BIRD’S-EYE VIEW

from Starved Rock Country Magazine - Summer 2021

SMALL DOG, BIG SUCCESS

Opposite page, top: Skydive Chicago is a premier skydiving facility northeast of Ottawa. Opposite page, bottom: Instructor Tim Koeppen checks the parachute fitting on Danielle Flannigan prior to her first jump. Left: Danielle Flannigan, along with instructor Tim Koeppen, descends from the sky while completing her first jump. Above: Sean Fitzgerald descends to the ground during his skydive. He praised his tandem instructor for being both professional and fun. Below: Even if you don’t plan on skydiving, watching those that do can be entertaining.

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Skydive Chicago brings new meaning to “jumping for joy”

Story by Hannah Hoffmeister, Photos by Tom Sistak

In her bright yellow jumpsuit, Danielle Flannigan’s self-described appearance hits the mark.

“Look for the banana in the sky!” she jokes as she heads to the plane.

Flannigan and her boyfriend, Sean Fitzgerald, are at Skydive Chicago to celebrate the 23rd birthday of their friend Adrianna Dedmond. “I’m feeling cool as a cucumber right now,” says Fitzgerald before his jump. “He’s the adventurous one,” quips Flannigan.

Skydive Chicago is a premier skydiving facility northeast of Ottawa. In addition to the skydiving itself (complete with large landing zone and professional instructors), the venue offers a fullservice cafe, campsites and cabins for overnight stays, and the space to just hang out and watch jumpers experience the thrill of jumping out of a plane.

With that thrill comes safety as a priority.

“Once you’ve gone skydiving, you have this kind of confidence about you that you’ve conquered something, especially if you had a high fear about it. You’ve conquered something that was so monumental to you internally, and it kind of opens you up to a new world.”

Instructor Tim Koeppen walkes Danielle Flannigan to the plane after she prepared for her first jump. Danielle Flannigan soars over the farmland and rivers of rural Ottawa during her first jump at Skydive Chicago. (Photo provided by Skydive Chicago)

“We consider the guest a student, and not just a passenger,” says Josh Reuck, marketing manager at Skydive Chicago. “At the end of the day, they’re with highly experienced tandem instructors who have thousands of jumps. They’re in really good hands.”

A tandem instructor is a professional who is harnessed to the student, helping with the safety of the skydive. After their jumps, both Fitzgerald and Flannigan agree: Their instructors were “really professional and fun,” and did a good job making them feel safe. “I would go again,” Flannigan says.

Skydiving at the facility first involves some paperwork and a short video. An employee walks the students through what to expect and do during the jump (how and when to activate the parachute, what to expect from their tandem instructor, etc.). After donning an optional jumpsuit and undergoing thorough safety checks of their equipment, it’s time to head to the plane, which ascends to 13,500 feet for the jumpers.

“There’s essentially two parts of the skydive,” Reuck says. “One is the physical falling through the air … and the other part is being under canopy. Once you’re under canopy — once you’re under the parachute — it gives the tandem student a chance to catch their breath, really look around.”

And then comes the landing. “You get to see families and friends out there on the ground, cheering on the student,” Reuck says. “That’s a lot of good energy, a lot of fun to watch.”

A fear of heights shouldn’t keep one from considering a skydive, in Reuck’s mind.

“In my experience in talking to tandems who have been extremely nervous, as soon as they get out of the airplane, they seem to be very relaxed and excited,” he says. “It builds a lot of confidence. Once you’ve gone skydiving, you have this kind of confidence about you that you’ve conquered something, especially if you had a high fear about it. You’ve conquered something that was so monumental to you internally, and it kind of opens you up to a new world.”

There’s plenty to do, though, if you’re visiting Skydive Chicago in support of someone else. The venue’s full-service cafe has an indoor seating area, and there are outdoor picnic tables when the weather is nice.

Tent camping is $5 per day, while the nine available cabins vary in price. “I want to explore other parts of the area,” says Fitzgerald after his jump. “I’m a big camping fanatic.”

The grassy area in front of the landing area provides an open vantage point to watch jumpers cross off their bucket list item. Out of almost nowhere, it seems, little specks in the sky become people and their parachutes, floating to the ground. “You’re not used to seeing people in the air,” Reuck says.

For him, it’s the community that makes the sport. And to him, that community is one where everyone is welcome.

“Everybody is very approachable. Everybody here is living life to have the fullest, biggest life possible. It’s an extremely inclusive community,” he says. “If you’re friendly, if you’re a good person, you’re going to be accepted.”

CS R