The happy Icarus no longer flies; Pilots Guide Lijak | Paragliding in Slovenia; Between rock and river – the Stubai Valley
Toni Bender, a legend of hang-gliding and paragliding, has died at the age of 68 whilst on a mountain hike. As a pioneer, multiple competition winner and long-standing NOVA employee, he had a profound influence on the sport of flying. He became known worldwide through the documentary ‘Der glückliche Ikarus’ (The Happy Icarus). He will be remembered as a passionate free spirit, a true friend and a helpful person. An obituary recounting his eventful life has been published on the Nova website (in German only).
Jerry presents a professionally produced video – the sort you rarely see – explaining the Lijak flying area in Slovenia, in easy-to-understand English.
A video about the wide range of paragliding opportunities in the Stubai Valley is available in the 3sat media library. It features a brief introduction to Johanna Eller. She talks about her first experiences of paragliding at the age of eight and explains how the unique microclimate in the Stubai Valley is shaped by the surrounding three-thousand-metre peaks. She also explains why paragliding remains fascinating and varied even after many years. Another key focus is the training programme at the flying school she runs (from 18:10, in German).
