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johntp
Trad climber
Little Rock and Loving It
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Topic Author's Original Post - Sep 4, 2018 - 03:48pm PT
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Thinking about getting into it. Any recommendations for a good study guide?
Thanks in advance.
edit: I realize the best way is to get instruction and just do it, just want something to chew on.
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Books and instruction are overrated. Just watch a couple Red Bull videos and then go ahead...what could go wrong ;-)
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ms55401
Trad climber
minneapolis, mn
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BASE (the poster) has some good stuff here, just need to search for it
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skywalker1
Trad climber
co
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"The Art of Paragliding" by Dennis Pagen
ISBN13:978-0-936310-14-1
Just curious where are you going to train? It sure is fun!
Good Luck!
S...
Edit: VVVVVVV I did not know that, its the book my current glider port gives out, thanks Thomas! Safe flying!
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ThomasKeefer
Trad climber
San Diego
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These are much more modern books:
'Mastering Paragliding' by Kelly Farina
'Thermal Flying' by Burkhardt Martens.
The Pagen book is great but very outdated - there are many new techniques that make the sport less dangerous now and the gear in that book is obsolete.
(full disclosure: I wrote part of the weather section in Kelly's book but it was as a thank you for mentorship he gave me early in my flying career - I didn't take any financial compensation)
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johntp
Trad climber
Little Rock and Loving It
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 5, 2018 - 08:33pm PT
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Thanks folks.
BASE (the poster) has some good stuff here, just need to search for it
I know BASE104; climbed with him at Quartz in OK and the Buttermilks (well, I never actually roped up with him but we ran in the same circle for a few years in Norman). I'll look for his stuff here. BASE104 is one of those people that fly under the radar but has done some pretty rad stuff.
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tooth
Trad climber
B.C.
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Second the Dennis Pagan book. And get a hike and fly wing. Smaller and lighter so you don’t mind carrying it down means you fly more as you always have it on every mountain you climb.
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johntp
Trad climber
Little Rock and Loving It
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 5, 2018 - 10:56pm PT
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Just curious where are you going to train? It sure is fun!
There's a place here in Arkansas; can't remember the name off hand.
I sit on my porch a lot and watch the birds of prey floating on the thermals. Makes me jealous.
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skywalker1
Trad climber
co
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Can't speak much to Arkansas. Y'all have bluffs? Or would it be tow? Somewhat rhetorical questions. I watched for years living in Golden, Co from my house...paragliders I was like my god I want to do that! But it was too advanced, you can't learn there. I think up north you can????
I live very close to Torrey Pines right now in San Diego and the instructors are world class.
Its not easy learning at first or at least that is my experience. However its not dependent upon athletics. Once you can control the glider over head then its easier. Once in flight it generally seems easier. I'm ridge soaring so its pretty straight forward. The landings can be a little stressful because we top land without much altitude.
I'm still tethered to the radio but I like that, someone to guide my way back. For some reason after 30 minutes I loose track of ground speed, etc. and its helpful to have a "spotter".
I have flown very close to groups of pelicans but I don't trust them ;-). I'm at P2 (noob) getting ready for P3 which seems very much more involved. Take your time and be patient! It is a beautiful experience and a life time of learning.
Do it man! Its so cool!
Cheers!!!
S....
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tooth
Trad climber
B.C.
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The instructors at Torrey Pines Gliderport must have changed since I lived/flew there in 2004 lots of yelling at everyone. And a surfers ‘locals’ attitude. 😉
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Don Paul
Social climber
Washington DC
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I've only been a passenger but if I get into this I would use Adventure Travel Pakistan in the Karakoram.
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johntp
Trad climber
Little Rock and Loving It
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 6, 2018 - 06:15pm PT
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Can't speak much to Arkansas. Y'all have bluffs?
Yeah, there are bluffs here. It's actually a pretty diverse region geographically/topologically. There is climbing here. Not great but better than a gym. A little too overhanging for my my taste. No real mountains tho. Think the highest peak is around 3k.
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skywalker1
Trad climber
co
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Can't compare much to Torrey but they are very good (I get yelled at a lot) but I'm learning a lot. To John I think if you really want to do it just go. Its a small community in the U.S. but my experience has been +1 with everyone involved.
Seems if you have good winds that are steady in the right direction, a good hill, and a good LZ it might be worth pursuing. Its a big commitment. So consider that. But when folks look up at the birds you may be one of them.
