avoid rotor, lee side winds and the foehn at all costs unless you are a super well trained acro pilot

these 2 videos may save you from pooping your pants. avoid rotor, lee side winds and the foehn at all costs unless you are a super well trained acro pilot

https://vimeo.com/37244764

https://www.facebook.com/ondrej.prochazka.official/videos/1694592224124173/
learn from Ondrej Prochazka

Couch surfing for Paraglider Pilots

Let's face it, most of us pilots have given up a lot of material success, ditched the cubicle and the stifling 9-5 job for the freedom in the sky.  Sky bums many of us are.  We are also some of the most handsome and interesting people on the planet so who would not want to host us as we travel the world looking for the next great paragliding adventure?  With a community that is as warm as a trusty blanket we are really lucky.  Meeting another paraglider pilot is like meeting up with family.  Today I found a cool paragliding group https://www.facebook.com/groups/couchparagliding/ just for you sky bums.   Keep chasing the dream!

Money with a paraglider on it?? Yes it's true.

One of my favorite paragliding newsletters brought this story out.  Switzerland is going to print money with a Paraglider on it!!  :)

http://lu-glidz.blogspot.com/2016/04/in-der-schweiz-geht-geld-jetzt-fliegen.html

Blown Land

Those Spanish dude have so much style and mad talent.  Spain really looks like some sort of paraglider pilots dream.

Fantastic Way to Die?

Dying while paragliding is a fantastic way to die, that said I really hope we can make this sport safer. http://www.redbullxalps.com/…/saddening-loss-for-the-paragl… We lose too many wonderful people. Having a close call myself has certainly curbed my risk tolerance.

http://www.redbullxalps.com/news/article/saddening-loss-for-the-paragliding-world.html

Discussion on new Parachute designs

Gleitschirm Retter Test Advance Companion SQR32

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RsecTEcLJs

I am very grateful for anyone working to make the sport of paragliding safer.  And Chris at Advance is one of those people doing the research.  I believe they are working on a prototype that is a combination of the square and round models currently on the market.

What I found interesting is just how bad a landing could be even under canopy as this video demonstrates and you can see our discussion in the comments.

There is still a long way to go in our rescue reserve methods and I hope to see those improvements happen at a fast pace to protect those of us who may encounter a surprise in the air.

The Dream of the Paragliding Girlfriend

It is no secret that the paragliding world is dominated by men.  Many of us men have partners with little or no interest in paragliding and we wish for a girlfriend who would also fly with us.

This is not to say that there are not female paragliding pilots.  Females make excellent paragliding pilots.

In this void of females one female has created quite a stir.  Her name is Lauren Martins from the UK.  She is not only an incredible pilot able to do tasks and distances worthy of notice but she happens to be very attractive as well.  She is not who you would picture flying the most advanced wings.  But here she is our little anomolie in the sport and I'm sure that will change over time but here's to you Lauren for creating the paragliding fantasy for many of the guys in the sport as you will quickly see if you look at her facebook page full of adoring fans.

You will find her on paragliding forums as one of the most outspoken contributors with very strong opinions especially about glider size which she often complains does not meet her expectations for the lighter small pilot.  I am glad she starts these discussions and keeps the sport innovating and improving.