I Love Paragliding

One of the biggest mistakes people make after they begin paragliding regularly is to fall into a pattern of complacency. The sport is both thrilling and relaxing, which is a unique combination responsible for many people enjoying it so much.

It is also pretty easy to reach a level of competency, which can lead to over confidence. In the anticipation of flying however, some people forget that they will be flying high through the air, which is by its very definition death defying.

By now you must be thinking: Ok, we are going tandem paragliding but what type of paragliding equipment do you use and how much does one of these “baby’s” cost ?

Well,  lets start from the top.

A full tandem paragliding kit consists of the following :

Paragliding Cape Town Nutshell

1) Two helmets, one for the paragliding pilot and one for the pax and to answer your next question:

Why do we wear helmets?

To protect your head of course, but mostly on the take off….

Paragliding Cape Town Gin Safari Pilot

2) The next two items are the harness’. One pilot harness and one pax harness. These harness’ are designed in such a way that it is possible for you to move from a standing position on the take off to a very comfortable seated position whilst glider flies through the air. The harness is also equipped with a foam protector and an inflatable airbag to protect your back should you have a hard landing.

Paragliding Cape Town Gin Safari Pax

Paragliding Cape Town Spreaderbars

3) The spreader bars are the bars that connect the pilot to the passenger and the tandem paraglider to the spreader bar.

Paragliding Cape Town Magnum

4)The most important item of them all is the Tandem Paraglider. The gliders we use are Ozone Magnum 2’s. They are 41m’ in size and are made of the highest quality materials available. Definitely the best on the market. They have got a lifespan of around 300 hours.

Paragliding Cape Town Reserve

5)We do also carry a reserve parachute in case the main tandem paraglider should fail or collapse, we can throw the reserve to ensure that we come down safely.

So what does all of this cost?

1)Helmet +/- R1500 x 2

2) Harness +/- R6500 x 2

3) Spreader bars +/- R850

4 ) Tandem paraglider +/- R35 000

Paragliding is a relatively niche sport, but there are a surprising number of choices out there when it comes to paragliding helmets. They range from helmets that wouldn’t look out of place on a motorcycle ride to helmets you might see at a Daft Punk concert. So what should you buy? To help you choose the right paragliding helmet, we broke them down into a few crucial factors.

1. Open Face, Full Face, Or Visor?

There are two basic shapes to helmets: open face and full face. Open-face helmets are shaped like traditional bike or motorcycle helmets. Full face helmets have an extra bar across the chin.

There are pros and cons to each shape. People who prefer open-face helmets say that they give a wider range of vision and create less neck fatigue, thanks to their light weight.

Full-face helmets, on the other hand, offer more direct protection to the face in case of collision, but are heavier. Full-face helmets also tend to reduce wind noise more. Reduced noise can help if communicating with a radio during flights.

Many helmets come with a visor, which is often detachable. These can help reduce wind and sun, just like ski goggles. But many pilots who judge their speed by the sound and feel of the wind on their faces and in their ears actually find the added wind protection of full-face helmets and visors to be a negative.

In the end, shape is a matter of preference. But no matter which shape you pick, make sure the opening is shaped so that it doesn’t reduce your peripheral vision too much. Being able to see and avoid fellow paraglider pilots, hang gliders, or other aircraft – not to mention mountains and cliffs – is of course extremely important.

2. Size?

This is probably the most important factor in choosing a helmet. If it’s too small, it will be uncomfortable. If it’s too big, it may obstruct your vision. Having the wrong size helmet, big or small also means you will not be as safe as you should be. Here’s how to make sure the helmet is the right size: put it on and fasten the chinstrap. If you feel continuous pressure somewhere on your head, the helmet is probably too small. Move your head around in all directions. If the helmet falls over your eyes, if you can feel it sliding, or if it begins to slip off when you look down, then it’s too big.

Some helmets have removable padding, which can help you adjust and customize the size to your head.

3. Certification

Any helmet you buy should conform to EN 966 standards. EN 966 are the European standards that specify how flight helmets should stand up to impacts and how to test for that (basically, they drop big anvils on the helmets). EN 966 applies specifically to flight helmets – there are other standards for different sports. Remember: if you’re going to be paragliding, buy a paragliding helmet. It may seem tempting to buy a motorcycle or ski helmet because these are easier to find. But that can be dangerous. A motorcycle helmet is designed specifically for motorcycle impacts – it won’t protect you as well in a paragliding accident. A helmet is there to protect you, after all, so make sure to get one that will really do the job.

