Learning to Fly a paraglider

This article is a description of a typical paraglding course. It is NOT an instructional article. Seek a professiona paragliding school if you want to learn.

Paragliding is all about patience... and a whole heap of FUN!
Ill start by being a bit bold and say that some extreme daredevils may find the paragliding course a little slow, while others who have not flown before may find it very exciting and even a little confronting.
Is it really worth the effort? Well YEAH! Just try to imagine the feeling of soaring next to an eagle, looking straight into its eyes, harnessing the amazing power of the wind and weather to travel over amazing terrain and see the world from a whole new angle with the breeze in your face like few others have ever experienced. It truly is an incredible experience.
A good paragliding instructor will safely introduce you to this world and will communicate with their students to move at their preferred pace(within safety limits)

Paragliding course: typical structure
The first stage of the course involves understanding the potential risks. Most people who decisde to fly are aware that there is some risk involved, so after signing waivers etc, you will be introduced to the equipment.
The instructor generally shows you the gear, and you may perhaps be shown a DVD of some paragliding action.
In order to select the correct size glider for you, it is necessary to measure your weight. After some discussions about wind conditions, you may be takn to an open level grassy field to have a first feel of the paraglider wings. Its like playing with enormous kites.
This is a crucial stage. Students are now learning what it is like to fly a 24sqm(200 sq ft or bigger) KITE! Given the correct wind strenth, the paraglider wings can easily pick you up off the ground. This activity is appropriately called kiting or groundhandling.
After an hour or so of kiting in light breeze conditions (usually without harnesses) its back to the classroom. Kiting practice is usually a daily activity(because it is by far the most important skill). It can be very tiring, so an hour is plenty until you get some experience with the wing, all the lines and methods to bring the wing up, and control it in the air.
Back in the classroom its theory time..YAY! Learning about the limits of the paraglider. Weather conditions which allow flying, an a large section on Micro meteorology. For most people this information will be totally new, and eve general aviation pilots will discover that extremely detailed knowledge of very local wind conditions is required.
Terms such as Prevailing wind, seabreeze, Land breeze, anabatic and catabatic flows, thermals, lee side turbulence, landform venturi effect, valley breezes and much more will be explained.
An active paragliding pilot will get to know weather charts extremely well over time.

Back out to the field for some more kiting, but this time with a harness on.
You may now be kiting on the side of a gently sloping hill.
Part of the lesson will be reading wind conditions on the site, then strapping into the equipment for some serious practice raising and lowering the paragliders.
There are multiple methods for launch depending on the wind conditions, so expect to practice each of those.
Next comes a briefing on landing technique. A talk about choice of landing sites and what to look for. Notably avoid powerlines, beware of prevailing wind and possible terrain features which will likely cause turbulence.
Oh and the big lesson: never land in a field with only one cow in it... its probably a Bull and you've probably got a red wing! Seriously!
Once students are confident in controlling the wings, its time to raise the wing and run into the wind until your feet leave the ground. Usually for just a few metres and a few feet off the ground, but you are flying!
Now that is one of the most amazing feelings you will ever experience and a memory which will stay with you for a long time!
Once you've done that once, do it again and again and again until you're completely exhausted and sick of walking up the hill. Remember to flare on landing (and avoid landing on a cow…they don't like it much??).
Some time during the course you will likely be introduced to handling the paraglider in stronger wind conditions. Students will gain a whole new respect for the power of the wind on that day.
As your confidence grows, its time to try lauching off a bigger hill.
The usual routine is something like: Setup, briefing, preflight checks, radio on, helmet on, and off you go. The first time the hill seems to drop away from your feet takes your breath away. Students will be quickly reminded to turn away from that looming tree by your instructor who will talk you through the flight. Depending on your confidence, you may be asked to do some gentle turns, perhaps a 360 degree turn or two, some figure eight's and an approach to landing.
I was pleasantly surprised how softly we can land paragliders (and less pleasantly surprised how hard if we land downwind or don't flare properly).
A few more flights, some new manoeuvres, Big Ears, Dee riser steering, some schools include B line stalls, we are brifed and practice the use of the speed bar, weight shift steering etc. Some schools include an introduction to finding, flying into and staying in thermals.
Now its time for the theory exam(in some countries), and once you've been through the required processes, completed the statutory number of flights, you will be awarded your restricted (or novice licence)
So you can fly solo, and its only now you start realising how much more there is to learn.
Flying a paraglider is easy. Flying it well takes dedication and practice.
For more on paraglding, visit: http://www.ParagldingParagliders.com