Skydive Dubai's first Swoop Festival - in pictures
Skydive Dubai hosted the first Swoop Festival. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
The festival features a canopy piloting competition
It is a high-speed discipline of skydiving where experienced and trained pilots glide over a body of water while performing various stunts, controlling a small parachute
Participants were trained on the first day of the competition on Thursday, before they were put to the test
Canopy piloting is a popular air sports mainly showcasing a parachutists' ability to control a canopy accurately in high speeds
Depending on the competition, participants are usually scored on speed, accuracy and distance
Such competitions require advanced skydiving and parachuting skills
The Swoop Festival in Dubai was free for spectators, who were able to access the event through Zero Gravity
Skydive Dubai is popular with tourists, residents, as well as professionals for skydiving at all levels
