Planica wind tunnel

Planica is a high valley in the Julian Alps, beyond Rateče and a short distance from Kranjska Gora, and it is internationally known as the home of ski flying. The Nordic Centre Planica holds large ski jumps, including the huge ski-flying hill named for the Gorišek brothers, and each spring the world's best jumpers gather here for the final events of the World Cup season. Planica has a long history in the sport: in 1994 a jumper crossed the 200-metre barrier here for the first time, and since then a series of world records have been set on the hill.

The wind tunnel is one of the activities that grew up around the Nordic Centre, giving visitors a taste of flight without leaving the ground. In a vertical wind tunnel, a column of air is blown upward fast enough to support a person's body weight, and you float on it with your arms and legs spread as a skydiver would. The fan speed is adjusted to your weight and ability, and an instructor stays with you in the chamber to hold you steady and correct your posture. The sensation is closer to being held by a strong cushion of air than to falling.

A session starts with a briefing on body position and hand signals, followed by fitting of a helmet, earplugs and a flight suit. Then you take short turns in the tunnel, one at a time, each lasting around a minute, which is more tiring than it sounds. Most people find that a few turns is enough, and the effort of keeping stable gives a sense of how skilled both skydivers and ski jumpers must be. Beginners are welcome, and the activity is also used by experienced flyers to practise technique. Booking in advance is wise, and age and weight limits apply, so check the current rules with the Nordic Centre before travelling.

Planica is worth seeing in its own right, and the surrounding Nordic Centre has other activities to fill an afternoon: the Planica Zipline, the Ski Jumping Simulators, a disc golf park, the Heroes of Planica interactive game and the judging stations. In summer the valley is quiet and green, and the walk beneath the huge jumps gives a sense of scale. The wind tunnel suits teenagers and adults looking for an unusual activity, and it works as a rainy-day option, since it takes place indoors.