{"id":1253,"date":"2020-11-04T12:26:40","date_gmt":"2020-11-04T10:26:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parapente-mexico.com\/?page_id=1253"},"modified":"2022-03-26T00:18:02","modified_gmt":"2022-03-25T22:18:02","slug":"apprendre-a-voler-en-parapente","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/parapente-mexico.com\/en\/learn-to-fly-in-paraglider\/","title":{"rendered":"How to learn to fly a paraglider"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello, I saw your link on the Facebook group of the French in Mexico. Could you give me some info on the classes to learn to fly alone in Paragliding?
\nI have already had several baptisms and I would like to learn.
\nThank you,<\/p>\n

L\u00e9a \ud83d\ude09<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hello Lea,<\/p>\n

Thank you for your interest. Your question allows me to add a page on the site to explain how it works.<\/p>\n

1. Discover the activity with a tandem flight<\/h2>\n
\"Paragliding<\/a>
Paragliding tandem<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Flight tandem paragliding<\/a> is often a good way to experience the activity. But it is by no means obligatory.
\nAnd in your case, it's already done. But it's true that it's a good way to see if you want to take the plunge and learn to paraglide, and many students come to learn paragliding after such an experience. Note that it is not only at the start of the activity (before its first flights) that it is useful.
\nAs you continue to progress, it may be interesting to fly in educational tandem<\/strong>, with his monitor or another tandem for that matter. This allows to be corrected in real time, and allows to better understand a new site, to learn to walk or to climb in the thermal.<\/p>\n

2. Do an beginner's paragliding course<\/h2>\n
\"Paragliding<\/a>
Paragliding initiation course in Sirkot in Nepal in 2018: on the school slope with the students. (Click to enlarge)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Basically, we gradually discover the activity in safety. The first day we present the equipment, the technical terms (lines, lower surface, upper surface, leading edge, trailing edge, harness ...), then we do our first piloted races: You have to learn to lift the paraglider (inflate it) , stop it above the head, without it falling behind, or on the contrary overtaking us, then run with it in the slope-school<\/strong>, by correcting any roll movements, by refocusing under the sail to reach the lift<\/strong> (the sail "carries" you). These tests should be repeated for another day or two. At first, it's a bit like learning to ride a bike, it's not always easy, even confusing, but learning to paraglide comes pretty quickly.<\/p>\n

We also tackle theoretical lessons, because we are not birds, and there are important principles to understand (flight mechanics<\/strong>, flight plan<\/strong>\u2026) To fly safely. In general, it's more like skipping school, rather than lectures.<\/p>\n

Then it's time for "\u00a0great flight<\/strong>". It's always a great time. And you will remember it in 20 years!
\nWe put a radio on your shoulder, an instructor watches you on takeoff, guides you, and hands over to the landing one, which makes you land, always with the radio. We can possibly go through an educational tandem, for those who need to be reassured.
\nWe repeat the flights in calm conditions (a glide from top to bottom), and we gradually gain in autonomy. We do exercises (pitching, ears\u2026) to refine our piloting and then tackle more generous conditions. Gradually we manage to stay in the air (dynamic flight, like the seagull), then later to climb in the thermals, like the birds of prey. Finally, but it really comes later, we can cover kilometers, if the conditions allow it: It is the flight of distance or cross country<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Of course, then you have to be able to tackle stronger conditions, be aware of your level, and not cut corners. Paragliding is not a dangerous activity in itself but \u201cat risk\u201d. An accident - or more often a theft incident - is always due to human error.<\/p>\n

Here is a video of a initiation course in France<\/strong>, where I work (the great outdoors<\/a>):<\/p>\n