Gliding

Silent. Free. Endless.

The only sounds around you are the wind along the wings and the quiet beeping of the variometer as the glider climbs in rising air.

Maybe it's a warm thermal lifting you higher. Maybe it’s the wind accelerating up the mountainside. Either way, you’ve found the energy in the air and turned altitude into distance.

Gliding is all about reading the sky and using nature’s invisible forces to fly further and higher — without an engine. For some pilots it’s about long-distance performance and precision, for others it’s the pure joy of silent flight.

During Ekstremsportveko, pilots gather in Voss to explore the sky above the fjords and mountains.

Gliding in Voss

Gliding has been part of Voss since 1958, and the dramatic mountains and fjords make the area one of the most exciting places to fly in Europe.

Here pilots can take advantage of a rare combination of thermals, ridge lift and powerful mountain waves, conditions that have enabled flights of up to 1000 km.

The home base is Bømoen airfield, where local and visiting pilots operate throughout the festival week.

And even if you stay on the ground, remember to look up — you might spot a glider silently crossing the sky above Voss.

Questions regarding this sport? Please let us know!