Just watching an amazing doco about a German woman sucked up in a thunderstorm did anyone else see this? It's on abc iview.
Is paragliding most of the time safe? Has anyone here tried it? Looks awesome!
Im sure from previous threads on here that there are some Seabreezers that PG.
I didnt see the doco, but I have heard of a Hanglider doing the same. Flying anything close to a CB is asking for trouble.
That doco was on years ago.
It was an amazing story and one which you would not expect anyone to survive.
Yeah I saw that the other day???.amazing, she got sucked nearly 10kms up, very lucky to have survived.
This doco seems to be a series it's called "miracles" just watch the second one on the crazy Yank who got lost in the Ozzie desert for 41 days! Abc2
pg pilot here :)
yeah you dont **** around with cumulonimbus.
paragliding is pretty oldschool these days so theres heaps of instructional videos (even one with william shatner in it for you trekkies) just jump on the torrent site and grab some. allso vimeo's "paragliding" channell is pretty awesome. any videos done by shamsprod or jb prod are truly amazing even if you are a kiter and you have heard its a "boreing" sport trust me its not for feint of heart. its probably about 2-3 times more expensive then kitesurfing and it takes alot longer to get better at it. theres alot more study involved and far more restrictions. if you want to know anymore you can download the hgfa ops manual from website or snoop around at the paragliding forum (big international forum)
I'm quite surprised to hear that anyone has described paragliding as boring. I can only imagine how awesome it must be, and its only fear of death or quadriplegia that has stopped me from giving it a go. Maybe one day!
Paragliding is a lifestyle choice. It's almost impossible to do it recreationally unless you live next to a site. You really have to put in the effort to go and do it and do it a lot to get good at it. Although you don't necessarily have to do it for a long time to get good. There's quite a few relatively new pilots who are doing amazing flights.
I have been flying paragliders for 23 years and I am frothing to do it more. It's reached a stage where I am a bit bored with kitesurfing (although I still love to do it) but I try to fly at every opportunity.
Flying in general, and paragliding in particular, can be boring ... if you let it. It can get a bit stale just floating around ridge soaring, or bobbing around in thermals. Conversely, unless you're doing acro, if it's adrenalin fuelled excitement then you're probably doing something dangerously wrong.
If you have a little spirit and sense of self reliance and curiosity it can be endlessly rewarding. I have experienced pleasant, fun, amazing things that non-flyers can not even imagine.
Below are some links to some video of me flying. I'm just an ordinary pilot and these videos are not the most amazing things I have experienced. It's just some stuff I have put up on vimeo or youtube.
You should talk to flysurfer first.
Apparently he's got some big screws just to hold his bum on after a minor conflict with some stupid sand hill which didn't get out of his way fast enough.
Actually, I don't think it moved out of his way at all. I don't know why he expected it would. 
Like most sports it's as safe as you make it, biggest issue is new pilots desperate to fly and trying when they shouldn't, especially these days as the amount of flyable days seems to be getting less and less (in Perth anyway).
Here's a vid of some ultra low flying at Quinns Rocks, unfortunately this may be a thing of the past as a local dog walker has made it his mission to get PG banned from that beach although we've been flying here since the mid 90's. There's always someone out to make the world a monotonous place :(
Select to expand quoteGradient said..
Like most sports it's as safe as you make it, biggest issue is new pilots desperate to fly and trying when they shouldn't, especially these days as the amount of flyable days seems to be getting less and less (in Perth anyway).
Here's a vid of some ultra low flying at Quinns Rocks, unfortunately this may be a thing of the past as a local dog walker has made it his mission to get PG banned from that beach although we've been flying here since the mid 90's. There's always someone out to make the world a monotonous place :(
Sounds like that ass on Maui. Which is even more hilarious now that a shark has taken up camping around the point and taste-testing swimmers, kayakers, kiters etc...
Planning on doing an intro course when we go home in Feb next year...
Believe it or not, powered paraglider is more popular (by numbers) here than kiteboarding is! So that's my next step :D
Select to expand quoteGradient said..
Like most sports it's as safe as you make it, biggest issue is new pilots desperate to fly and trying when they shouldn't, especially these days as the amount of flyable days seems to be getting less and less (in Perth anyway).
Here's a vid of some ultra low flying at Quinns Rocks, unfortunately this may be a thing of the past as a local dog walker has made it his mission to get PG banned from that beach although we've been flying here since the mid 90's. There's always someone out to make the world a monotonous place :(
Great Vid thanks for sharing....makes me want to investigate further
Select to expand quoteKamikuza said..Gradient said..
Like most sports it's as safe as you make it, biggest issue is new pilots desperate to fly and trying when they shouldn't, especially these days as the amount of flyable days seems to be getting less and less (in Perth anyway).
Here's a vid of some ultra low flying at Quinns Rocks, unfortunately this may be a thing of the past as a local dog walker has made it his mission to get PG banned from that beach although we've been flying here since the mid 90's. There's always someone out to make the world a monotonous place :(
Sounds like that ass on Maui. Which is even more hilarious now that a shark has taken up camping around the point and taste-testing swimmers, kayakers, kiters etc...
Planning on doing an intro course when we go home in Feb next year...
Believe it or not, powered paraglider is more popular (by numbers) here than kiteboarding is! So that's my next step :D
Haha, he will want sharks banned now
Heard tell of a nutter in NZ who claimed she worked for Department of Conservation and went around cutting kite lines... here, aside from the idiots who just get in the way, the worst moaning comes from the pole dancers who get peeved when you boost anywhere they can see you 
Back OT... PPG is more popular than kiting here. Even saw them doing tow-ups over the lake the other day...
