Speed flying is scary. Especially at the speeds these athletes reach (regularly in the 65 mph range). Just running off the side of a mountain is difficult enough. Then you add skis and the whole game changes. Here, Frenchman Valentin Delluc flies off the Bossons Glacier and the north face of the Auguille du Midi near Chamonix. As he’s flying of the Auguille du Midi, he sets off a gnarly sluff avalanche that he flies out of. So burly.
Athletes who speed fly use a “speed wing,” a smaller chute or kite than a paraglider would use and follow the contours of the Earth instead of getting lift and actually gaining altitude as one would with a larger wing.
“Flying above a glacier or an avalanche gives some very impressive visuals,” Delluc said. “And you feel so small in the middle of all these elements!” Definitely a sport for those with loads of experience. Below is a recent video The Inertia Mountain did with speed wing pilot Will Burks.
