Bodyflying, the 21st century sport
A couple of years ago still considered a niche sport, indoor skydiving is getting ever more popular among lovers of the adrenaline rush. In Europe alone, there are more than thirty wind tunnels open to the public. There everyone can fly and float in safe conditions in an airflow of 160 km/h. One of the reasons of its rising popularity is that it makes the fantastic feeling of flying accessible to a wider audience, since there are places where it costs five times less than parachuting.
In the last five years, wind tunnels sprung up all over the world. While ten years ago, there were hardly any wind tunnels, today there are 164 (95 of which are open to the public) serving lovers of flying, with 33 of them open to the public in Europe. Since it costs five times less than parachuting, it is no wonder that this unique sport attracts more and more fans. What’s more, the learning process is much more effective than in the case of parachuting. “Fly one hour, an hour and a half in a tunnel and you learn much more than by jumping out from a plane for one month with an instructor everyday, non-stop” – says Alberto Fuertes, the founder of the Spanish Madrid Fly wind tunnel.
Why bodyfling is a unique sport
Hand signals are used as a way of communication between trainer and trainee, who – in case of professionals – may fly in a wind of 260 km/h, while the speed for beginners is around 160 km/h. The extreme speed provides the real adrenaline rush for those who try this sport. So the sport is unique also because as compared to other extreme sports it is very safe. Every one can experience the special feeling of flying in an isolated space, in controlled conditions.
The number of wind tunnel sportsmen (and – women) are growing worldwide as well. They have a not-so-secret ambition to introduce indoor skydiving – so far considered a niche sport – to a wider audience. “I am not only working on becoming the best wind tunnel athlete in the world in a few years, but our shared goal with my partners is to make indoor skydiving an official Olympic sport soon” – says Lukács Laki, the 15-year-old Hungarian contestant of Space Devils Sports Team, who ranked 6th at the Indoor Skydiving World Cup in the Czech Republic last year. The 6th best junior contestant in the world can be seen flying in this eye-catching short film we produced recently.
Indoor Skydiving World Cup 2016
This year’s indoor skydiving season starts with the World Cup In Warsaw this week, opening ceremony is happening today at 5:30 PM. On the World Cup the best wind tunnel athletes of the world compete in five categories including Lukács Laki from the above film.
This year’s indoor skydiving season starts with the World Cup In Warsaw this week, opening ceremony is happening today at 5:30 PM. On the World Cup the best wind tunnel athletes of the world compete in five categories including Lukács Laki from the above film.
Words by Nova Communications
Athletes: Lukacs L.Laki, Pal L.Laki, Leonid Volkov
Interviewees: Jonas Krasa, Alberto Fuertes, Leonid Volkov, Lukacs L.Laki, Pal L.Laki, Isaac Prada Y Noguiera
Producer: Laszlo L.Laki – SpaceDevils S.C.
Concept, co-directors: Laura Gal, Tamas Vajna, Tamas Gereczi
Camera: Daniel Stamusz
Production: Benjamin Janos (Palladio)
Editors: Daniel Stamusz and Benjamin Janos
Music by Iamyank
Special thanks to Madrid Fly.
