Comments on: 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Paragliding

By: Antiqueight

Antiqueight — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 20:01:24 +0000

And hangglider pilots call them paralysers thanks to what happens when they DO hit the ground due to a wing collapse too close to ground level.

Better to fly in something with a fairly fixed wing like a hang glider. MUCH safer

By: seany g

seany g — Sat, 31 May 2008 20:54:45 +0000

I want to do this!

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 31 May 2008 03:02:41 +0000

You linked to the school where I learned. Cool!

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 31 May 2008 02:57:33 +0000

Ransom,

Thanks for promoting the sport! I’ve been paragliding for about two years now, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.

The training takes about a week or two, but the learning lasts for the rest of your flying career. In the United States, you can progress though at least four levels of ratings, issued through the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA.)

Deformations of the wing occur in unstable air (usually thermal updrafts) but the pilot typically does nothing and the wing takes care of itself, often without the pilot knowing what has happened until it’s over.

You can also strap an engine to your back and fly paragliders with power. I have a three-wheeled trike which allows me to sit and not have to carry the weight of the motor (which you need to do on the ground.)

I’ve posted in the comments about paragliding before, but the posts don’t seem to show up.

By: Tricia

Tricia — Fri, 30 May 2008 22:03:56 +0000

Can you go with more than one person or did you pilot it yourself? I’m not too keen about throwing myself off the mountain without somebody who knows what they’re doing. I’d love to surprise my husband with it though if a non-adrenaline junkie is willing to put his stamp of approval on it.

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:15:03 +0000

So glad to see this today.

I was in San Diego last week and we stopped by the paragliding launch area in Torrey Pines. I wanted to paraglide, but it was the last day of the vacation and all the sudden I got frugal. $150 and my husband didn’t want to go, so I just skipped it.

I am SOOO mad I didn’t go.

We are going to Peru next spring though and I here there are some awesome cliffs for paragliding!

By: Dick Pilz

Dick Pilz — Fri, 30 May 2008 17:37:04 +0000

Domina Jalbert invented the ram-air inflated parafoil.