Paragliding?

gabe · Since 16 May 2005 487 Posts Obsessed

so i have considered paragliding in the past, and it seems like i can do a 10 day course here in south america for very cheap.

i like the idea of flying, and looking for weather patterns, and maybe doing cross country type flights, or combining climbing peaks with flying off them, BUT sometimes i have worried that this sport would actually be somewhat boring after a while. it seems kind of passive and slow motion in a way (like scuba diving), except for the acrobatics of course, but i´m not sure i would do that.

anyways, can someone help sell me on this as an amazing sport for the long term? once you are experienced where do the thrills come from?, because i imagine just looking down at the terrain becomes commonplace after a while.

i see that bambam and brad gordon are into this, so that is a very good recommendation, but i´ve never talked to anyone about what the sport is like. of course, i could try a tandem flight, but i can imagine what that´s like and it doesn´t show the long term potential.

i want to like the sport, just need some encouragement/explanation that it is exciting in the long run.

also, if i do a 10 day course in bolivia, will i be able to transfer this to some sort of certification in the US, or will i be forced to pay for some huge lesson plan? practically, does the certification even matter, or can i just be responsible for myself at most flying sites?

speedflying looks cool, but since i snowboard i guess that is not an easy route to go.

waynepjh · Since 27 Jul 2008 212 Posts jackson wy Stoked

Wait until you catch your first thermal and climb to cloudbase! You will forever look to the sky! Just do it!

backtoCaLi · Since 15 Mar 2008 74 Posts Nor-Cal

Your right, I got really bored just soaring at the coast after a while. For me to keep it fun and exciting is to change it up.....fly different sites, go cross country, go speedfly, there are a ton of different ways to enjoy PG, but I find that trying to go higher and farther at different sites to be really rewarding and don't see myself getting bored with the challenge of XC anytime.

You can snowboard with a speedwing, but its not ideal.....
also possible to footlaunch many larger speedwings (often referred to as speedflying, rather than speedriding=w/skis) and that can be a super fun way to descend after a nice climb.

basically I think if you have ever had any inkling to fly, you should learn & a ten day course is a great way to start. After you complete your course in Brasil, find a certified instructor here & they can check your skills/flight log and get you signed off with a equivalent USHPA certification for a small fee...or maybe even free.

safe flights
Smile

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

Bored is a possibility of life.

Taking this sport to the edge to keep it exciting can present issues.

The lasting impression of paragliding that I focused in on was the limp of most the expierienced at any launch.

Self preservation has NEVER been my strength but I saw a trend that I walked away from.

I really still dream of some flight but the consequences seemed permanant for this stage of life.

wylieflyote · Sun Oct 09, 11 9:24 am

Go have your fun, and I'm a bit envious for sure. But whenever the talk gets around to me considering this sport my mind instantly shows me this image:

Yes... I'm a puss

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

flight is pretty serious stuff
taking someones word for it was never my thing
until I took flight lessons,,

I gave it up after 15 years in gliders with my own sailplane ( L/D, 40-1+)for 8 yrs.
no time for it.
s
Saw some die, some parlyzed but for the most part very safe.
Just have to keep your shit together and not be a doughhead (really,, NO drinking the day before) keep you mind sharp.
A good instructor is worth whatever you think your life is worth
but it's hard to know who's a good one.
Great fun defeating gravity ,air is much softer than anyhting else to fall on Laughing