Icarus Cup.
White wings billowing in the wind, this competitor prepares to jump off a mountain and glide to the ground in the first event of the Icarus Cup.
A boat with fish in tow floats gently through the air.
A boat with fish in tow floats gently through the air, against the spectacular backdrop of the French Alps, in the first event of the Icarus Cup.
Colorful clown.
This colorful clown gathers up his pink paragliding material, during competition at the Icarus Cup.
The Eiffel Tower sails effortlessly through the sky .
The Eiffel Tower sails effortlessly through the sky thanks to a costumed participant in the first event of the Icarus Cup.
A sheriff in his jeep .
A sheriff in his jeep swings by a rocky cliff face during his descent in the first event of the Icarus Cup.
Superwoman participate in the Icarus Cup
Known for his flying abilities, it’s only right that Superman participate in the Icarus Cup.
A bicycle attached to a paraglider
A bicycle attached to a paraglider – Stranger sights than this can be seen during the Icarus Cup.
Clowning around during the Icarus Cup
Clowning around during the Icarus Cup: the world’s largest free flight event.
Unique creations at the Icarus Cup.
One of the many unique creations that take to the skies during the Icarus Cup.
8,000 paragliders take part in the Icarus Cup
Some 8,000 paragliders and hang-gliders take part in the Icarus Cup held every year in the French town of St Hilaire du Touvet. The nearby town of Lubin, located in the valley below is also involved in the event.
Submarine getting ready to take flight!
A submarine getting ready to take flight! The paragliders jump off a 2,000 metre peak to become airborne.
Fate of the crashed toilet costume.
The sad fate of the toilet costume: it was too heavy and crashed!
Icarus Cup in the French town of St Hilaire du Touvet
During the Icarus Cup held in the French town of St Hilaire du Touvet, thousands take to the skies in the biggest free flight event in the world.
French Air Force’s special team.
Apart from the masquerade flight, the Icarus Cup also features spectacular aerial acrobatics by the French Air Force’s special team.
The Eiffel Tower lifting-off!
The Eiffel Tower lifting-off! This costume made a great impression and people still talk about it today!
Anything becomes possible
Anything becomes possible with the orginality and playful spirit of the competitors in the Icarus Cup.
The Icarus Cup
Every year, for the past thirty years the September skies over St. Hilaire du Touvet in the French Alps are taken over by bizarre flocks of high-flyers in an aerial bonanza that makes the Icarus Cup the biggest free flight event in the world. Over the course of four days crowds are wowed by the dizzying escapades of some 8,000 adventurous para-gliders and hang-gliders risking everything for the chance to let the imagination take flight.