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Frequently
Asked Questions
If you have questions that aren't
answered here, please contact us!
We're always happy to answer any questions you may have.
Is paragliding safe?
Paragliding, like most adventure sports, can be made as
safe or dangerous as you want. The primary safety factors
are personal judgment and attitude. You must be willing
to learn gradually and to think with your head not with
your ego. It is of course crucial that you receive instruction
from a certified professional and use safe equipment. Adventure
Paragliding will create as safe and controlled of a learning
environment as possible, and train to understand the natural
conditions that affect your flight. Using the information
we teach you, and your own good judgment, you can paraglide
safely until you're old and gray.
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Is paragliding scary?
Paragliding is the simplest and most serene way to fulfill
humankind's oldest dream -- free flight! The pilot runs
down a gentle slope and glides away from the mountain. There
is no free-falling or jumping off of cliffs. The launches
and landings are slow and gentle and, once in the air, most
people are surprised by how quiet and peaceful the experience
is. Even a fear of heights is rarely a factor, as there
is no sensation of falling. The solo lesson requires more
effort (physical and mental) than the tandem lesson, but
it lays the basic groundwork necessary to become your own
pilot.If the idea of watching the sunset from a comfortable
seat in the air, supported by the buoyant evening air, with
perhaps an eagle or hawk joining you off your wing tip,
appeals to you, then paragliding is for you.
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What
is it like to paraglide? What is a paraglider?
Paragliding is the simplest form of human flight. A paraglider
is a non-motorized, foot-launched wing. It is easy to transport,
easy to launch, and easy to land. The paraglider itself
is constructed of rip-stop nylon from which the pilot is
suspended by sturdy kevlar lines. The pilot is clipped into
a harness and oriented in a sitting position for maximum
comfort. With a paraglider, you actually fly like a bird,
soaring upwards on currents of air. Paraglider pilots routinely
stay aloft for 3 hours or more, climb to elevations of 15,000-plus
feet, and go cross-country for vast distances.
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Is
paragliding the same as parasailing, parachuting, or BASE
jumping?
No. Parasailing is what you do at a beach, in a modified
parachute tied to a boat, often in Mexico after you've had
one too many cocktails. You get dragged around the harbor
like a sack of potatoes, not like a pilot. Parachutes, both
for skydiving and BASE jumping are designed to be deployed
during free-fall and to then descend to the ground. By contrast,
paraglider pilots launch from gentle hillsides with their
gliders already opened for flight; if the glider isn't flying
properly, the launch can be aborted before leaving the ground.
Since paragliders do not have to withstand the stresses
of free-fall deployment, they are much lighter and aerodynamic
and are designed to go up rather than down.
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How is paragliding
different from hang gliding?
Paragliding and hang gliding are very similar in terms of
pure, uninhibited flight. There are aspects that make each
a little easier in some situations and more difficult in
others. A paraglider is a bit faster to set up and put away,
it folds up into a 30-pound backpack in about five minutes
and can be easily transported in the trunk of a car, whereas
a hang glider requires a roof rack for transport and takes
considerably longer to set up and take down, and they generally
weigh twice as much as a paraglider. The small size and
light weight of a paraglider makes them easily transportable
to the tops of peaks in the Cascades, Alps, Andes, and Himalayas,
which would be difficult with a hang glider. Paragliding
launches are not as "committing"; if you want
to stop your launch, you just stop running and the canopy
floats down behind you. A hang glider is controlled through
weight shift and the feeling of carving turns is similar
to riding a roller-coaster head first. A paraglider is controlled
through weight shift and application of brakes which deform
the back edge of the glider, there is a similar feeling
of carving turns, but there's not as much speed and you're
upright in a sitting position. They both have similar safety
records.
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What can I do with
a paraglider?
Paragliders are designed to soar. The duration record is
over 11 hours and the distance record is 300 kilometers.
In training you will start out just skimming the ground.
As you progress and become more skilled and confident you
will probably want to go higher and use the wing for its
designed purpose, soaring! Average recreational pilots,
utilizing thermal and ridge lift, routinely stay aloft for
3 hours or more, soar to altitudes of 15,000 feet and travel
cross-country for great distances. In addition, paragliders
can be easily carried and launched off of most mountains.
Paragliders have been flown off of almost every major peak
in the United States and Europe as well as off of Mt. Everest.
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Who can learn
to paraglide?
Paragliding is about finesse and serenity, not strength
and adrenaline. As in rock climbing, women often do much
better than men because they don't try to muscle the paraglider
around. In Europe, where the sport is immensely popular,
you will see pilots as young as 10 and as old as 80. If
you choose to hike to launch then you'll want to be in good
physical condition, but you can also drive to most popular
flying sites. More important than physical conditioning,
is being physically and mentally alert and prepared. To
be a successful paragliding student and pilot, you need
to be able to think clearly and to listen well.
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Do I need a license
to paraglide?
