And we did.
We decided to go for a wooden construction with a rail that guides the board and a slot for the fin. For the top sheet we used thin PU plates that we already knew from my True Wind #1 kicker. Its slippery surface was ideal. The million-dollar question was whether it would slow down the acceleration during the first crucial metres? We wanted to test the runway, imitating the conditions of the rooftop as accurately as possible. Call it a True Wind #2 dress rehearsal. So we used a bulldozer to flatten out a runway into Flo´s pond and we lay out two 12 m metal rails on which we built the start ramp. But after the first few tries it was time for a reality check. Even with the winch on full throttle it seemed I could not accelerate enough. A 12 m runway added to 12.5 m to the take off in the middle of the pool seemed just too short! We only had a few days left until the planned shooting, so the pressure was daunting. Before we knew it, the day it was all planned to come together had arrived. Would it work?, we were about to find out!
ACTION
06:15 AM – we all put our minds and hands to it. We lift my board, boom, sail and mast up a rusty fire escape ladder and make it to the top.
For the ‘Outro shot’ of the video I have to strike a Batman pose. Oh yes, spread out and batwings included!, all while looking over Vienna’s skyline under the effects of a golden hazy dawn. The ladder is slippery from the morning dew. I look down, around 100 m separating my gaze from the ground. Gentle gusts of wind are coming from all directions. I start rigging up my gear and feel the excitement rising. I aim my stare far beyond the horizon – I take a long look. My mind is focused. A still moment whilst balancing my gear on the narrow railing. Thirty minutes later we are looking at the first good shot.