Hang gliding, paragliding, skydiving, and hot air ballooning: all the ways to experience the thrill and excitement of flight.
Hang Gliding and Paragliding
Among air sports, the most popular in Piedmont are those that take advantage of the mountainous terrain near the plains, which allow for takeoffs from varying altitudes and landings on flat areas in the valleys. These sports offer not only the thrill of flight but also breathtaking and often spectacular views. This is known as free flight, particularly in paragliding, which is perhaps the most widespread method today, as well as hang gliding, a practice with a longer history.
Hang gliding is a specialty of non-motorized free flight, named after the delta shape of the glider. It is typically practiced on mountainous and hilly terrain, but also, though less commonly, on large plains using tow-launch techniques. The unique shape of the glider's profile generates aerodynamic forces that can support a weight and glide (hence the term "hang glider," or "glider" in English, from the verb "to glide").
Paragliding is the simplest way to fly: a light run on a sloped field is enough to lift off the ground. The sensation is exhilarating! You feel wrapped and protected by the harness and solidly supported by the wing, yet you are flying, immersed in the air, surrounded only by the rustle of the wind, and free. Paragliding lacks a metal structure, making it particularly gentle and maneuverable. It is extremely versatile: it can be used wherever there is a slope (in the mountains, on hills, by the sea...) and is also the most economical way to fly. The equipment consists of a wing, a harness, a reserve parachute, and a helmet.
The areas historically known for these activities in Piedmont, due to their geographical location and geomorphological features, include:
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The Alpine valleys of the Cuneo province: Varaita, Maira, Grana, Gesso, Vermenagna, and the Monregalesi valleys.
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The Verbano Cusio Ossola area, where you can range from the pre-Alpine zone, a natural balcony overlooking the great lakes, to the majestic Alpine peaks: from Mottarone with views of seven lakes, to the Vigezzo Valley with its consistently favorable and generous aerological conditions, to Macugnaga with the stunning Monte Rosa, extending into the nearby Valais with its imposing glaciers.
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Valsesia, where you can fly close to an untouched, precious, and delicate heritage, characterized by alternating landscapes that free flight allows you to appreciate in their entirety and splendor.
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In the province of Turin, the Po, Pellice, Chisone, and Germanasca valleys, the Lanzo valleys, as well as areas of the Pinerolese, Canavese, and Monte San Giorgio, above Piossasco.
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The Biellese Alps, offering a unique setting with main takeoffs from Bielmonte, Muanda (M. Mucrone), and Mombarone.
In the region, various organizations can provide useful information for accessing different flight sites, including shuttle services to higher altitudes.
Additionally, there are organizations offering free flight courses or thrilling tandem paragliding experiences, both with qualified instructors.
Skydiving and Gliding
In the plains, the most popular air sport is skydiving, followed by the so-called gliding (sailplane flying).
Given the relative proximity of the mountains, some local organizations offer the opportunity to fly not only in the plains but also in the mountains.
In these cases, you can approach flying through specific courses or experience the thrill of flight accompanied by expert instructors.
Many skydiving schools professionally and safely guide anyone who wants to experience skydiving, even if just once in their life, to give them the chance to feel the intense emotion of a jump and sport skydiving in general.
For gliding, it is sometimes possible to take a demonstration flight, where the pilot explains the phases of the flight, allowing you to enjoy a stunning panorama and hear the air gliding over the long wings of the glider.
The areas where these practices are most common include Alessandrino, Vercellese, and Torinese.
Hot Air Ballooning
Flying in a hot air balloon is an enchanting experience... touching the sky with a finger, while still sensing its vastness, being gently cradled by the wind, seeing the world from above, reaching the boundary between sky and earth in the silence of the wicker basket. In Piedmont, this experience is particularly available in the Monregalese area, on the hills of Langhe and Roero, and in other parts of the Cuneo region.