Paragliding with JoJaffa

Why....paraglide?

Paragliding...

Feel the warm breeze.. ...come up into your face as you check the crumpled ripstop nylon canopy spread on the ground behind you, feel the tension of the lines as you pull them against the resistance of the wind - pull hard, the cells of the paraglider inflate and form a wall behind you, you are pulled back a step - push against the pull - the wing comes up above you head, a canopy against the sky .... read on... or jump straight to getting started..

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How about Skydiving or Hydrofoiling or even Bungee Jumping? - well, you've only got one life after all?

One a typical summer's day three hours time could make the difference between these two flights…

Check above - all OK - you check ahead - it's clear. You crane forward and run hard, the wing pulls you off the ground. You pull your left brake and twist in the harness,

Scenario 1 - beauty and tranquility

Ahead of you is half a mile of bracken covered ridge to explore. At the end a buzzard circles in a thermal, you quickly overhaul some walkers. The next hour passes. Mind and body alert to the needs of staying in that band of steadily rising air just in front of the ridge but also reveling in the sensation of the simplest form of soaring, senses tuned to the tranquility of evening ridge soaring.

Time to land - all clear - you line up the patch of grass that was take-off and crab sideways. The ground comes closer, a little more speed for safety, and pull on the brakes just before touching down.

Brake and step backwards, the chute falls behind and is quickly tamed. Pack up into the large rucksack. As you near home, the traffic slows and stops. The driver in the car opposite scowls and hoots in frustration, you smile - how can he know where you have just been?

Scenario 2 - adrenalin and fear

The canopy shudders, suddenly the right wing rears up, you counter by pulling right brake to keep it level, the vario screams in to life, you pull further right into the air bursting skywards, you're in a lift, already level with take off, you fly an S shape, how big is this thing, is this the one to take you to cloud base? a jolt, you're out of the thermal, pull round hard to look for it,

It's trying to spit you out, must be in front of you, open the turn, nothing - wait, a blip, two, a steady moan, the sound tells you the shape of the rising air, turn into it and try to fly efficient turns.

Above take off now, you can fly 360 degree turns, drifting back behind the ridge, looks good, another glider is in the same thermal, you've seen him he's seen you.

Ok. You wind your way up. The hill is shrinking, it's getting colder, keep turning efficiently. It's a good thermal, a kestrel is in it too, wisps of dandelion seed, altimeter reads 200 meters.

Things are smoother now,, fly bigger circles, but the thermal still wants to push you out.

Where next, your map shows clear airspace downwind - how far today - 4 miles if I can't stay in this thermal, but could be 30, 40, 50 miles? not a record by any means - but still fun.

The fluffy cumulus above beckons - not too close, the cornfields are pretty reliable for the next thermal - with this wind I'll look further downwind. Short of the top of the thermal, time to leave, don't want to get sucked too close, but it's decaying, maintaining height but no more, no, that's it - time to look for the next one, turn downwind, sinking fast out of the thermal, vario alarm is on again.

Head for those yellow fields. Look for the signs, birds? rippling corn? thistledown, changes in smell, crisp packets - anything!

Getting low, down to 200 meters, can land in any of these fields, check for electricity lines - well they are pretty much invisible form the air - any houses? worn patches of field where animals use telegraph poles as scratching posts - no all clear.

We're still alive. Never say die.

The vario alarm has stopped, sinking at the normal rate now, bumpy air, good sign, a wing tip collapses, rustles and re-inflates, here we are, what a sound! keep it smooth, concentrate, relax - breathe normally. the view? lose this thermal and there won't be one vario alarm on again, sinking fast, not looking good. any other fields will do - nearest road? pub?

Getting started

Paragliding - the Ups and Downs - oh - and the weather

Ups
Roughly speaking you go up because the air around you is going up as well. In the UK this is likely to be one of two ways:

Downs
No engine means you can't go up without some sort of motor - that motor is the rising airParagliders are clever machines - by falling the air keeps the canopy inflated like a parachute - but the inflated shape is like an aircraft wing. Because air has further to go over the top than underneath the pressure is less. This makes you fall less slowly - but you always fall! - it's just the speed that varies

Weather
If paragliding is for you then it won't be long before weather is for you too - on the web, TV weather, newspaper weather charts, glancing though the window up at the sky. You will come to recognize - and love- those cold weather fronts, the spacing of isobars, the direction and strength of the wind.

It has to be said that the UK is not the best place to learn to paraglide - though at least you will be well taught…

The weather is going to play a crucial role - too much wind and the canopy is a like an umbrella in a storm, too little and it like trying to fly a kite in no wind. No wind or too much rules out training. The better you get , the wider the range of weather conditions you can cope with.

Think laterally - try learning in abroad.

There is a minimum age limit of 14 - and if you are in reasonable health no upper age limit. Strength is not an issue - neither is gender.

Many people with minor disabilities such as short sightedness fly without restriction. People who are less able or blind can still participate on a tandem paraglider (instructor and passenger).

You can spend huge amounts for state of the art paragliders - but it isn't necessary to bankrupt yourself to enjoy this sport. Always remember, the wind comes free!

Don't be put off by video clips of 60s birdmen jumping off cliffs in bamboo and bin liners masquerading as hang gliders

BASE jumping / parachuting scare stories - paragliding is not about a few seconds of adrenaline - think of sailing a dinghy - in three dimensions

So what do I need to be able to do? Well, you need:

• A bit of courage and slightly more patience
• Basic knowledge of how an aircraft wing works
• That's it

• - you could go for a taster day (+/- £70.00)
• - aim to be a 'student' pilot (you can fly with a school) (+/- £300.00)
• - or go for the next step up 'Club Pilot' (you can fly on your own) (+/- £500.00)

Options
Sign on with a school near you probably 5 days - but if you forget quickly you will need moreSign up for an intensive course in UK 5 days - beware the weatherSign up for an intensive course abroad - what happens if you don't get qualified before the holiday runs out - check!!!

also:
Join a local club - regular meetings, chat to those who know local sites and conditions

Courses are run all year round - but hoping to qualify in 5 days in a showery April is unrealistic. Autumn and winter are not out of the question - but how near is your nearest school? Could you afford to go abroad?

Once you are qualifier you can fly all year round - just pack more clothing in winter

Getting more out of....paragliding

Kit and caboodle

Spoil yourself

Choose some where warm to learn to paragliding!

Spend a week or two at a paragliding centre some where warm and sunny. That would set you back anything from £600 for a week to £1000 for a week

Courses available in a variety of countries. Favourites are France, Spain, Turkey.

Open Outcry

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