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FlyDunes
Since 09 Oct 2007
1034 Posts
Aloha
XTreme Poster
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Kataku2k3
Since 14 Aug 2005
3753 Posts
Los Angeles, CA
Videographer
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 Mon May 04, 09 6:50 pm |
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That's awesome, Steve! 
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pkh
Since 27 Feb 2005
6549 Posts
Couve / Hood
Honored Founder
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| Mon May 04, 09 7:01 pm |
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| That's wicked cool! What do you suppose the wind was at?
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FlyDunes
Since 09 Oct 2007
1034 Posts
Aloha
XTreme Poster
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| Mon May 04, 09 7:05 pm |
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| pkh wrote: | | That's wicked cool! What do you suppose the wind was at? |
It was mostly blowing around 13-15 on the beach, a little cross from the south. Sunny and nice most of the day. Definitely fun air.
_________________
Lets FLY |
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Gman
Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped
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Kraemer
Since 24 Apr 2006
1736 Posts
Sky Pilot
Unicorn Captain
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| Tue May 05, 09 8:03 am |
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| Gman wrote: | | that looks like some serious fun! |
What he said!
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Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2622 Posts
The 503
METAL
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| Tue May 05, 09 8:06 am |
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Fly,
Looks awesome!! Is it true there's not much overlap with kitable wind?
Meaning, whenever I see you guys flying around, I take that as a sign that it's not strong enough to kite yet. And if it does get kitable, the paragliders pack it up?
If so, the two sports are very complementary...we sure get a lot of days up there that stay just under the threshold of kitable.
Gotta ask the classic question..."how much does it cost"? 
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chanson
Since 31 Jan 2006
1873 Posts
WISCONSIN
Chimey
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| Tue May 05, 09 8:23 am |
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interesting...looks fun..
that sounds right slither....
I was kiting on my 11m and skim, point-sailing in the shallows the same day right when the wind picked up... just enough to ride....felt like low/mid-teens..
curious.....do you have to perform the "straddle your partner landing method" you guys did in vid #2..  
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FlyDunes
Since 09 Oct 2007
1034 Posts
Aloha
XTreme Poster
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| Tue May 05, 09 8:39 am |
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| Wind Slither wrote: | Fly,
Looks awesome!! Is it true there's not much overlap with kitable wind?
Meaning, whenever I see you guys flying around, I take that as a sign that it's not strong enough to kite yet. And if it does get kitable, the paragliders pack it up?
If so, the two sports are very complementary...we sure get a lot of days up there that stay just under the threshold of kitable.
Gotta ask the classic question..."how much does it cost"? |
Ya, the two sports are a pretty good complement to each other.
For paragliding, you really want onshore winds at most coastal sites. Some cross works, but anything over 45 degrees cross onshore means not much lift.
Ideal winds are ~10-15mph measured on the beach. It can be soarable as low as 8mph on the beach if its straight onshore at area B. You can still fly (damn easily!) at up to 17mph on the beach or so, but it gets a little technical. The limit is your penetration speed. You don't want to end up flying backwards and getting flushed over the back of the ridge.
You could find good used equipment (wing/harness) for about $2K, but lessons to get certified for your P2 license are around another $1K. As a friend, I'd be happy to teach you some basics (free) on some of my old gear to let you get a feel for it, but you'd def want & need to take lessons for anything other than playing around on the dunes in low winds. Legally, you need to take lessons from a certified instructor.
Brad and Maren at DiscoverParagliding.com are the hot ticket for coastal lessons. They are great instructors, live in Warrenton near Sunset Beach, and are good personal friends of mine. I highly recommend them, although they might be getting pretty booked up with new students this time of year.
_________________
Lets FLY |
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FlyDunes
Since 09 Oct 2007
1034 Posts
Aloha
XTreme Poster
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| Tue May 05, 09 8:44 am |
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| chanson wrote: | interesting...looks fun..
curious.....do you have to perform the "straddle your partner landing method" you guys did in vid #2.. |
Lol. Spot landings are fun and good practice. Mostly I practice landing on top of my old beater pathfinder, but Kelton lying there in the sand was obviously the best LZ for entertainment value.
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Lets FLY |
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eli_anderson
Since 04 Jun 2007
507 Posts
Addicted
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| Tue May 05, 09 12:18 pm |
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| FlyDunes wrote: | | Wind Slither wrote: | Fly,
Looks awesome!! Is it true there's not much overlap with kitable wind?
Meaning, whenever I see you guys flying around, I take that as a sign that it's not strong enough to kite yet. And if it does get kitable, the paragliders pack it up?
If so, the two sports are very complementary...we sure get a lot of days up there that stay just under the threshold of kitable.
Gotta ask the classic question..."how much does it cost"? |
Ya, the two sports are a pretty good complement to each other.
For paragliding, you really want onshore winds at most coastal sites. Some cross works, but anything over 45 degrees cross onshore means not much lift.
