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FREAK Entertainment opens fifth venue, in prime Surfers Paradise location

Photo of FREAK Surfers Paradise venue. Silver sign that says FREAK. TV Screens showing people playing virtual reality.

We are proud to announce the opening of FREAK Entertainment’s fifth venue, FREAK Surfers Paradise!


Located in the renowned Paradise Centre on Cavill Avenue, attracting an impressive 13.1 million tourists annually, FREAK Surfers Paradise spans an impressive 195m² and features two flagship free roam Arena’s, VR Escape Rooms, FREAK Drive racing simulators, and a VR Arcade. FREAK also joins other popular tenants like Timezone, Zone Bowling, El Camino Mexican Cantina, and Maniax Axe Throwing. The new venue also presents a number of cross-promotional opportunities with our indoor skydiving venue, iFLY Gold Coast, located just a short walk away.


We are also excited to announce the launch of game-changing, innovative technology at FREAK Surfers Paradise, with the venue becoming the first fully-wireless and untethered FREAK location! This technology advancement removes the need for backpack computers, offering an enhanced customer experience, wider audience accessibility, and improved customer throughput.


Application of this wireless and untethered technology cements FREAK’s commitment to delivering world-class experiences, and is made possible through strategic partnerships with HP and HTC Vive cultivated over the last 3 years.


We are thrilled about this fantastic milestone and look forward to providing many new customers to the world-leading entertainment that FREAK offers.


Find out more about FREAK Entertainment here: https://freakvr.com.au/

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2019 Australian Open Indoor Skydiving Championships – 23rd & 24th August!

2019 Australian Open Indoor Skydiving Championships

ISAG, Australia’s largest indoor skydiving group, has announced the dates for the 2019 Australian Open Indoor Skydiving Championships, this year celebrating its 5th anniversary; with registrations open worldwide.

This years Championship will be held across two huge days, Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th August; with over 300 of the worlds best in the sport expected to compete.

“We have been holding these Championships in Sydney for the last 5 years and the popularity within the skydiving community globally is growing”, comments National Marketing Manager for ISAG Cheryl Dawson, “each year we are extending the competition length, and adding new elements to the event so that we can accommodate the amount of registrations we receive!”

The first Championships was held in 2015 with around 147 registered competitors, and over the last 5 years has seen almost 600 of the world’s best battle it out for the coveted titles.

“We started out in 2015 with 147 registered competitors; but popularity for this event grew fast not only here in Australia but worldwide.  We have people from across the world travel to compete against our Australian flyers! We have some amazing local talent that will be hard to beat!”

One such talent is 13 year old Amy Watson who earlier this year became the youngest ever indoor skydiving champion taking gold for Australia in the Junior Freestyle competition just last month at the 3rd FAI Indoor Skydiving World Championships in France.

“We have been supporting Amy’s career in professional indoor skydiving since she first stepped into the tunnel back in 2013,” states Cheryl, “we are incredibly proud of Amy, and all our talented sponsored athletes, and can’t wait to see them all compete at the Australian Open”.

The Championships will be held at Amy’s home ground training facility, iFLY Indoor Skydiving Penrith, recognised not only as Australia’s largest indoor skydiving facility, but also the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere.

“Australia is rapidly becoming a leader in producing some of the world’s greatest in the sport of indoor skydiving”, comments iFLY Indoor Skydiving National Marketing Manager Cheryl Dawson, “It is one of the most accessible and all-inclusive sports and we are incredibly proud of the talent that our facilities across Australia have been producing.”

“Indoor skydiving is a sport that can be enjoyed by anybody, any age, all inclusive”, continues Cheryl, “it doesn’t matter if you are in a wheelchair, have hearing loss, low vision, are 3 years old or 103. When you are indoor skydiving everyone is the same. We invite people of all abilities to enter and be part of our championships and have your chance to compete for Australia!’

All the Australian competitors who win a medal in the 2019 championships will qualify to participate in the 4th FAI Indoor Skydiving World Cup in Charleroi (Belgium) in April 2020.

“Without doubt this is the biggest indoor skydiving event to ever happen in Australia”, continues Cheryl, “we will have some of the world’s greatest indoor skydivers competing. We want everyone to be part of it!

The public will be invited to attend free of charge, and iFLY Indoor Skydive will also broadcast a live Facebook Feed expected to be viewed by almost 1 million viewers.

