‘Paramotor’ and hydrofoilers ride above CL Canyon Lake

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Canyon Lakers may think they’ve seen everything there is to see on the lake. Hot air balloons have all but landed on the water, wake kites aren’t super unusual, and one day a bicycle was sen pedaling across the waves. Well, it wasn’t exactly pedaling. Longtime water sports innovators Mike Murphy and his nephew, Tony Klarich, were helping a stunt rider prepare to ride a bicycle-on-hydrofoil for a commercial for the energy drink, Powerade.

However, on Saturday morning, July 2, Canyon Lakers did get a chance to see something new. A motor-powered hang glider (also known as paramotor) was seen flying across the lake in tandem with Mike Murphy, riding his tall hydrofoil. Flying alongside them was a drone. Nate Volk was on hand in the pulling boat to film the action with his drone camera, and also to help in case paramotor pilot Paolo Frezza landed in the water. Nate created a video that can be seen on youtube.com (search “Paramotor Canyon Lake”) or on The Friday Flyer Facebook page.

Mike switched off with another hydrofoil rider, Dave Oppenheim. At one point in the video, Paolo can be seen swooping down to touch Dave’s up-stretched hand. Others who served as driver and observer were Dani Martin and Dave’s wife Nanci.

Nate says, “It was fun to be a part of.”