Ideal winds are ~10-15mph measured on the beach. It can be soarable as low as 8mph on the beach if its straight onshore at area B. You can still fly (damn easily!) at up to 17mph on the beach or so, but it gets a little technical. The limit is your penetration speed. You don't want to end up flying backwards and getting flushed over the back of the ridge.
You could find good used equipment (wing/harness) for about $2K, but lessons to get certified for your P2 license are around another $1K. As a friend, I'd be happy to teach you some basics (free) on some of my old gear to let you get a feel for it, but you'd def want & need to take lessons for anything other than playing around on the dunes in low winds. Legally, you need to take lessons from a certified instructor.
Brad and Maren at DiscoverParagliding.com are the hot ticket for coastal lessons. They are great instructors, live in Warrenton near Sunset Beach, and are good personal friends of mine. I highly recommend them, although they might be getting pretty booked up with new students this time of year. |
Ummm....and your gliding skills with kites will improve!
I made it as far as sunset and had to split on some business 
Looks like the 6907 was fully powered!
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Gman
Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped
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| Tue May 05, 09 12:22 pm |
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"You don't want to end up flying backwards and getting flushed over the back of the ridge"
is this certain death?
_________________
Go Deep!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eu2pBpQolKE |
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eli_anderson
Since 04 Jun 2007
507 Posts
Addicted
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| Tue May 05, 09 12:30 pm |
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On the one occasion this 'flushing' happened to me it was no worse than standing on the impact zone of 'shore break' in the cove looking up at one about to land on my already freezing head.
Over the Back is avoidable as well.
If you go over the back you can expect a turbulent landing/unavoidable contact with the ground. To not die, you would check the conditions and make a good decision regarding risk vs. reward and the will to live.
but NO, not certain death, maybe mangled, broken, scratched, but that's unlikely too!
FlyDunes has a quiver of gliders, he can fly in good kiting conditions too.
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FlyDunes
Since 09 Oct 2007
1034 Posts
Aloha
XTreme Poster
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| Tue May 05, 09 1:30 pm |
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I've never gone over the back yet, and I've been flying almost 10 years. You just have to make good decisions about the conditions both before you launch and while you are flying. One clue is that if you have to start using your speed bar while you are flying (which increases the angle of attack of the wing and your airspeed), then its time to land and start pumping up your Rev 
Everybody makes their own risk assessments. Some people I know have gone over the back a lot. Flying sand dunes is really pretty benign. There's usually not nasty terrain or bad rotor behind sand dunes. That said, IMO frequent trips over the back are a sign that you aren't making good decisions and you or your body parts may have a reduced shelf life if you don't mend your ways...
I've been involved in a bunch of fun sports over the years and Flying is definitely my favorite thing to do. Kiting sure is a strong 2nd though!
_________________
Lets FLY |
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Parapontificator
Since 09 Feb 2009
11 Posts
North Coast Oregon
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| Wed May 06, 09 3:01 pm Learning to Fly... |
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Hey all,
We can certainly help you with getting into the air! Check out our lesson programs here: http://www.discoverparagliding.com/Pages/courses.html
Get in touch if you would like to know more. Great fun, and the sports are indeed very complimentary. There is a bit of overlap too, so if you are feeling like staying dry until it gets really strong, you could always fly just a little bit longer. Can't beat the match up on play sites either!! We have flying sites at Area B, Ecola, Neahkahie Mtn, Oceanside, Cape Lookout, and Cape Kiwanda on the coast. In the Gorge, we have flying sites at Bingen (landing right in the marina park), The Dalles, near Biggs at the Aluminum plant (in WA), and a few others too.
Get up in the morning, get a couple of good flights in, have lunch somewhere, and break out the kite gear. Don't worry, you can always sleep tomorrow!
Again, get in touch if you want to learn to fly right at Sunset Beach. (Well right over it actually!) It's probably the best paraglider training location in Oregon. (We think so!)
Hope to see you in the air or on the water soon!
Brad
www.DiscoverParagliding.com
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See you up there!
Brad and Maren
Your 'Couple' of Instructors
www.DiscoverParagliding.com
503-861-2772 |
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paradude001
Since 18 Feb 2010
1 Posts
New Member
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| Thu Feb 18, 10 3:38 am Kiting and paragliding |
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Im half a world away, but I also mix kites and gliders. They are actually a great combo. 0-8 knts we surf, 8-15 knots we fly, 15 + we kite.
They handle in a similar way, not the same just similar. The paragliders need more subtle control inputs coz they dont have the ribs to keep the wing open. Thentherse the size. Paragliders start at about 22 square metres and average around 26-28, close to twice the size of a large kite. Theres some power in that!!!!
Found a great site with info & vids about paragliding. There's no sales pitch.
Check out: http://www.paraglidingparagliders.com
Go Hard and High.
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Marc |
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Nak
Since 19 May 2005
4305 Posts
Camas
Site Lackey
CGKA Member
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| Thu Feb 18, 10 8:27 am |
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Very, very cool. I have got to take this up someday. 
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