Just think a few updates ago I was complaining that it was too cold.  Wow have things changed. 

What was on pace to be a record setting tandem week at SDC instead found crappy weather most of the week.   Luckily this past week was the 3rd River B-Day Jam.   I took a short break from operations and rented a houseboat from Starved Rock Adventures.   Most of the staff stopped by for an afternoon of fun in the somewhat sun.   Thanks to Nicole for being our own personal bartender!  From what I can recall everyone had a great time and I look forward to next year.

Thanks to Mark Blackwell for helping us out with the sound at the Tiki Bar.  Mark has installed a new outdoor speaker system that jams!!  Check it out at the Tiki Bar this weekend. 

Saturday we woke up to some heat!!  Who ever says that it’s humid in Chicago?  Thankfully the pond is a great place to cool down.  Mike Wittenburg and Patrick Heaney were on hand organizing VRW dives for beginners.  SDC’s On the Fly were ready to organize the New Wave Boogie but Saturday brought some high winds that kept them on the ground.  Thanks to Sporto and Matty who stopped out for a few loads.    

TJ Hine stopped by Saturday getting things ready for Roger Ponce and the 40 ways that will be going on next weekend.  The group is starting on Friday.  This is an invitational event so please contact him before you show up. 

Also this weekend is team training.  This starts on Thursday.   We are guaranteeing 12-15 loads each day (weather permitting), so if you have time off during the week this is the week for you.  We have 4 teams that will be training and doing back-to-backs.  Come out before jump prices go up!!

Saturday Genie’s Café will be serving BBQ Chicken and Ribs at the Tiki Hut along with a veggie and dessert.  Don’t miss it, the food is amazing!

Friday the Travel Channel will be out shooting a segment on Skydiving in Chicago.  If you want to be ‘famous’ stop out for a cameo.

Saturday night found the campground alive with activity.  The Tiki Bar was serving another delicious meal.  The pavilion was rocking with Monika’s birthday.  Many people braved the forecast and set up camp on the grassy knoll. 

Sunday we saw every kind of weather possible.   It started off sunny then the wind came.  Next, severe T-storms and rain.  Finally it cleared up to a HOT, Humid, Afternoon.  Many of the staff took the opportunity to get a few jumps in.  One load had all but one manifester on it!   We truly have a great team here and I’m proud of them.   The pond was a great meeting point once we finished jumping.  Some staff even had Jimmy John’s delivered to the pond!!

We are down to 9 slots left in the campground.  1 full hook-up and 8 electric.  They are first come first serve.  If you plan on being here for an event come early.   Cabins are quickly becoming booked.  We still have some openings for a few event weekends, so make your reservations soon. 

Locker rent was due June 1st, if you haven’t already paid it do so before we give it to someone else.  We do have a waiting list for lockers.  If you would like to get on it contact manifest at 815-433-0000.  They cost $35 per year.  Why risk getting your gear stolen out of your car?!!  See manifest for more info. 

Great news, Ottawa is looking into re-opening its rail services.  This would mean you could take the train from the city to downtown Ottawa.  They are planning a case study to see if the town can support it.  With fuel prices alone I can’t see why it wouldn’t be worthwhile!  I’ll keep you updated as I hear more. 

FYI :

Airtec, manufacturer of the Cypres and Cypres 2 automatic activation devices, has issued a service bulletin for 790 different Cypres 2 units manufactured between August and December 2006. The Expert Cypres 2 serial numbers for affected units range from 26798 to 30121. Student model Cypres 2 units range from serial numbers 27180 to 28919. Tandem Cypres 2 units range from serial numbers 27212 to 29218. Lastly, one Speed Cypres 2, with the serial number 29172, is also included in the bulletin. The affected units may have a defective sensor that can lead to the unit misfiring.
The service bulletin states that each affected Cypres 2 must be returned for repair before its next jump. Airtec in Germany and SSK Industries in Ohio are both authorized to perform the necessary changes. Each affected unit will be returned to the owner at no charge, along with a check for $70 to help each owner with the cost of shipping and a reserve repack.

More information appears in the company’s service bulletin. The user’s guide includes instructions on how to check the unit’s serial number using its display. In most cases, the serial number is also listed on the packing data card of the harness and container system the unit is installed in.

ALSO:
Sunrise Manufacturing has issued a service bulletin for certain models of its Wings containers. Affected models of the container include the W1-1EXT, W5-1EXT and W4. The service bulletin comes as a response to two separate incidents that occurred to the same jumper where a small-diameter line on his main canopy caught under his container’s mid-flap plastic stiffener. In each instance, the jumper experienced a subsequent malfunction on his main canopy, and a line on his main did not release from the container. Both times, the jumper landed without injury under his reserve while trailing his main by the snagged line.
To prevent a chance of a similar incident, the company recommends a rigger update the mid-flap pin protector with a modification to increase its flexion, as well as proper packing methods by the person packing the system. The service bulletin, which details how a rigger can remove the tip of the plastic stiffener contained in the mid-flap and explains proper packing instructions for the container, is available here. Further information is available at www.skydivewings.com.

Coming up:

June 13 Water Training
June 14 Night Jumps
June 15 Swoop Club
June 27- 29 Guy Wright Diamonds and Jewels event
June 27- July 6 AFP in a Week.   

Thanks and I look forward to a rocking weekend!!

Rook

R.I.P. FB#2