Skiing, Flying, Speed. If you think of one of these words the word „adrenaline“ will be likely to come into your mind as well. However, lately, it has become the combination of these three to create the real kick and is called speedriding. It enables skiing as well as paragliding athletes to take off, however does not concentrate only on skiers and parachutists, but on the following - to get closer to the sensation of flying with the help of a glider, skies and a lot of experience.
„It's fun, it's there - so let's do it!“ This simple statement represents the dynamic combination of flying and extreme freeriding - challenging and new - speedriding. It was put into practice by the first pioneer - Francois Bon - former ski instructor and now speedrider par excellence. In France, the mecca of extreme sports, the first speedriding attempts have created a real boom.Speedriding is done off piste, with freeride equipment and a special speedriding glider, which does look very similar to a paraglider, but reacts in a faster and more agile way because of its relatively small surface of about 10-14 m². Gliding, carving and floating - smoothly over deep powder slopes or with breathtaking speed over the steepest couloirs.
According to their skills and the use of the steering system the pilots or riders are speeding in a never-ending touch and go; flying just over the snow-covered surface and enjoying the never-ending excitement of flying and speed as well as smooth surfing on the snow.
A dynamic curve enables gliding phases of some hundred metres. Thanks to the buoyancy of the glider the pros are able to jump over cliffs high as a tower. By using the brake system you can reduce speed, increase buoyancy and floating angles and thus use obstacles and ground irregularities to take off again and glide - as long as strength and condition allow it.
Red Bull Speedride