Škofic, long known for his exceptional achievements – including his 2016 overall World Cup victory and a recent 9b+ ascent on natural rock in Norway – combined two of his lifelong passions in this project: climbing and flying. The attempt was the result of months of meticulous preparation and technical experimentation.
The 8a route was set in the shape of a figure eight across both wings of the aircraft. Škofic began his ascent on the underside of the left wing, traversed beneath the fuselage, and finished on the upper side of the right wing. The most difficult moment came during the transition to the right wing, when the combined forces of wind and gravity created a nearly impossible move. Carrying a 12-kilogram parachute on his back and battling wind chill temperatures near minus ten degrees Celsius, Škofic pushed his limits in every sense.
The entire climb lasted about one minute, after which he leapt from the glider at 1,500 meters, completing the performance with a symbolic backflip. He described the feat as a personal turning point – a fusion of dream and challenge that few could imagine.
His father, Pavel Škofic, played a key role by designing aerodynamic climbing holds, precisely mounted on the aircraft without compromising its stability. Pavel Škofic is also known as the co-inventor of Elan’s revolutionary carving skis. The Red Bull Blanix team provided full technical and logistical support throughout the project, including wind-tunnel sessions and parachute training.
The event was captured by nine cameras, recording every second of the daring flight. The project stands as a landmark in merging extreme sport, engineering, and aviation – and symbolically takes sport climbing to unprecedented heights.
