Dani Román, the well-known Spanish bird-man, surprised the world yesterday Wednesday by becoming the first person to fly through the central arch of the New Bridge in Ronda, landing on the banks of the Tagus after flying over the city of Malaga at a speed of 270 km /h. With the Ronda sky as a backdrop, Dani Román once again defied the laws of gravity, making a project that began more than a year ago a reality and that has involved months of mental and physical preparation.
“For this specific project I will have done about 100 jumps, practicing the necessary maneuver to be able to exceed the arc, which in the world is known as flare,” says the ubetense. “There have also been many hours of training in the wind tunnel, practicing flying on a plane, which was key when it came to getting away from the bridge.”
This technical preparation by the Red Bull athlete in the months prior to the feat, added to the multiple visits to the city of Ronda to analyze the factors involved in the jump, such as the exact measurements of the bridge and the distance to cover to guarantee a safe landing, they have achieved the viability of a historical milestone that has left nothing to improvisation.
“All the measurements I take and the different variants I usually capture in drawings, which gives me confidence,” says the Andalusian. “In the end, knowing the exact height, the horizontal distance that I cover and how long it will take to open the parachute are key measures to make any jump with maximum safety. Drawings are just an easy way to graphically represent everything.”
The action, which took place in less than 20 seconds, has marked a before and after in the career of Dani Román. “I’m excited. After a year working, everything has turned out as we expected. I am very happy, being able to give wings to this project means a lot to me” he commented upon landing. “I have learned a lot of things during my career, but something that I have certainly applied today is the importance of doing things without pressure. It has to be a challenge in which you feel good, comfortable and safe. Do it for yourself and not for the camera”, concludes the ubetense.
