Exactly two years ago we ran one of our most unique adventures, SkyWeek Dolomites. The idea came from our long time client Fabio, a passionate paratrike pilot who lives in a stunning corner of the Italian Dolomites. He had invited us to fly there on several occasions and eventually we said yes. After organising a group of intrepid pilots, we loaded the van with equipment in the UK and set off to discover a completely new winter flying playground.
Ricardo made the long drive with Oscar, our cameraman, and Pete, one of our SkyWeek guides. Alex drove across from Chamonix in torrential rain. Expectations were therefore muted when we collected the pilots from the airport, but on the first morning we woke to clear skies, fresh snow high above the valley, and perfect flying conditions.
Take off was from a small purpose built grass runway at around 1,000 metres above sea level. With very little wind and thin mountain air it was a challenging environment, but also incredibly rewarding. After a few days exploring the local valleys we headed down to the coast, where the sea breeze and lower altitude allowed pilots to relax and enjoy plenty of airtime. With winter conditions keeping thermals weak, we were able to stay airborne for long, smooth flights throughout the day.
The highlight of the week came back in the mountains with a breathtaking flight around the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Cruising at 3,000 metres with barely a breath of wind, we flew between the towers in what can only be described as one of the most beautiful flights I have ever experienced.
We even squeezed in a day skiing in Cortina, one of the iconic venues now preparing to host events during the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina. Seeing these mountains again in the global spotlight brings back incredible memories of that trip.
Many people have asked if we will run SkyWeek Dolomites again. We would love to return one day to fly alongside Fabio who welcomed us so warmly. So if you are looking for something different next winter, get in touch.
You can see just how incredible it was in the film Oscar made: https://youtu.be/nJW9IGQFarA
