The Latest Craze to Hit the Slopes!
Woopy jumping is a combination of gliding and skiing or snowboarding. Skiers or snowboarders wear an aerofoil or wing that enables them to glide, jump or fly much greater distances and at much higher speeds as they make their way down the ski slopes.
Laurent de Kalbermatten started experimenting with various aerofoil and inflatable wing systems in 1995 with the goal of finding the lightest and least cumbersome possible wing. He did hundreds of test flights on motorized versions to validate his concept, logging and collecting data, testing load parameters, high-speed flight and all along making tweaks, changes and upgrades to his system.
While testing and development was still ongoing De Kalbermatten and his test pilot Guy-Bertrand Jaquier started experimenting with the idea of using the inflated wing to prolong ski and snowboard jumps - and thus Woopy Jumping was born!
The principle of Woopy Jump is quite simple. The system utilizes a delta-wing made out of high-quality nylon fabric. The aerodynamics of the wing is such that it is self-stabilizing once inflated. The Woopy Jump wing, unlike in the case of Parapente, is entirely inflated before takeoff using two small battery driven 6W fans.
As soon as the skier or snowboarder starts moving down the mountain the wing will raise itself above the pilot. Pressure in the aerofoil will continue to build up as the system gains speed. The role of the fans in pressurizing the wing diminishes secondary shortly after launch.
The pilot is suspended in a harness connected to a frame of aluminum and glass fiber which spans the entire wing. Two handles, attached to the frame, serve as controls to maneuver the system. Just like a delta-plane the wing can roll and pitch in order to prolong the flight or woopy jump. At speeds as low as 20km/h the fun begins as the woopy jumper is able to make "floating" leaps down the slope. You need to reach speeds of 55 km/h or more to carry out prolonged jumps.
While still new, there's already a dedicated Woopy Park in Morgins where aspiring Woopy Jumpers can learn the skills required to safely take up this new exiting sport.Woopy Jumping Videos
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