Seven Hills Skydivers in Marshall, Wisconsin, once again hosted its annual ice jumps onto frozen Lake Mendota at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. Sixteen jumpers participated this year, more than double the number of jumpers in 2018! Jump conditions were good (albeit brisk), with temperatures peaking at 16 degrees Fahrenheit in the afternoon.

Jumpers completed a variety of skydives, including formation, freefly and wingsuit jumps. With no ground winds and no snow cover for landings, jumpers slid on the frozen lake over great distances. Stand-up landings were an accomplishment! Jumpers from a variety of Wisconsin drop zones joined Seven Hills Skydivers for the event, including Skydive Midwest in Sturtevant, Skydive Milwaukee in East Troy, Skydive Wissota in Chippewa Falls and Wisconsin Skydiving Center in Jefferson.

A group effort made the event possible. Wonderful volunteers shuttled the jumpers from the lakefront Edgewater Hotel to the Wisconsin Aviation airport, which both offered packing space to the jumpers. Volunteers also stayed busy keeping the landing area clear. Skydive Milwaukee rented its Cessna 182 to Seven Hills for the event.

Seven Hills plans on hosting the event again in 2020. Those interested in participating can contact Seven Hills Skydivers at jump@sevenhillsskydivers.org.

Alex Harding | C-45592
Madison, Wisconsin