Skydiving
Kyra Poh and Maja Kuczyńska aerial dance in the world's largest wind tunnel
At 10m wide and 32m high, the newest indoor wind tunnel in the United Arab Emirates is also the world's largest, and pro skydivers, Kyra and Maja, took part in the official opening of the facility.
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"The CLYMB tunnel is the most unique. Being in this sport for so long, the tunnels range from 8-17 feet so to see a 32 feet tunnel being built, it really changes the sport of indoor skydiving and opens many doors to explore and to push this sport further," says Kyra about the CLYMB tunnel built in Abu Dhabi, the largest facility of this type in the world.
"I almost cried. To be in this sport for 9 years and to be able to see the actual tunnel after hearing about it for so long, it really made me emotional and so thrilled at the same time. Looking at the big space and thinking about everything I could try - I just couldn’t wait to get in and experiment, flow, and fly," says Kyra, indoor skydiving 2016 World Champion and world record holder.
During the official opening at the end of November, Kyra Poh and another leading indoor skydiver - Maja Kuczyńska from Poland - performed a special show. "We always talked about doing a project together. It was very exciting to think and brainstorm on all the things we could try out." Kyra talks about her experience with Maja.
"It was a two-man system, which is something that we do not do too often every day, because we both take part in solo freestyle competitions. But this tunnel is so big that a solo performance would be a terrible waste of space (laughs). So the idea was born that we could do the arrangement together. I have known Kyra since I was a child, we are friends, everyone liked the idea," says Maja, a 2015 World Champion and World Cup medalist.
Check out the gallery of Kyra Poh and Maja Kuczyńska in the CLYMB tunnel:
2 min
Qeyri-adi bir rəqs şousu
“Skydiving” ulduzları Maya Kuçinska və Kira Po 2019-cu ilin Dekabr ayında açılan Əbu-Dabinin “CLYMB” aktiv istirahət mərkəzində mükəmməl bir rəqs təqdim etdilər.
Preparing a new arrangement of movements and evolution normally takes about two months, this time Kyra and Maja had to wind up much faster. "We only had 3 days and usually to make a 1 min routine. For competitions, it typically takes 1-2 months, so we really had a tight constrain of time, including filming for the teasers and the full routine. I’m super happy with how it turned out as with the time we had - we managed to make a 2 min routine and I felt proud to be able to perform it for the opening ceremony of this amazing tunnel. I can’t wait to see what we can create if we have just a bit more time. I think we will just keep creating and inventing so let’s hope we can do something with CLYMB again." Kyra continues.
The video showing the arrangement of Kyra and Maja was recorded by Lauri Aapro, a Finnish operator and skydiver, associated with the Warsaw Flyspot for several years. "Lauri is probably the only person in the world who can do professional video from inside the tunnel. He flies well and has a special camera to shoot shots in such conditions. Most of the clip was created from inside the tunnel," Maja explains.
"Working with Lauri is the best, he is the best person that knows how to capture movements and flying in the tunnel. He is also a very good friend, so working with him is super fun and we feel really comfortable to experiment - it’s just generally very good vibes." Adds Kyra.
The opening of the tunnel was graced by the visit of several other special guests - including Felix Baumgartner, the first man to parachute from space, and Sasha DiGiulian, an American rock climbing champion. The sheiks have gone crazy, connecting two worlds - flying and climbing. As a result, CLYMB, apart from the largest wind tunnel, also has a giant climbing wall in another part of the building.
Kyra Poh and Maja Kuczyńska in the largest tunnel in the world CLYMB
© Naim Chidiac
Kyra Poh and Maja Kuczyńska in the largest tunnel in the world CLYMB
© Naim Chidiac
Kyra Poh and Maja Kuczyńska in the largest tunnel in the world CLYMB
© Naim Chidiac
Kyra Poh and Maja Kuczyńska in the largest tunnel in the world CLYMB
© Naim Chidiac
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