Parapente Launched in Alto Garda: Lombard Championship in Toscolano
Event and Competition Mode
One hundred and twenty colorful sails in the skies of the Parco dell’Alto Garda Bresciano. They will take flight on Sunday, May 14th, in Toscolano Maderno, during the third round of the Lombard parapente championship, the only one held in our province. The participants number 120, representing all categories, from simple enthusiasts to the most experienced pilots—those competing in the world championship.
The competitions are conducted with a very simple procedure: contestants must fly around ground-based “buoys” that are recognizable from above (summit crosses, structures, or signals placed intentionally); the routes range from 20 to 50 km. The winner is the one who completes the course in the shortest time.
Takeoff and Race Course
The most spectacular phase of the race is the takeoff, when all participants are in flight awaiting the starting signal. “The colorful swirl of sails that, at the moment of the start, launch en masse toward the finish line –” explains Angelo Contini, head of the sporting association Volere Volare – “is as thrilling as a Formula 1 start, with the difference that there is no noise or pollution, because free flight unfolds in harmony with the environment, strictly respecting its rules.”
The takeoff for the Brescia leg of the championship will occur around 12:30 PM at Piles, beneath the summit of Pizzoccolo. The inland area of Toscolano Maderno can be reached by car via the route to S. Urbano and then on foot for about 30 minutes along the dirt trail leading to the top of Pizzoccolo.
Landing and Event Continuity
The race’s conclusion sees pilots arriving at the landing zone of the Volere Volare association (Lido degli Ulivi beach in Toscolano), between 2:30 PM and 4 PM. Enthusiasts of paragliding have found in the Alto Garda Brescia area, thanks to particularly favorable weather conditions and breathtaking scenery, an ideal environment for practicing this extreme sport.
It is no coincidence that Volere Volare has established flying fields in Toscolano Maderno, Gardone Riviera, and Roè Volciano. The sporting association organizes introductory courses to obtain a recreational or sporting flight permit with motorless aircraft, and for those already licensed, it offers advanced-level personalized courses and flight incident simulation courses.
Flight Experiences and Scenic Views
The thrill is unforgettable: average flight altitudes around 2000 meters provide unparalleled views, in the silence of the sky where comfortably seated, one can stroll among the clouds, overlooking the lake and the mountains of the Parco.