A license is not required to paraglide. In essence, paragliding
is a self-regulated sport under the auspices of the United
States Hang Gliding Association (USHGA) To keep it self-regulated,
pilots and instructors alike adhere to the policies and
guidelines of the USHGA. Local flying regulations may require
the pilot to have certain USHGA certified ratings, such
as Novice (Para 2) or Intermediate (Para 3) in order to
fly a particular site. When purchasing equipment, a responsible
dealer will always require some proof of certified rating.
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How long does
it take to learn to paraglide?
You'll be flying solo within your first few days of paragliding
instruction, which is one of the advantages of the sport.
However, in order to acquire the basic skills necessary
to fly on your own without instructor supervision, you need
to take our Novice (P2) Certification
Course, which generally takes a minimum of 7 to 10 days
and at least 25 flights. During this course, you will complete
the USHGA-mandated amount of ground-school time, flights,
and flying days, and will learn about high altitude flight,
advanced maneuvers and reserve parachute deployment. Whether
you complete your training in consecutive days or spread
out over several months is up to you, although the more
concentrated your training, the better.
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What should
I look for when choosing a paragliding school?
When selecting a school for paragliding instruction, first
make sure that the instructors are certified by the United
States Hang Gliding Association (USHGA). Things to look
for include: What USHGA ratings do the instructors have?
(The highest rating is called Advanced Tandem Instructor.)
How many instructors are at each class, what is the student
to instructor ratio? Are the flights radio supervised? Will
the training proceed gradually up progressively higher hills?
Does the school have hills to accommodate more than one
wind direction and thus more flying days? What is the safety
record of the school and of the instructors? How many students
has the school taught, how many of its students receive
certification each year? Does the school operate full-time
to fit your schedule? You may call the United State Hang
Gliding Association at 719-632-8300 for the names of instructors
you may want to interview.
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How do I get
started?
The best way to start is with our Introductory
Course designed to give you a taste of real flying.
Under radio supervision, you will fly solo from the training
hill in one day. The basic techniques of paragliding - launching,
turning, landing - are fairly easy to learn. If after your
introductory flights, you want to continue with paragliding,
the next step is to enroll in our Preparatory
and Novice (P2) Certification Courses which will teach
you about micrometeorology, different launch and flying
techniques, safety procedures, etc. You should try and complete
the Novice Course in a concentrated period of time.
What do I wear?
Generally, you should wear long pants, sturdy boots or running
shoes and a light top. Because the temperature can change
throughout the day, we recommend you bring layers of clothing
to adjust your comfort.
Where do we
meet?
We meet at the landing field witch is located behind the Glenwood Springs High school football field.
Comming from I-70
Head south east on Grand Avenue and take a right on 14th street. Follow 14th till you get to the football field bleachers and park on the right hand side of the road.
What are the
flight times?
We fly at 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m.,10:00 am and 5:00 p.m.
What can
I expect when flying tandem?
You can expect a breathtaking 10-30 minute flight over the
mountains and town of Glenwood Springs.
Are there
weight and height limits for paragliding?
There are certain requirements that make paragliding safe
and enjoyable. Please call for restrictions.
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How much
does a paraglider cost? How long does a paraglider last?
A new paraglider, harness and reserve will cost somewhere
between $3,600 and $5,000. After four years of fairly active
usage and exposure to UV light from the sun, a paraglider
is generally in need of replacement. This of course varies
with how you care for your wing. It's easy to test your
lines and sailcloth for strength and thus determine your
need to replace your paraglider long before it becomes unsafe.
Harnesses and reserves should last indefinitely with good
care. Most pilots who get into the sport also purchase a
two-way radio and a variometer (which tells you how fast
you are going up or down) for an additional $500 altogether.
Good used equipment is often available for half as much
though it will have a shorter life-span. In addition, because
the sport is evolving rapidly, newer paragliders can have
significantly better performance and behavior than older
ones.
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What do
I need to know when purchasing my first paraglider?
First, you need to know how to fly. No would-be pilot should
purchase a wing before learning at least the basics of paragliding.
It is your instructor's job to help you select your first
wing. Different paragliders have different characteristics
and require different skill levels; your instructor will
match the glider to your particular interests, strengths,
weaknesses, and skill level. Develop a solid relationship
with an instructor you trust before purchasing equipment.
"Good deals" generally end up costing the naive
new pilot a great deal of money. Most instructors rely on
referrals and repeat business so they are very determined
to help you make the right decisions.
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What is paramotoring,
or powered paragliding?
With a gas-fueled motor unit attached to the pilot's back
by means of a special harness, it is possible to paraglide
in areas where, and at times when, flying sites or conditions
are limited or non-existent. With thorough training a backpack
motor pilot can use the motor to launch and then spend the
rest of the day ridge soaring or thermaling, using the motor
only when necessary to keep from landing. All of the same
general considerations discussed about paragliders apply
to motor units. Since the pilot will be launching and landing
with 45 to 100 pounds of additional weight, it is extremely
important that the pilot be competent in evaluating the
conditions and have the appropriate skills.
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