Indoor skydiving?

[tdelano]

Has anyone tried the indoor skydiving on I Drive? If so, do you reccommend it.. is it worth the price? I have kids 16,12,11. Thanks!

 

[shefor24]

Just bumping this up- I've always wanted to sky dive there.

 

[Cindy B]

Ok, we stopped in to see this last year. Our hotel was right near it so we took a peek.

My DH was a true skydiver back in the 80's-90's... he had seen this indoor tunnel on some show and wanted to check it out.

He went in there and started to talk "shop" with the guys working there. They talked "shop" for a little while, and saw that they had an observation deck.

He asked if we could go up since my son (then 7) and check it out. They said fine. We all walk up there (mind you its a metal twisted stairs--like in the Statue of Liberty ) and enter in. the observation wall is just that.. a glass wall that you can see the people skydiving. there were some padded benches and a small room to walk around and wait until your turn.

We spent about 45 minutes up there. First up were some professionals or decent amatuuere practicing timed holds and manuervers.... that really got my DH excited since that is what he used to do. He liked thier form and precision.

Then next was a youngish girl, who had never done this before, and was having a very hard time. They tell you to arch your back before entering, since the wind is really strong, and you will "rise" up. She was not arching high enough, and kept hitting the walls. She looked like she was ready to cry The wind is really really strong, and forceful. DH said it was pretty similiar to windforces in actual freefall. She did manage to get it eventually, but you could tell she was getting banged up in the process.

DH watched the instructor technique as well, and he was impressed with it. It is hard to talk with the wind being loud, so he was using his hands to communicate with her.

Next were two older kids (maybe 12), they were just getting suited up when we left. They looked nervous, after watching the girl.

As for the OP those kids can be the right age for it.. My son wanted to do it at 7, and he isn't frightened easily, but even he didn't like the noise and force of the fan. He may do it eventually with my DH.. (not that he doesn't trust the instructors, but you know what I mean). My daughter thought it was cool, but really loud as well.

When we left the tower, my DH thanked the guys. My son asked them how big you had to be to do it.. they said to him the youngest they did was 18 months! With the weight of that baby, I bet that toddler was way up in the ceiling!

All in all, its was pretty interesting. The wind tunnel experience to me looked expensive, but DH said comparing to actual skydiving experience it is less money. You can pick up any of the free coupon books at any store on IDrive.. there were two coupons for it in them last August.. maybe a percentage off or a something extra that was included.

We wont do it this year, but maybe when my son is 10-12. My daughter wold be 7-9 then , so they both may do it then..