2020 wasn’t a good year for free flight events (among many other things), most of which had to be canceled in face of the health restrictions. 2021 seems to be offering a better perspective, though we continue having to comply with multiple sanitary measures for the organization of these events. The FIA El Yelmo, nevertheless, dares to get started with their 21st edition with a program focused on the pilots, this year leaving aside spectators who usually visit for the event Cortijos Nuevo, the festival’s official site, located at the feet of the Sierra de Segura.
The Air Films Festival has been, from the beginning, one of the main attractions of the FIA where the most inspiring productions featuring air and flying can be seen. This year, there are close to 20 films from different countries in the official contest covering various subjects, from XC epic voyages like the Canadian film “The endless Chain” by Benjamin Jordan, to the Belgian “Fli Spiti” by Benoit Delfosse, who follows the adventurers Horacio Llorens and Tomas Dorlodot while they traverse flying on their paragliders to reveal the beauty of the Spiti valley in the Indian Himalayas, to the fantasy of two kids skipping school to discover the magic of free flight in Colombia, in the short film “Touching the sky” by Camilo Gil. In this occasion, the International Air Films Festival will be awarding 3,000 Euros in prizes and the organization is working on the implementation of the screening of the films with the highest security measures during the FIA.
The present edition will also count with the traditional sport activities proposed by the FIA, like the XIII Trail Running and Hike & Fly FIA El Yelmo, a mountain flying and trail race in the beautiful landscapes of the Sierra de Segura that will take place June 13th. The modalities of the race include a long 26 km trail with a 1,400 positive height difference, and a short 15 km version with a 600 meter positive height difference. And the modality Hike&Fly or Paramountain, where the runners/pilots have to climb carrying their flight equipment up to the El Yelmo take off, to then fly down to the official landing in the FIA premises. The later modality is about 14 km long with a height difference of 1400 meters. The popular Trekking of the Sierra de Segura route will also be taking place Sat. June 12th.
VI OPEN El Yelmo- Spanish Paragliding League
Though no distance competition will be taking place this year, there will be a valid tournament of the RFAE, the Paragliding Spanish Open, with over 170 pre-registered competitors to date. The Open will be held from June 10th to June 13th from the El Yelmo take-off, as well as from the new Levante location if necessary. In the previous years, the good XC potential of the area was confirmed with several comps organized for the national League, so good races are expected from Sierra de Segura.
In this edition of the FIA, special attention will be paid to the participating pilots during the paragliding and paramotoring meetings, and all the adequate health measures will be implemented to enjoy flights with the maximum security. “We rely on the general responsibility of the pilots to enjoy great days without distress. The use of face masks and sanitizing gel will be a must, in particular when it comes to sharing closed spaces like in rescue transportations, in tune with the strict norms. We also need to minimize crowds and keep the required social distancing both during rescues and transportation, as well as at the take-off and landing sites”, explains the organization. The pilots who wish to fly during the FIA must be registered in the flight Concentration. The 10 Euro registration fee includes transportation to the take-off and rescues throughout the event, along with a gift bag with the FIA T-shirt, area info and presents from the sponsors.
As usual, there will be air shows with prestigious pilots – some of which are already part of the FIA ¨family¨- like Horacio Llorens and Raul Rodriguez, the paramotoring pilots Ramon Morillas and Nico Aubert, and the BASE jumpers Dani Roman and Jesús Encina, among other.
*Ojovolador will be there with a great team broadcasting live different parts of the festival and sharing with you the best moments of one of our favorite Spanish events.
All the FIA info is available here www.fiaelyelmo.com
