When I first visited Costa Brava with a group of UK travel bloggers, we started off our exploration of the region with an activity that couldn’t have been better tailored for my then 9-year-old than if she’d organised it herself. It was “skydiving” in an indoor wind tunnel, at Windoor, in the town of Empuriabrava.
Visiting a place like Windoor, you encounter an entire subculture, previously completely hidden. Men and women walk around in body-skimming jumpsuits talking animatedly about body positions. A viewing pit and restaurant tables are arranged in the WindBar outside the transparent tunnel, and groups sit drinking coffee or lager, watching the action inside and looking like they’ll be there all afternoon.
We see indoor skydiving places occasionally at various places we visit, and I’d always wondered what they were all about. They sound a bit like a joke course you take at university, like underwater basket-weaving. But when we finally took the leap at Windoor, we were literally floating on air (sorry).
What: Indoor skydiving at a facility that professional skydivers use but where amateurs are warmly welcomed too.
Here’s the drill: You put on a jumpsuit, helmet and goggles; get a briefing from Pali (in our case), an easy-going instructor from Slovakia; wait outside the tunnel while watching professional skydivers practicing flips, spins and balletic swoops up and down the tunnel as if they’ve been sprinkled with fairy dust.
The great thing is, with the help of Pali, it’s as easy as stepping out of an airplane. You get to the entrance door of the tube, lean your hips forward and basically fall into wind from below, which keeps you aloft.
Kid appeal: Predictably, the kid appeal here is sky high. Young visitors are fearless and excited about zooming up the tunnel and throwing different shapes, testing how it allows them to move around the wind tunnel. Adults are a bit more suspicious that a strong breeze will actually hold them up. Everyone’s delighted when it works.
What we liked: How easy the instructors make the entire experience. The staff is warm and welcoming and safety always seems paramount. On the day we visited, there were groups of advanced skydivers practicing their fast balletic swoops. Magnificent.
What we didn’t like: When you arrive at the big warehouse-style building, you could be fooled into thinking the excitement within is nothing but hype. Resist that feeling. The whole morning was a fresh experience.
Watch how the whole process goes, below, from entry into the wind tunnel to flying up inside. Special thanks to Rosie Scribble, who allowed me to film her flight.
Windoor Realfly
www.windoor-realfly.com/en
Sector Aeroclub s/n
17487 Empuriabrava
Spain
+34 972 45 40 40
reserve@windoor-realfly.com
Packages start from €49 for 1 person to have 2 flights. There are 2-person and family packages as well.
This looks so fun – I used to skydive before parenthood (student rather than professional) and there were always people who’d do an intensive course in somewhere like Costa Brava rather than the slow process of braving the UK weather over the year. I’ve never tried an indoor one but would love to see what I remember.
You are full of surprises! I’ve never done the real thing but would love to try it for real. Maybe after a few more indoor experiences…
It was a brilliant experience, my daughter and I both enjoyed it very much. We’d never been in a wind tunnel before but I’d love to try it again.
I remember y’all were brilliant at it. I’ve looked into doing it at other facilities but so far none has held a candle to this one.
Love the pics (she looks so much like you!!). My kids would love this too and hopefully will, as they are trying it out (in the UK though, not in Spain) very soon. We will report back!
Sarah, can’t wait to hear how your kids like the experience. It really is so much fun.
This looks like my kind of thing. Would love to try it as am scared to do the real thing…. Well done! #FitnessTuesday
Mirka, it’s definitely one for #FitnessTuesday. You really do feel safe throughout — definitely a plus if you get butterflies at the idea of throwing yourself out of an aeroplane.
This looks fabulous Jen, so Mich fun. We are hoping to go to the Costa Brava next year as a family. Mich x
Hi Michelle, would love to hear about your trip when you finally make it!