The 2019 Australian Open Indoor Skydiving Championships will be held on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th August.  For more information on the event and to register as a contender please head to https://downunder.iflyworld.com/australianchampionships

WATCH – the highlights from the 2018 Australian Open here:

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Northern Beaches Mums iFLY Experience

Northern Beaches Mums review iFLY Downunder

Michaela, a Northern Beaches Mum, got the opportunity to try out iFLY Downunder with her two children Thomas (11) and Melissa (7) and here is her raving review…

I’ve always wanted to say I had done a sky dive but being scared of heights you would never get me sitting in that small plane and jumping out! No way, hose!

Firstly, the centre is out at Penrith so a nice family drive, WARNING: DO NOT BE PUT OFF THAT YOU HAVE TO DRIVE… it is worth the travel? HELL YES!!!!!  This is a fantastic experience for the whole family, so if you are looking for something different to do and something that you’ll always remember, then this is it!

I was visiting the centre with my husband, my best friend from abroad and my two kids who are 11 and 7. The kids were super excited but i was feeling pretty nervous and my husband was still in shock that I’d booked this as I don’t normally go in for anything energetic and especially adrenaline pumping.

So… on arrival we started to get a little excited. It is a big centre with lots of seating where everyone can view the people that are currently in the wind tunnel area doing their sky dives. There’s also a café there with food and drink BONUS… I got cake and coffee so I was happy!

The staff are super helpful and friendly, and they took us in a room for our pre-flight training and safety talk and to get us kitted out in our flight gear, goggles and helmets. Now I was dreading putting the suit on as I thought I’d look ridiculous and fat but another bonus is that the suit was super slimming, I actually looked slimmer BONUS!!! and I was yet again feeling more and more pumped about booking this experience and ready to show the kids that this mummy still had some fun in her. Yes the nagging, tired, worn out, drained mummy was gone and here was super mama!! ready to go go go!! I could see the kids looking at me like is this really our mum… did they put something in coffee at the café!!! who hoo lets goooo!!!

It’s time for the skydive and you’re about to go in… oh wait a minute quick toilet trip for us all as we don’t want any accidents in there! Once you’re all ready you all have to put your headphones on to cancel the noise as it is REALLY NOISEY in there! So once you go in there’s lots of sign language going on (no bickering from the kids as you can’t hear a word they’re saying… BONUS).

CLICK HERE to read the full review and visit the Northern Beaches Mums website.

From the team at iFLY Downunder, thank you to Michaela and Northern Beaches Mums for visiting and writing this fantastic review of your experience!

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Virtual Reality (VR) has arrived!

iFLY Indoor Skydiving Downunder, Australia’s largest facility for indoor skydiving, have introduced Virtual Reality as part of their experience offers, a revolutionary first for the Australian market.

“Virtual Reality is something we have been working towards introducing into our facilities for a long time”, comments ISAG National Marketing Manager Cheryl Dawson, “We have been waiting for the technology to become advanced enough that the experience replicates the skydiving experience perfectly, we are very excited with our new product”.

Virtual reality will allow users a real-world skydiving experience, without the need to jump from a plane or even wear a parachute.

“Our iFLY VR experience has skyrocketed our indoor skydiving offering to a whole new level. During our testing phase we had some of the country’s best skydivers using the product, with many commenting on its realism and how they felt like they were really flying outdoors!”

The iFLY VR Experience allows the user to watch POV skydiving footage on a specially designed VR helmet that takes the indoor skydiving experience outdoors.

“While you are in the safety of our wind tunnel, you will be watching mountains and even other skydivers fly by from 14,000 feet! It’s really quite incredible.”

The iFLY VR Experience combines the latest in VR technology with the state-of-the-art wind tunnel creating the most realistic skydiving experience ever offered in Australia.

iFLY VR package is now available at iFLY Downunder (Sydney West) to fly from 19th November 2018.

The technology will also land at iFLY Gold Coast and iFLY Perth by the end of the month, making it the hottest new product on the market this Christmas.

For more information, visit the iFLY website here or follow the iFLY Indoor Skydiving Facebook page here.

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An Adrenaline Filled Day Is The Best Reward

Mainbrace Constructions Pty Ltd Treat Staff to Adrenaline Day

_965793The management at Mainbrace Constructions needed the perfect reward for their team after winning several awards for a recent project.

Indoor Skydiving at iFLY Downunder (Sydney West) turned out to be the answer for an activity that was close to the Panther’s entertainment complex, and high in adrenaline fueled fun!

This group of 20 construction workers were buzzing as went they through pre-fight training and preparation in our gear-up room with Sam, our dedicated instructor.

