Croatia – Paragliding McConkey’s & Base Jumps
by AIRSTRIPPED.COM Production Blog on Jun.15, 2010, under MAKING OF - Articles
11th – 13th June 2010
Croatia’s highest bridge crosses a wide valley on the Buje-Vodnjan highway between
Medaki and Kanfanar. Known as the Limska Draga, the viaduct consists of a large
steel box girder spanning several tall reinforced concrete piers, one which rises
394 feet (120 mtrs) in height. It was built from 1986-1991 and is 552 mtrs long.
After 6,5 hrs in the car we arrived and prepared our camera equipment as well
as our camp near the bridge.
The Sun burned down with 97°F (36°C) . Three hot outdoor days were waiting for us.
Checking the wind on the bridge for the first time, showed that Wolf’s McConkeys
could become a little complicated, or even need to be canceled.
Sirocco, the Mediterranean wind that comes from the Sahara, was blowing with
8-10 knots.
That’s no popblem for an experienced Base Jumper like Martin, but a McConkey/Rollover
Jump with a Paraglider requires very very calm conditions.
We also checked the wind in the following night around 3 am, and met a security guy who thought
we were oil thiefs ;) as there is a construction site beside the bridge at the moment, he was
protecting. He told us, that the wind will never stop, but slows down at dusk and dawn.
Saturday morning started with another wind-check, fresh cooked coffee for me :) and an open
air breakfast for the rest of the team around 5:30 am. Martin made his first jump at 6:30 am.
Beside checking the wind, there are several other important things a paragliding pilot
has to do when he is making a McConkey.
Walking along a high way bridge with a big colorful Paragliding Canopy in your hand
needs to be fast, as the croatian police also knows what extremesports people love to do there ;)
After reaching the exit point Wolf had to sort his lines and bring the hanging down
canopy in the best shape for the jump.
Finally Wolf had good wind conditions and showed us 2 great Rollovers
with his Ozone Vulcan.
Well, a camera team needs to be creative in his very own way, and so
we made a special wood construction for the bridge cams, to catch better angles.
This thing was as heavy as it could be, carried by Wolf and Jürgen over the bridge…
… into the sunset.
We also made interview scenes and some frames from the surrounding area,
additional footage which is needed too for a well film cut…
On Sunday we all went back home after successful 3 days of production work.
Another 7 hrs road trip, burned from the sun, but with good footage in our bags :)
I’d like to thank our team for the great time and of course our film partners for
providing such reliable and perfect equipment!
Cheers,
Sista