I don't have much more to offer other than its been a game changer for me cause I just can't climb the way I did in the past but I can do this.
Again I'm a total beginner
Cheers!
S...
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johntp
Trad climber
Little Rock and Loving It
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 6, 2018 - 11:48pm PT
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Can't compare much to Torrey but they are very good (I get yelled at a lot) but I'm learning a lot. To John I think if you really want to do it just go. Its a small community in the U.S. but my experience has been +1 with everyone involved.
Seems if you have good winds that are steady in the right direction, a good hill, and a good LZ it might be worth pursuing. Its a big commitment. So consider that. But when folks look up at the birds you may be one of them.
I don't have much more to offer other than its been a game changer for me cause I just can't climb the way I did in the past but I can do this.
Again I'm a total beginner
Cheers!
S...
Yup. Can't climb like I used to and looking for a new game to challenge the brain. Here in Arkansas the wind direction and speed is fairly consistent, as are temperature fluctuations.
Gonna have to learn to chute jump and spend a lot on the chute and gliding rig which makes me want to chew on it a bit before diving in the pool. Ordered the Kelly Farins book.
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GuapoVino
climber
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Sep 12, 2018 - 11:49am PT
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I recommend Utah Paragliding School at Point of the Mountain in Utah. The instructor in Arkansas is known to sell gear and sell lessons but only give you a few flights and really not teach you much.
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johntp
Trad climber
Little Rock and Loving It
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 12, 2018 - 05:17pm PT
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Thanks Terry for the PM
I recommend Utah Paragliding School at Point of the Mountain in Utah. The instructor in Arkansas is known to sell gear and sell lessons but only give you a few flights and really not teach you much.
Interesting and good info. Thanks.
Ordered the Farina book.
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Don Paul
Social climber
Washington DC
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Apr 11, 2019 - 04:57am PT
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Just wondering if there is some way to prevent the spinning and twisting of lines that you see in these scary videos. Is there an engineering solution to keep the lines separated? Or how to keep the reserve from getting tangled up in everything while spinning? Thanks in advance.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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Apr 11, 2019 - 06:57am PT
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That was heinous.
Looks like he was lucky to land in the water.
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Don Paul
Social climber
Washington DC
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Apr 11, 2019 - 10:08am PT
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^ thanks for all this info! I'm not sure I want to take that course, lol. I guess it's like bounce testing in aid climbing. Once his reserve started getting twisted up in everything, I thought he was in serious trouble.
There are other videos too, that are real accidents that started out with the pilot or the wing spinning, and once the lines get twisted a few times, they are not strong enough to separate them, and all control is lost. This one isn't too bad, but the pilot has to just go along for the ride.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
Maybe it's not a major cause of paragliding accidents, but it's the scariest looking problem to me. I was wondering if you could use a metal rod, let's say about 4' long, to make sure the lines can't be twisted.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Apr 11, 2019 - 11:32am PT
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Instructors in the Karakoram...would that be in Skardu? I'll be there again in July.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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Apr 11, 2019 - 01:48pm PT
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DaveT, who used to post here, has a guide outfit - although it hasn't been updated in a few years.
http://sierraparagliding.com/dave-turner/
These hi-stim types seem to either die or get bored and move on rather quickly from their interests.
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Don Paul
Social climber
Washington DC
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Apr 11, 2019 - 04:36pm PT
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This SIV course video shows a recovery from a stall ball. Looks scary to me lol.
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John Duffield
Mountain climber
New York
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Apr 12, 2019 - 08:33am PT
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I haven't done a lot of paragliding but my takeaway was that the wind needs to be sufficient and steady. Have to be patient sometimes.
People get impatient, they're running down the incline, getting insufficient lift to clear the trees or worse. Can take the better part of an hour to disengage the apparatus from the vegetation, climb back up and spread it out again ready to take the wind. That's when you're lucky.
Really, I prefer France for it. They do it a lot there, the wind off the Med seems to be reliable at times and the people are skilled. The wind gets right and everyone launches.
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Gunkie
Trad climber
Valles Marineris
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Apr 12, 2019 - 12:27pm PT
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Not called Parapente anymore?
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Don Paul
Social climber
Washington DC
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Apr 12, 2019 - 12:35pm PT
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^ si, todavía.
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