GIN pilot Louise Crandal wins First Prize with Flying with Eagles

Flying with Eagles is a film about Louise Crandal and her training partner, the two year old Steppe Eagle, Cossack. The film captivated the audience and jury at the 2007 Coupe Icare Film Festival and was awarded First Prize.

Louise Crandal, twice World champion, European champion and world cup winner has been flying Gin's gliders since the very first Boomerang moved into the competition scene in 99. In 2005 Louise had enjoyed her fill of competitions and now wanted to move onto new challenges.

After visiting Scott Mason in Nepal, she became enthralled with the possibility of training and flying with an eagle at home in Europe. 'Flying with Eagles' is an intimate portrait of the relationship between Louise and Cossack, an untrained Russian Steppe Eagle.

At first, nerves are frayed and tensions mount as a clearly ruffled Cossack refuses to even take food from Louise's hand. But slowly trust is built. Cossack accepts Louise as his friend and they become flying mates. In the beginning in Louise's native Denmark where Cossack makes his first coastal soaring flights with Louise, but steppe eagles are built for flying in thermals and eventually they head south to Lake Como in the Italian Alps, where Louise finds out whether Cossack will serve as a teacher and help her fly further.
Louise knows the importance of flying the best possible gliders in order to get good results and in Flying with Eagles she really enjoys the easy handling of Gin's gliders. Throuhout the film Louise flies most of the time with one hand and it's obvious that training an eagle demands a glider that works perfectly in all aspects.
Released September 2007, Flying with Eagles tells a story that's almost unimaginable. Director Anton Gammelgaard captures Louise's personal journey with sensitivity and compassion. The Coupe Icare Film Festival, held in St Hilaire, France, is the world's biggest free flying film event and winning first place is the highest accolade possible.
Produced and broadcast for Danish TV, this unique film is now available on DVD in English; 45 minutes in duration.

PAL All Regions. Please note this DVD will not play on NTSC players.