iFLY Chicago Rosemont Hosting Indoor Skydiving Competition

iFLY Indoor Skydiving’s Rosemont wind tunnel (5520 Park Pl, Rosemont, IL 60018), one of three iFLY locations in the Chicago area, is hosting an Indoor Skydiving Competition in partnership with the International Bodyflight Association (IBA), Friday and Saturday May 6th and 7th, 2016. The event will feature the world’s best skydivers and wind tunnel flyers performing exciting and impressive routines as they compete for first place.

The sport of Indoor Skydiving began as a way for skydivers to train for larger Skydiving competitions no matter the weather or season. Recently, the sport is seeing enormous reach and popularity and evolving every year. Currently there are 83 wind tunnels operating worldwide, with 21 built in 2015, and some 44 scheduled to open or already opening in 2016. With the increased availability of wind tunnels around the world, the sport has taken off into an amazing artistic form. Athletes fly in teams in traditional ‘Formation’ disciplines as well as in ‘Dynamic’ disciplines where they sync their movements without touching one another. Most recently, a musical element has been added to Freestyle routines where Athletes fly in sync, resembling beautiful gravity-defying ice skaters.

Teams are traveling from across the US, Canada, and Europe to attend this event, vying for the podium. Athletes aged 6 all the way up to their 60s will be competing in five different events, featuring both solo and team flying. Events such as 4 way Formations where four people flying in the belly-to-Earth orientation together work to create as many formations as possible within a minute-long length of flight; and 2 way Vertical Formations where 2 athletes fly on all axes of their bodies to make formations of various shapes; and 4 way Dynamic where 4 all fly simultaneously, following one another in a routine of speed and agility.

The general public is invited to visit iFLY Rosemont during the competition to watch the events and meet the talented flyers. For those looking to experience the excitement from home, the competition will be streamed live online through www.tunnelflight.com.

About iFLY Indoor Skydiving

iFLY provides the exhilarating experience of a skydiving free-fall while eliminating the daunting leap out of an airplane. Anyone who has ever wanted to feel the singular rush of skydiving, from ages 3 to 103 can make their dream a reality at iFLY. Following a brief training session, all fliers are outfitted in a flight suit, helmet, and goggles before entering the wind tunnel. To begin their flight, patrons simply lean forward onto a wall-to-wall cushion of air (toward their friendly, certified iFLY instructor) and the rushing air allows them to float. First-time flyers are given the opportunity to learn basic flying maneuvers. Like any skilled sport, with additional training, flyers can progress to advanced aerial maneuvers.

Austin-based iFLY Holdings, LLC, is the world leader in design, manufacturing, sales, and operations of wind tunnel systems for indoor skydiving. The company has flown more than 6 million people in a dozen countries since launching the modern vertical wind tunnel industry in 1998. iFLY and its affiliates opened their 50th location in April of 2016. iFLY supports and utilizes the safety and training rules set out by the International Bodyflight Association (IBA) to ensure safety and progression of the sport of indoor skydiving. For more information, visit www.iFLYworld.com.

About the International Bodyflight Association

The International Bodyflight Association (IBA) was formed in 2003 as a means to train wind tunnel instructors and set a standard for the highest degree of safety. In recognition of the sport’s expansion, the IBA now supports flyers and operators world-wide with not only structured instructor training, but also defines rules, sanctions organized competitions and outlines best-practice flyer progressions. With 11,000 current members the IBA supports the entire Indoor Skydiving community with an engaged membership-based program that encourages safe participation at every level, from return flyer to world champion. Our vision is to Support Passion, Safety & Progress. Learn more at www.tunnelflight.com.