Paragliding:
a visual journey
Follow along with us as adventurers take to the skies for the first time on a tandem, learn valuable paragliding skills or even catch a glimpse of pilots just goofing around!
Thanks to Tyler who sent in this clip of yours truly flying the Canadian Flag at Bridal Falls on Canada Day last summer!
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I still can't believe this is "winter". My passenger came out after work and we nabbed this beautiful tandem flight, launching around 5pm and to enjoy the colours of the valley as the sun started descending for the day.
I was looking for some friends to fly with on Sunday, but the only pilots coming out were planning a hike & fly. Still nursing my tweaked knee (that I got from hiking! See? Flying is so much safer!) I couldn't join in so decided to go kite my student wings instead. Taking the long way to the training hill so I could pass Mt Woodside, I soon heard from one pilot already on launch looking for a ride up to retrieve after he flew, then another on his way out. Perfect! Hammer & I had to wait a bit for an uphill breeze and then we both got to fly.
Here's a GoPro screenshot as I do a quick shoulder check before starting my reverse inflation. I got to fly through a few wispies before they disappeared...one of my favourite things! After seeing this video where a pilot missed a crucial step in his pre-flight (he looped his speedbar line through his reserve handle, causing an accidental deployment when he stepped on bar while flying!), it made me think about all the times pilots sometimes hurry on launch either because conditions look great or there are people waiting to take-off. This is a good reminder to take the time you need...safety is always the priority!
Here is a picture of my launch helper William (who came tandem with me for his birthday a couple of years ago) who helped sort out my lines. A second set of eyes is always helpful, and after a double check I was good to go! Keep an eye on your buddies, and don't be shy to speak up if you see something that doesn't look right! This winter has been stunning on the West Coast of Canada. No thermals to keep you up in the air, but the sun's warmth has been strong enough to heat the front of launch and send up nice cycles to take off in. Loving life in BC! Everyone loves to tell stories. While para-waiting Joe reenacted a previous launch, because as every hang - and paraglider pilot knows, you can't tell a flying story without using your arms!
Inspired by a woman who will be coming tandem with me this year, I finally sat down and started going through all the GoPro footage I've kept over the years of my paragliding flights. Giggling at some of the "unique" ways passengers ran off the mountain, I put together this little video. Visit the Jet Set Paragliding Vimeo and YouTube pages for more! Yesterday was a stunning day in the valley, so Martin & I decided to switch things up and do a fly and hike. We drove up around 11:30 and sat on launch for a while, enjoying the January sun. We both enjoyed a sunny flight then had a leisurely walk back up to retrieve my FJ, still in awe at this incredible weather we get to experience!
Gotta love your neighbourhood when you're driving to a meeting and you spy some paragliders dropping in from a morning hike and fly! Peter, Claudia and Martin ignored the drizzly forecast and nabbed an early flight off Elk Mountain yesterday.
One of my goals this year is to double my airtime over last year. Shouldn't be hard as I didn't actually fly much last year compared to years past. So far so good - last year I didn't record any flights in January so am ahead for the month with only my New Year's Day flight. Looking forward to some hike & fly trips up Elk before the next big snowfall up there!
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