Pro BASE jumper and wingsuit pilot Vincent Cotte of Soul Flyers managed to pull off a seriously impressive flyby over hikers at a ski resort in Southeastern France. He passes within just a few feet of the people, capturing the wil sound created by a man and his wingsuit.
The flyby appears to have been captured on the slopes of Station de ski de Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvent, a volunteer run ski area on the Plateau des Petites Roches. The Dent de Crolles, a dramatic peak, stands above the ski area and is likely what Vincent leapt off.
To be clear, the hikers Vincent flew over were not just random strangers. They were fellow wingsuit pilots or adrenaline junkies. Whether or not they’ve experienced flying in a suit before, they were clearly quite stunned by the flyby.
This clip is an example of proximity flying, a frequently controversial discipline in wingsuit flying. Pilots fly parallel to terrain like cliffs, rocks, and the ground, moving at speeds well in excess of 100 miles per hour just a few feet from collision. It is incredibly risky and can frequently lead to deadly crashes.