It was incredible to see these BIG burly-blokes, soar like light feathers once they were in the wind.

Toby Young, the day’s organiser, said that they were “looking for a fun activity for a job function…” when they decided to go with indoor skydiving.

training

“[Funny] how little body changes make big differences”. Toby went on to say, stating he couldn’t wait for the team and himself to come back and master some new tricks.

The team ended the day with drinks next door at the Penrith Panthers Squires Bar, plus a well-earned feast at Osso Steak & Ribs Restaurant inside Penrith Panthers.

Want to learn more about how to reward your team with an experience that will have them raving for weeks to come? Check out all our event packages here – https://downunder.iflyworld.com/events

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Happy 3rd Birthday iFLY Downunder

photoCelebrating 3 years worth of accomplishments!

iFLY Downunder (Syndey West) celebrated its 3rd Birthday on Wednesday,  April 26th, with a big list of achievements, not the least of which is being Australia’s FIRST indoor skydiving centre!

Since taking off, iFLY Downunder has:

  • Flown hundreds of flyers of different abilities; including minor disabilities right to amputees and quadriplegics
  • Used over 200k earplugs
  • Holds 1 x Guinness World Record Title for Most head spins in a wind tunnel in one minute; with iFLY Chief Instructor Kurmet Jaadla now holding the records of 54 in one minute
  • Won the Concierge Industry Award: New Service Provider of the Year 2014
  • Been the location for a Japanese Electronic Manufacturer commercial
  • Trained more than 50 Junior iFLYER superheroes
  • Given over 100,000 unique visitors the dream of flight
  • Team iFLY Downunder placed 9th in the world in the 2 WAY Dynamic during the World Cup, Poland
  • Hosted the 1st, 2nd, and this August will be hosting the 3rd, Australian Indoor Skydiving Championships

We look forward to sharing the dream of flying with even more in the coming years!

Here’s to another AMAZING year at iFLY Downunder!

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Tourism Australia Famil Visits iFLY Gold Coast

Attraction passes with flying colours!

FullSizeRender2Whether ‘flying’ an event off to a thrilling start, or leaving a group buzzing after a grand finale; indoor ‘skydiving’ with iFLY Gold Coast will deliver the required effect.

Even the non-participating spectators will be buzzing, as a rule, not just the actual ‘flyers’ as they defy gravity and probably their beating hearts as they leap into the big vertical wind tunnel and soar aloft. All ‘flyers’ are geared up in special flying suits and goggles and take turns in the big wind tunnel as instructors instruct, encourage and ensure their safety. It’s all about the experience of skydiving without the need to actually leap out of a plane; just a ‘leap of faith’ into the enclosed but see-through vertical tunnel.

IMG_0730Williment Travel Group’s Anna Guy, who experienced iFLY on a recent Tourism Australia famil, says of all the activities on the action-packed tour the indoor skydiving took the honours.

“We were terrified and ecstatic all at the same time and I will never forget the buzz that it left. This is a must for any event.”

The iFLY team are well versed in managing groups, specialising in team building and corporate programmes. Photos and videos, along with a private room for an ‘after-flying’ function, can all be part of the package.

See all the benefits of hosting your event at iFLY on our corporate events page.

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SAVE THE DATE! 2017 Aussie Indoor Champs!

180830_ifly_2016_offline_2.mp4.00_00_46_20.Still019Indoor Skydiving Group Australia (ISAG) have now released the highly anticipated dates for the 3rd annual Australian Indoor Skydiving Championships.

Hosted at the ISAG’s flagship facility, iFLY Downunder (Sydney West), the championships will be held over two days on the 18th and 19th August.

‘Our 2016 Championships were huge!’ comments ISA Group’s Chief Marketing Officer, Brett Sheridan. ‘We had more teams, more individuals and more age groups enter than ever before, it is evident that indoor skydiving is fast becoming an incredibly popular sport for Australians’. The 2016 event had 163 individual competitors registered, making up 73 teams for 10 categories.  This year we anticipate an even bigger turnout with an increased number of categories and the competition spread over 2 days.

The Australian Indoor Skydiving Championships are free for the public to attend.

‘Our Championship is open to the public to come along and check out’ continues Sheridan ‘but I recommend people get in early, last year we were a packed house!’

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iFLY Indoor Skydiving has been expanding rapidly across the country with locations now open in Penrith, Perth and the Gold Coast with more venues around the country set to open soon.

