The latest Dairy Queen Celebrate Summer winner is in for a breathtaking adventure, one that takes them all the way to the clouds.
Barry Morwick from Adventure At Altitude says they offer a variety of exciting experiences.
“We do dual flights on hang gliders, ultralights, flying boats, and even flying snowmobiles in the winter time. And so, whoever gets this prize gets to go up with me on an extreme altitude flight, right up to the clouds, 5,300 feet, which is a mile high.”
The prize includes a “Gift of Flight,” giving the winner a chance to experience what it feels like to truly fly.
“They get a lesson so they could put their hands on the controls and fly themselves, or just go along for the ride. If they're timid, I could give them a gentle flight or more wild, aerobatic one at the end so they can have all the fun they want or not too much fun if they want to be a little more mild about it.”
With views stretching over the countryside and lakes, Morwick promises the scenery alone will be unforgettable.
As part of the prize, the winner will go up in an ultralight hang glider, something Morwick explains is quite different from the traditional kind.
“A hang glider is normally something you jump off a hill or mountain with, but here in Manitoba we tow up the hang gliders and we also put motors on them so we can launch off the ground. But once we get in the air, we could actually shut the motor off and glide around like a hang glider or keep the motor running, whatever a person wants to do.”
He adds that this kind of powered gliding makes the thrill of hang gliding accessible even in the prairies.
“And it's a great way to fly. It's something you could learn to do very easily with just a few lessons. So, anyone coming out to fly, whoever wins this flight is going to get a free lesson with that also.”
To enter for a chance to win this once-in-a-lifetime flight, simply visit the Dairy Queen Celebrate Summer contest page and answer this week’s question: What is your favourite summer memory?
Morwick believes the winner may just find a new favourite after this experience.
“For next year's contest, this will be their new favorite summer memory. It's life changing when you're actually up there and you experience true flying like a bird because you're not really inside a machine like inside a fuselage. You're out in the open, just like riding a bicycle or a motorcycle.”
He says the feeling of flight is as close to becoming a bird as you can get.
“You could see all the way around you. And the way we shift the wing, the way we fly with weight shift is exactly how a bird flies and we're flying the same speed as a bird, so often an eagle or a hawk will come up and fly right beside us.”
For those not lucky enough to win the contest but still interested in flying, Morwick encourages reaching out at 204-333-WING (9464).
“Give me a call up at least 48-hours in advance so we could schedule you in for a dual flight and you'll have as much fun as this contest winner will!”
With files from Corny Rempel