World’s Most Exciting Air Race Heads to South Africa
Later this month one of the world’s most exciting adventure race series is set to visit Gauteng and Limpopo and is hoping to attract local entrants…
Following hotly contested races in the US and the UK last year, this March sees the 2018 Icarus X race series land in South Africa for the first time, as paramorists take to the skies above Gauteng and Limpopo.
For those not in the know, paramotoring is effectively flying with a motor tied to your back and a paragliding wing above your head and is growing rapidly as a sport.
The X series was created on the back of the popularity of the Icarus Trophy, the world’s longest paramotor race, and features four shorter-format stand-alone race events across four continents (one in the US, one in the UK, one in Australia and now one in South Africa).
March’s race will see pilots follow a stunning 340km two-day course. Taking off on the 30th of March, participants will follow an ABC-A course, starting & finishing at Zulu Nyala Lodge, Gauteng, and will fly over some of the area’s best nature reserves and parks, giving pilots a unique view of their wildlife, and stopping at checkpoints at the Vaalkop and Buffelspoort dams en route. A properly epic & diverse triangle showcasing South Africa at its best.
The event itself is split into two divisions – one for the more experienced pilots, who are racing for glory, and an Adventure Division, for the less seasoned racer who wants to take things at a more ‘leisurely pace’.
Adding to the action, all competitors must carry their own food, clothes, a way to sleep (although if you land near a hotel there’s nothing in the rules against you sleeping in luxury) and basic parts to fix their paramotors should anything go wrong.
The organisers, The Adventurists, do however track your course, provide you with an SOS tracker, should you need emergency assistance, and send you specialised weather reports. There’s also a ‘support truck’ which follows the competitors just in case there is a major incident – it will however probably take a while to reach you if you land in the middle of nowhere, so best pack some sandwiches.
“The awesome thing about the Icarus Race is that a lot of this terrain I would not fly over by myself. The fact that I have a tracker and a team of people watching my every move; that fact by itself just influences your decision making and allows you to take some bigger risks”
Tucker Gott, 2017 Icarus Trophy Champion
Other than having a bloody good weekend of flying, the winner of the race class will get a free entry into the Icarus Trophy, the mother of all aerial adventures in 2018. That’s a whopping $2,200 worth of prize pot.
The race is set to have an international field of competitors present, but The Adventurists are hoping to attract a few more last minute local entrants…
“As it’s the race’s first visit to South Africa we’re keen to get as much local talent on the start line as possible to showcase paramotoring as a sport to the country.”
If you want to learn more about the Icarus X series or it’s big brother, The Icarus Trophy, head over to www.icarustrophy.com.
To get involved in the Icarus X simply visit www.icarustrophy.com to find all the details on everything you need to know to get yourself off the ground and experienced enough to take part.
All you really need to get going is a head for heights, a spirit for real adventure and a fairly massive set of cahoonas.
Novice, expert, or just want to watch some awe-inspiring footage of people flying; follow the link below to watch The Icarus Trophy and see what it is really all about – https://youtu.be/v5T1wB22D8c
