DCL enters China: When drones meet the Great Wall

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‍Fast, sharp, cutting-edge… these are the words that come to mind when people think of drone racing. And when the race crosses paths with China's Great Wall, it provides as much of a visual impact as a cultural one.

The Chinese team walking on the Great Wall. /CGTN Photo

Simatai, one of the most famous sections of the Great Wall to the north of Beijing, hosted the Drone Champions League (DCL) race on August 10-11.

Not only was it the first DCL race in Asia, but also a first chance for these drones to “meet” the more-than-2,000-year-old Great Wall – a fascinating clash between the ancient and the modern.

DCL founder Herbert Weirather. /CGTN Photo

As a drone enthusiast himself, DCL founder Herbert Weirather also tries to bring the world the biggest possible visual impact through the competition.

“The Drone Champions League has a form of going to iconic locations. We've been in Paris on the Champs Elysees, we've been in Munich in the Olympic Park and so on. So the Great Wall in China is a perfect fit for us.”

Drone race tracks are three-dimensional. With a maximum speed of over 140 kilometers per hour, drone crashes typically happen in every race, even in the hands of these masters.

If you were to race a motorcycle, you can rely on your whole body to control it. But in a drone race? You've only got your thumbs, said Furadi, an American drone player.

Team Rotorama winning the race. /DCL Photo

Still, for the pilots, some as young as 13, the thrill of the competition is all that matters.

“It's for fun, for us all, my teammates, for fun. We really enjoy it,” said Jakub Toman from Team Rotorama, who was leading the tournament at the time of interview.

A racing drone ready to take off. /DCL Photo

Compared to other types of racing, the entry barriers for drone racing are quite low, but the excitement is high.

3D tracks and hologram lenses make every race a new experience for the racers and the audience. Developing drones may be a top priority for China, but as the country hosts more and more world-class drone races like the DCL, maybe it's better to simply have fun and enjoy the technology.

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