4. Material

The helmet should have two hard layers: an outer shell and an inner shell. The outer shell is usually made of thermoplastic, composite fiber, or kevlar, combined with carbon fiber. The inner shell is designed for absorbing most of the shock in the event of a collision. It’s also more fragile so check this part carefully for dents or bends. The inner shell is usually made of expanded polystyrene.

5. Colour

One of the great things about paragliding is that it is a very easy sport to learn. This means you can be up and flying in almost no time and feel competent doing so. However, many paragliding pilots think that they are experts too soon, especially when it comes to safety concerns.

Everyone can always get better at their craft, and the following are a few ways you can become a better paragliding pilot.

Do Something Different

Routines are good, but sometimes when we do the same thing over and over, we can become too comfortable. We all have our favorite places, but by choosing to fly new sites every once in a while, you can avoid laziness.

A new site will make you inspect the area closer before you launch and keep details in the front of your mind.

When we fly at one of our favorite sites,  sometimes we fail to notice changes in conditions and reach a false sense of security.

Safety must always be a top priority. Even though paragliding is fun and relaxing, it still involves flying hundreds of meter above the earth’s surface, which is dangerous if mistakes are made. Plus, by mixing up your location, you will have a new view and a new experience the next time you paraglide.

You can also modify your landing approach. Again, sometimes it is good to mix things up a bit. However, you may not be able to travel to faraway places to experience a new launching spot.

One way to achieve some variation in your routine is through using a different approach to your standard landing aproach, coming in from all different sides.

Safety Procedures, Revisited

One of the biggest mistakes that paragliding pilots make when they paraglide is taking safety procedures for granted.

It is very important to inspect your paragliding equipment both between flights and always again before you launch. This is especially important when you travel.

Most new pilots will conduct a standard safety check as they were instructed to do in paragliding training. It is the veterans that generally get lazy and take shortcuts. That leads to mistakes and accidents.

A standard safety check will include:

1) Inspecting the reserve and the pin beforehand and at check in.

2) Next, your helmet and chinstrap should be in good working order, in addition to your carabineers and harness buckles.

3)Then, check the edge of both A’s and brakes to make sure they are clear, as well as your speed bar and stirrup.

4) Finally, inspect the side that you turn to  and also your radio.

When you paraglide, it is important to always start with the end in mind. What goes up must come down, so you should know what to expect before you launch.

The sport of paragliding is an exciting and relaxing activity that everyone can enjoy. Of course, due to the fact that it involves flying through the air hundreds or thousands of meters above the ground it means you must take steps to ensure your safety.

The following are some paragliding safety tips for everyone from beginners to experienced paragliding pilots.

Paragliding in Cape Town is actually an activity that is really easy to learn. However, one of the most dangerous aspects to it is the period just after someone starts to feel comfortable in the air.

When you are brand new to flying, chances are you will be extremely careful and even have a feeling of vulnerability. On the other hand, if you have gone through paragliding training to become a pilot, and have gone out to fly by yourself, it can be pretty easy to develop a false sense of security.

Just when you really begin to feel at ease, it is very easy to take safety less seriously and make mistakes.

Paragliding Preparation

Preparation is key. Mistakes happen, even to experienced pilots. However, maintaining a respect for flying coupled with a constant feeling of susceptibility and preparing yourself properly physically and mentally before paragliding is very important.

This includes compiling an accurate weather forecast ahead of your flight and knowing the area well.

All paragliding equipment should be inspected regularly and before each flight to ensure it is up to proper working standards. If you have any question about the integrity of any of your equipment, or the conditions in which you will be paragliding, do not take off.

Also, practice your techniques for both launching and landing. When landing, you should do so into the wind. It is important to practice your landing and concentrate your efforts on hitting the target, or as close as possible.

After all, practice makes perfect and you will be happy you have gone through all the details ahead of time once you reach the ground safely.

You should also have a plan for the end of your flight before you even begin. Properly planning a safe approach to the landing zone should be a priority at every step of your flight, and you should avoid landing out of the zone, which increases the likelihood of an accident.

Avoid Complacency When Paragliding

One of the biggest mistakes people make after they begin paragliding regularly is to fall into a pattern of complacency. The sport is both thrilling and relaxing, which is a unique combination responsible for many people enjoying it so much.

It is also pretty easy to reach a level of competency, which can lead to over confidence. In the anticipation of flying however, some people forget that they will be flying high through the air, which is by its very definition death defying.