. world ski news : Speed flyers become the First Gliders to Conquer Mt. Etna - 18 May 2012 - 09:30
SKI GLIDERS. A team of Italian speed flyers have successfully completed their attempt to descend Europe's biggest and most active volcano. Speed flying is a combination of paragliding and skiing, they can reach speeds of 60 mph.
Felice Boccanegra and Jodi Barratin and their team has become the first ones to glide down Sicily's Mount Etna on a paraglide and a pair of skis. The two adventurers were joined by a team of guides and expert mountaineers in spring this year on their way to the top of the volcanic mountain.
The conditions on Mount Etna, which peaks at 3,329 meters above sea level and has already erupted around four times since January this year, have previously made the task very difficult.
Jody Barratin said the team was lucky to make it up to the top: "Being here today is just an amazing sensation. We had a really beautiful way up and now we are here in this beautiful environment. And we've been pretty lucky today because you can see this sun twice a year maybe, and we're here now. You can smell the smoke the smell of the volcano. You can feel it; you can listen to the noise. And you can see all the sea around us, surrounding us and it's just a beautiful environment and beautiful feeling. And I'm really looking forward to do some nice and busy speed ride. The conditions are perfect, the wind is good. The sky is clear, so I am looking forward to start".
After reaching the summit the team then decided to set off into a high-speed descent back down to the valley. Watch the video >
hqtgroups
17.05.2012