For the first time in the history of the Red Bull Air Race, the pilots went head-to-head in France, in the beautiful city of Cannes. My office during that event was mostly the helicopter which provides amazing point of view above this spectacular location, together with boats and some ground locations as well. Once a small fishing village, Cannes is now a glamorous and expensive seaside town considered to be one of the social hubs of Europe, that provided me with some wonderful photoshooting opportunities.
Cannes, a resort town on the French Riviera, is famed for its international film festival. Its Boulevard de la Croisette, curving along the coast, is lined with sandy beaches, upmarket boutiques and palatial hotels. It’s also home to the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, a modern building complete with red carpet and Allée des Étoiles – Cannes’ walk of fame.
The area around Cannes has developed into a high-tech cluster. The technopolis of Sophia Antipolis lies in the hills beyond Cannes. The Film Festival is a major event for the industry. There is an annual television festival in the last week in September.
Its moment to shine arrives in May as the venue for the Cannes Film Festival, entertaining the rich and famous. During the festival, fans can see actors, celebrities, and directors up close and in person on the famous steps of the Palais des Festivals at the end of La Croisette. Tourists can check out the beauty and architecture of Le Suquet, with its cobbled streets and breathtaking views, or sit at street side tables and enjoy the favoured hobby of people watching up and down the lovely marina.
There are many landmarks such as the Promenade de la Croisette – the waterfront avenue with palm trees. La Croisette is known for picturesque beaches, restaurants, cafés and boutiques. Le Suquet, the old town, provides a good view of La Croisette. The fortified tower and Chapel of St Anne house the Musée de la Castre. A distinctive building in Cannes is the Russian Orthodox church.
Cannes has a Mediterranean climate and the city enjoys 11 hours of sunshine per day during summer, while in winter the weather is mild. Both seasons see a relatively low rainfall and most rain occurs during October and November. The economic environment is based on tourism, business fairs, trade and aviation. Cannes has 6,500 companies, of which 3,000 are traders, artisans and service providers. Cannes hosts the Cannes Mandelieu Space Center, headquarters of Thales Alenia Space, the first European satellite manufacturer.
At a brand new race location it was like throwback to 2016 with Matt Hall and Matthias Dolderer battling it out for the top spot on the podium. But victory in Cannes belonged to Hall. Due to evidence found after the end of the Round of 8 in Cannes, France on April 22, Team Sonka has been disqualified by the Race Committee for a Technical Infraction. He exceeded the 2950 RPM limit for 4.4 seconds. He finishes the race in 8th place.