FlyOver Las Vegas celebrates its first anniversary with the launch of its newest flight ride experience, Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies.
Featuring footage captured in remote areas of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the film spotlights areas unreachable to most, providing a rare glimpse into the most isolated and untouched areas of the mountain range. Las Vegas visitors will explore Canada’s snow-capped peaks, turquoise lakes, picturesque valleys and dramatic vistas as they travel over Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks amongst other locales.
Created by parent company Pursuit, FlyOver is a multi-sensory voyage that uses a moving platform with six degrees of motion. Riders get the sensation of soaring via helicopter over Canada’s beautiful landscapes as they feel every movement of the journey with weather-simulating effects and location-specific scents that enhance the experience. During the flight ride, the 8K resolution film plays as audiences are suspended through the air above a 52.5-foot spherical screen.
“We’re thrilled to give visitors and locals the ability to learn about and explore the heart of the Canadian Rockies by sharing stories of people who heard the call of the region and developed a lifelong connection to it,” said Lisa Adams, Vice President of FlyOver Attractions. “Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies pushes our guests’ imagination by allowing them to build a strong connection with the land, culture and sprit of one of the country’s most iconic natural wonders without ever having to leave the Las Vegas Strip.”
Setting the Stage
Patrons are guided through a three-part experience. To kick off the journey, guests are introduced to a member from the Piikani Nation in Western Canada who invites attendees to hear the call of the drum that guides them to the next experience. Visitors are then led into the second part of the expedition by entering a circular room where a panoramic, six-minute show plays on 360-degree wraparound walls and on a central, hanging medallion. Blackfoot Elder Peter Strikes With A Gun from the Piikani Nation in Western Canada narrates the story and shares wisdom regarding the Rockies. The video also showcases a young traveler encountering the mountains for the first time as well as Rockies geology expert Dr. Grant Mossop — the father of Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies’ co-creative director Dave Mossop. Narration of the voyage is set to an original score by Calgary-based music and sound house 6 Degrees, in collaboration with celebrated Blackfoot powwow drum group Sorrel Rider.
Lift Off into New Lands
During the third and final part of the journey, visitors take flight over 18 locales and observe beautiful valleys and vistas, dive into the serenity of the alpine air and experience challenges the rugged terrain presents. Throughout the film, riders get a front-row seat to feats of human ability. In one scene, Sonnie Trotter — one of the world’s most accomplished rock climbers — ascends his route on Mount Louis’ massive, detached flake. In another, ice climber and renowned athlete Will Gadd makes his way up the stunning Curtain Call in the Columbia Icefield — a climb Mossop says was completed 27 times to get the shot exactly right. Elsewhere, internationally acclaimed freeskier Christina Lustenberger carves amongst cascading snow in an adrenaline-inducing sequence.
Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies was filmed on the traditional territories of the Nakoda, Blackfoot, Tsuut’ina and K’tunaxa Nations, who have been stewards of these mountains since time immemorial. The film includes an important Indigenous perspective of the mountain range, which local Nations revere as “The Backbone of the World.” Through collaboration and involvement from the Indigenous communities, Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies weaves together the rich cultures and landscapes of the Canadian Rockies.
Joining Cannes Lion Award-wining director Dave Mossop is co-creative director and former Walt Disney Imagineer, Rick Rothschild. Mossop also collaborated with Blackfoot advisor, Piikani knowledge keeper Harley Bastien to develop the shots seen in the film. Bastien helped to bring an Indigenous voice to the film, both through his creative advising and through his connection to Windborne narrator, fellow Piikani Elder Peter Strikes With A Gun.
The film was made in collaboration with Parks Canada. Pursuit and FlyOver Attractions are committed to protecting the ecology and wildlife of the region and to the health and safety of all adventurers and communities. All requirements for filming in this sensitive region were fully respected and all athletic feats were done by professionals.