What is up with all the whinging NIMBYs trying to get everything banned? Don't they realise the vast majority of beach users are more than happy to share? In fact it would be a loss to my beach experience not to have a few extreme enthusiasts sharing their stoke. Jet skis excluded, unless the hours of operation are limited.
Select to expand quoteGradient said..
Like most sports it's as safe as you make it, biggest issue is new pilots desperate to fly and trying when they shouldn't, especially these days as the amount of flyable days seems to be getting less and less (in Perth anyway).
Here's a vid of some ultra low flying at Quinns Rocks, unfortunately this may be a thing of the past as a local dog walker has made it his mission to get PG banned from that beach although we've been flying here since the mid 90's. There's always someone out to make the world a monotonous place :(
thanks for that , you just made my evening.
PS where was that beach carpark at the end, I reckon my mini landyacht could pull 60kph in that one with a bit of sand to slide on at the ends
New Set-up:
Glider = $3500-$4500
Harness = $500-$1200
Reserve Parachute = $500-$800
Misc Helmet, instruments = $400-$1000
Second Hand for everything around $3500 which is the way to go as you soon outgrow your first wing and want upgrade (thus good 2nd hand market).
If you can't be bothered using the elements i.e. wind for dynamic lift or thermals then you can add a motor $5-10K
You do need a hang gliding licence to fly legally which is around 2K, if nothing else it's worth doing the course as you get some nice flights and a real taste for the sport, this usually leads to an uncontrolled addiction. I do sometimes think it would be easier to have a drug habit, paragliding is just as disruptive to my life :)
Select to expand quote
PS where was that beach carpark at the end, I reckon my mini landyacht could pull 60kph in that one with a bit of sand to slide on at the ends
South end of Quinns Beach opposite cafe.
Here's one cruising the coast between North Beach and Sorrento :)
Select to expand quotepweedas said..
You should talk to flysurfer first.
Apparently he's got some big screws just to hold his bum on after a minor conflict with some stupid sand hill which didn't get out of his way fast enough.
Actually, I don't think it moved out of his way at all. I don't know why he expected it would.
It was a rock and it didn't do half as much damage to me as the **** surgeon.
It hurts more than it looks.
I've still got the paraglider in perfect condition if anyone wants it.
Oh and lets put this in perspective, any time your going over 30kmh and impact something you're going to hurt yourself, cyclist die all the time.
People slip in the bath and die.
It's just your karma... or stupidity in my case.... all I had to do was turn in to wind and walk back to lift, instead of trying to fly there.
Select to expand quoteFlySurfer said..pweedas said..
You should talk to flysurfer first.
Apparently he's got some big screws just to hold his bum on after a minor conflict with some stupid sand hill which didn't get out of his way fast enough.
Actually, I don't think it moved out of his way at all. I don't know why he expected it would.
It was a rock and it didn't do half as much damage to me as the **** surgeon.
It hurts more than it looks.
I've still got the paraglider in perfect condition if anyone wants it.
Only crashed once 
Select to expand quoteWA71 said..
Only crashed once
Before that, the only thing that happened to me PG'ing was a scratched hand when I got drag a little.
Select to expand quoteFlySurfer said..WA71 said..
Only crashed once
Before that, the only thing that happened to me PG'ing was a scratched hand when I got drag a little.
Twice then
Select to expand quoteFlySurfer said..
It was a rock and it didn't do half as much damage to me as the **** surgeon.
At least he installed a zipper to give you some extra storage
Gorgo sorry i only got a couple minutes into your first video before i had to ask what the devil is going on with your vario?!?! that is your vario right the droneing mosquito tone my god i thought beeps were bad enough youve got 20 odd years on me so im all ears also im thinking useing gaggle app on a galaxys4 as a replacement ive heard there upto scratch now with the stand alone varios do you know much about it?
allso bir in india right? i hear its an absolute mecca is it worth going all way there? what level ippi do i need before theyll let me solo there without safety officers onsite etc? is there much hike and glideing? and lastly did you get jumped by eagles :P
gradient those movies are awesome. im a bit surprised by how freely your allowed to just fly around where ever you want. are you a safety officer or anything like that? very cool videos.
Glad your ok (sort of) Flysurfer.
Are you giving it up by choice or being forced to due to your injury?
Select to expand quoteToph said..
Glad your ok (sort of) Flysurfer.
Are you giving it up by choice or being forced to due to your injury?
plenty of paraplegic flyers out there. alot take up the sport due to being paraplegic.
flysurfers injury looks bloody severe to me id say he got a hit of self preservation and decided to play it safe. the complications from reinjuring something like that woud be serious indeed.
how many hours had you done flysurfer? im just about to start a 4 month stint of flying every day possible (no work/moving to flying sites/sold everything i own) i was stuck in central qld so only got to bang out a few flights bugger all hgfa members there. so statistically i think ill be fitting right into the knows enough to be dangerous catagory by half way threw it and ill end up spending rest my savings on hospital. i am a bit of a pessismist tho so maybe itll all go fine. i just really want to work my way up to be able to hike and fly solo without having to tell anyone and to do a few tandems hahaha got a long road ahead of me tho.
Select to expand quoteKozzie said..
got a hit of self preservation and decided to play it safe.
I gave up surfing when I took up flying some 20 years ago. Same bit of self preservation for a differant reason.
I hope I wasn't being to personal. I've thought of quiting flying a few times over the years but I always made sure that if I was to quit, it would be on my terms. I could'nt imagine what it would be like to be forced out of an activity that you love doing.
This concerns me a little thoughSelect to expand quoteKozzie said..
i just really want to work my way up to be able to hike and fly solo without having to tell anyone
In 20 years of flying (and the same as with boating), I have ALWAYS told someone where I was going and when I expect to be back (or at least within mobile range).