‘We have been overwhelmed with how indoor skydiving has been accepted by Australians,’ comments Brett.

Indoor Skydiving was originally used for skydivers and the military to practice stunts and skills in any weather and in a safe environment, however, over the years, it has transitioned into being a competitive sport internationally.

‘It’s such a unique sport and I think that’s what captivates people. You can improve to the point where it feels like you literally defy gravity and the more people become engaged in it, the more addicted they get!’ continues Sheridan.

180830_ifly_2016_offline_2.mp4.00_04_59_16.Still018Indoor skydiving has fast become the most popular choice amongst kids and parents looking for an alternative to the typical sport or hobby, and ISA Group is impressed at how many kids have taken it up as a competitive outlet. The 2016 championships saw 11 kids entered into the Junior Freestyle event, with 2 of the competitors later that year competing internationally in Poland and Seattle.

‘We expect Indoor Skydiving to continue thriving because of its cross-generational appeal,’ says Sheridan. ‘We have teams and flyers that range from ages 3 years to 60 years, from beginners to advanced. Indoor Skydiving is a sport that is incredibly fun to watch with the flyers fast choreographed movements, we are more than sure it will stay very popular.’

The Australian Indoor Skydiving Championships will be held at iFLY Downunder located at 123 Mulgoa Road, Penrith.  Further information and registrations will be available at www.ifly.com.au/australianchampionships

Check out the video of last years Championships including all the excitement and amazing indoor skydiving performances!

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The Frequent iFLYER Programme

New benefits for those who love to fly!

2017 saw the release of a brand new customer loyalty and rewards programme being rolled out across all Australian ISA Group owned wind tunnels, including iFLY Downunder, iFLY Perth and iFLY Gold Coast.

The programme embodies the spirit of what it is to be a true Frequent iFLYER.

Kieren James, architect of the scheme and National FIF Programme Coordinator says;

“We looked at a variety of ways to design a new loyalty scheme, but ultimately we wanted to recognise those who fly with us regularly and keep the community and atmosphere going above all else.  These are our true Frequent iFLYERS”

The new programme is designed to provide real rewards that people value;

“it’s simple really – the more you fly, the more benefits you receive, and the core benefit is what everyone told us they wanted… free tunnel time”, says Kieren; “anyone can earn up to 90mins free flight time per year”

The programme works very much like an airline programme.  Every time you fly (qualifying block time), your Frequent iFLYER time accumulates and you progress through status tiers from Bronze to Silver, Gold and Platinum, with incremental benefits at each tier.  Enrollment is automatic and the first status level of Bronze is awarded at just 60 minutes of block time flown.

ISA Group are proud to pioneer this type of programme in the wind tunnel industry.
“We didn’t see anyone else doing anything like this” says Kieren.
“Some other tunnels offered discounts or club memberships, but none truly rewarded their customers on an ongoing basis the way this programme does.”

Since launching the new programme at the start of the year, there were over 850 FIF members within 8 weeks, and at this point over 1000! Many have already reached the top status tier of Platinum!

When asked about what’s in store for the future, Kieren responded “Well, we’re just getting started actually.  I can’t let all the secrets out but I can say that the programme gets better and better.  The people who achieve and retain the higher status levels are soon going to find out all about that”.

For full details of the programme, visit the Frequent iFLYER page

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ISA Group’s Malaysian Tunnel Announced

Indoor Skydive Australia Group Limited has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of it’s first indoor skydiving facility in Malaysia. The facility is at the 1 Utama Shopping Centre, one of the largest shopping centres in the world.

The cost of the project, including internal costs, to ISA Group is estimated to be between $1.5 to $2 million. ISA Group expects to fund this from operating cashflows, supplemented by existing cash reserves and debt if appropriate.

The indoor skydiving facility is being developed as part of the extension of the 1 Utama Shopping Centre which includes access to the Bandar Utama MRT station, linking 1 Utama to the Greater Kuala Lumpur region. Construction of the extension has commenced and is scheduled for opening in December 2017. With over 30 million visitors per year, the 1 Utama shopping centre is an “all in one” complex combining retail, leisure, sporting and entertainment facilities. It is interconnect with several high-rise office towers and a 5-star luxury hotel.

The 1 Utama indoor skydiving facility will be ISA Group’s first facility outside of Australia and is the result of several years of market research and due diligence to understand the local business environment. By working with 1 Utama as a partner, ISA Group is able to mitigate risks, reduce the capital commitment required by ISA Group and leverage off 1 Utama’s local success and experience.