving buddy who will be going, and will sign off on you attending, plan on paying your $59.00 fee, and come as a guest. Or contact me about coming and volunteering for a day or two, (minimum 8 hours work) and I will get you in.

skydiveTaylorville.org
freefallbeth@yahoo.com

[twoextreem 0]

Thanks everyone for your responses!!!

I did feel kind of weird about going to WFFC to do it. However, my hubby and I wanted to go away that weekend and I thought that would be a cool place to go. I'm still trying to get him to understand why I want to do this. LOL!!!

I do have a skydiving acquaintance -- who asks me weekly when I'm going to jump -- but I'm not sure if they are going or not. I think I'll just stick to doing my tandem at one of the DZ's near my house as I've planned. Just not sure which one I want to go to -- either SDC or CSC. Any preferences (yeahs and neahs) and why would be greatly appreciated.

If I love (hopefully I will) the tandem, I plan on starting AFF/AFP next spring--by then I'll have the money. I really don't want to start this summer/fall and then run out of good weather. {Wishing I lived in Florida!!!}

Again thanks for your replies!!

[AndyMan 7]

My personal preference is CSC, but I would send my mother to any of the three I previously mentioned.

If you end up at CSC, tell them I sent ya!

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[Pubwoof 0]

Out of curiosity, how can they make tandem or AFF jumps at the convention if the max pull altitude is 3,000ft? A separate LZ or something?

The glass isn't always half-full OR half-empty. Sometimes, the glass is just too damn big.

[WFFC 1]

Quote

Out of curiosity, how can they make tandem or AFF jumps at the convention if the max pull altitude is 3,000ft? A separate LZ or something?

The max pull altitude is the 'recommended' altitude. Tandams and AFF have their own procedures. Contact the WFFC office @ 217-222-5867 if you have any further questions.

[riggerrob 643]

As for pull altitudes, they probably put the tandems and AFF off to the side of regular skydivers, to avoid interference.

Just to clarify: non-skydivers are not allowed in tent city because of some hard feelings at the previous Convention site in Quincy. It seems the city fathers got upset about rumors that their under-age daughters were getting drunk and rowdy with skydivers, so the Quincy Police Department chased the skydivers out of town.