Paragliding - Anyone else silly enough?
 

http://www.californear.com/pics/jacktakeoff.jpg
As you may have guessed I'm facing the wrong way! What a pro!!

I did a couple of tandem flights in a ski resort and was hooked. Did a weeks course and about 5 or 6 solo flights. Great fun and a great buzz. The only dodgey bit is landing!

The instructor only told me I'd been using his tandem shoot all week when I got to the end! Something to do with weight and gravity.

Definately something you need to practice regularly.

Landing doesn't worry me too much, I fly all summer with the weight of a motor on my back, without it it's very slow and gentle - mostly. Cascading collapses are a different matter :)

One of the guys that works from me has just got back from the World Championships in Mexico, think he came in around 70th.

Wouldnt mind a go one of these days - for when its not windy enuff to go windsurfing ..:) They do it all along the cliffs here on the coast

Be careful out there.........

Ewa sucked into storm and lives to tell - National - smh.com.au

Was just going to post similar :

Storm lifts woman higher than Everest - 16 Feb 2007 - World

My old physics lecturer used to fly specially prepared light planes into thunderstorms as part of research in the US, some incredible stories.

The Paragliding World Championships started this week in Manilla, he must have been at the Monarca Paragliding Open, not quite the PWC but a great comp at a fantastic flying site. The picture above was in the Dominican Republic last week at an open comp, I came in 5th... from last!

i'd love a go at paramotoring....

(paragliding but with a big fan on your back)

My mate used to go paragliding. I say used to, canopy collapsed and he landed on his arse on the side of a hill, damaged 2 vertebrae and ended up in a back brace for a while.

The missus has banned him now.

We like to call them propellers :)

Me on my paramotor
http://www.californear.com/pics/jackparamotor.jpg

Ewa's blackout on trip to 30,000ft

:eek2:

Had a go at a tandem last year in olu-deniz, Turkey

Absolutely fantastic.. about 45 minutes up in the Air after an hour up the mountain in a battered old jeep :D only cost about £45 too!

http://www.aviz.co.uk/images/para1.jpg

http://www.aviz.co.uk/images/para2.jpg

My pilot was a bit vertically challenged, ended up carrying him on my back for take off :D

http://www.aviz.co.uk/images/para3.jpg