Participants in a ski race in the Italian Alps are calling for action against the pilot of a Swiss-registered Super Cub on skis who cut through the racers during a takeoff on Saturday. The skiers were taking part in the Mezzdalama Trophy, a prestigious skimo back country skiing race, on Monte Rosa. Although the plane went through a sizeable gap in the line of skiers, they were still appalled at what they considered to be a reckless act.
“I hope the Swiss authorities will intervene,” Luca Calzone, a competitor who shot the accompanying video of the takeoff, said. “This could have resulted in a horrible tragedy.” The encounter took place under challenging conditions for both the skiers and the airplane. The race is held on a high alpine route that is about 12,000 feet or more above sea level and the Cub used a fair bit of downslope to get airborne.
