Can you skydive in the winter? This falls under the “would not recommend” category. While winter temperatures on the ground might be 30F, at 18,000 feet above the ground, they’re drastically below freezing.
Then, there’s the winter storms to consider. Snow, high winds, and ice are not ideal conditions for freefalling. Who are we kidding? They aren’t even “okay” conditions when jumping out of a plane. For your safety and the safety of our instructors, Chicagoland Skydiving closes during the winter. But there is good news.
Do we stop “working?” during the cold months of the year? No way! During the off-season months, we’re hard at work planning our events calendar for next year, teambuilding, strategizing ways to improve safety and your experience and much, much more. (We actually have a post all about this if you’re interested in seeing what the CSC team does during the wintertime).
Just like we eat, sleep and breathe skydiving all year long, you too can stay focused on becoming a skydiving legend by making the most of the wintertime lull. Here are a few things to keep you busy until we reopen for business in the spring.
If You’re a First-Time Skydiver, Do Your Research
Never jumped out of an airplane before? When you’re all snug by the fireplace drinking hot cocoa, pull out your laptop and do some research. Read our Tandem Skydiving Guide, which has tips for preparing for the big day, explains how your equipment works and lists out helpful FAQs.
Take a deeper dive into our blog too, where we’re always posting helpful advice for first-timers. Then, hop over to our Google Reviews to see what others have to say about their experience to boost your confidence and get excited to give it a whirl.
KNOW YOUR SKYDIVING WINDOW & PLAN AHEAD
So while maybe in other parts of the world you can skydive in the winter, our go-time doesn’t include the chilliest season. Here in Illinois, the ideal time to skydive is from April to October. Meaning, fall, spring and summer are your time to jump, baby!
Over the winter, start thinking about when you’d like to schedule your next jump. Would you rather descend surrounded by colorful fall foliage or on a warm summer day? How about time of day? If you’re afraid of the brisk morning plunge but want to start your day with a thrill, here are some tips for staying warm during the freefall.
Remember when planning your jump to also:
- Chat with your friends about a skydiving group adventure or even joining a skydiving boogie.
- Set the date on your calendar of choice— or all of them!
- Request the day off from work and remind your friends to do the same.
- Check that you have everything you need to stay warm and happy during your experience.
- Tell your family and friends to expect pics and excited, countless retellings of your skydiving journey!
If you aren’t sure of the exact ideal date for you, pick a few dates in spring, summer, and fall so that way you have a backup plan in case you can’t get off work on your first pick.
Shop for New Gear
If you’re an avid skydiver, you might want to use this idle time to refresh your gear. Get a new pair of goggles, a bright helmet or a special camera for capturing your big jumps. You might even want to invest in a better jumpsuit or a uniquely designed canopy so that everyone knows when you’re descending— in style.
First-timers need not worry about getting any skydiving equipment; we provide our jumpers with all they need to enjoy their freefall. You can, however, purchase some Chicagoland Skydiving apparel on our online store year-round. From branded shirts to mesh baseball hats, we have the best swag for showing your CSC pride.
Hang Out at Our Restaurant & Bar
Even though our 20,000 square foot facility might be closed for the winter (and no one falling from the sky for you to watch from outside), our Flight Deck Bar & Grill remains open all year long. Hang out and have a beer and burger with your friends and our instructors until it’s go-time again. You can also ask about our party reservations for a little extra fun.
GET YOUR PRO PASS AND GET READY!
Even though you can’t skydive during the wintertime, you can get the most out of the seasons ahead by becoming a member of our jump club. In fact, we’re the pioneers of the “all-you-can-jump membership program.”
We offer part-time and unlimited skydiving passes, which will allow you to get the best value for your jumps if you’re a frequent freefaller. Our part-time pass allows you to choose from unlimited jumping on either weekdays or weekends— while our unlimited pass is just like it sounds: unlimited! The current record for most jumps in a single season for a Pro Pass holder is over 900 jumps. Do you think you can beat it?
During the summertime, we also have a Summer Camp, where we host multiple jumps and events in a jam-packed month of fun.
Learn more about our ProPass programs here and join the CSC family now to maximize your jumping experience later.
