Soaring the Skies: My Paragliding Adventure 🪂
There’s something indescribable about the moment you leave solid ground behind, feel the wind under your wings, and float—weightless—above the world. In my latest video, I document one such unforgettable flight. Below is the story, and why I believe everyone should try paragliding at least once.
Why Paragliding?
Freedom & perspective: From up high, landscapes shift. Mountains, valleys, forests, towns—they all shrink into patterns. The world becomes something you move through rather than walk across.
Connection with nature: You’re not in a plane, you’re in the sky. The breeze, the thermals, the open air—all of it is part of your flight.
Adrenaline + calm: It’s thrilling, for sure—but that thrill comes with serenity. You learn patience, reading wind currents, trusting your gear, trusting your pilot (if tandem), and trusting yourself.
Before the Flight: Preparation & Mindset
In the video, I show how I got ready—the mental prep, the gear check, the anticipation. Here are key takeaways:
Gear check & safety first
Paragliding isn’t reckless. Your harness, lines, wing, helmet, reserve chute, all must be inspected. Good operators will walk you through every step.Weather matters
You fly with the wind, not against it. Thermals, wind direction and strength, cloud cover—all are crucial. Conditions are dynamic; what’s flyable one hour might not be the next.Mental readiness
Even if you trust the equipment, there’s still a moment when your heart races. You have to lean into that uncertainty, focus on the process, and stay present.
Takeoff & First Moments in the Air
The video captures that gut-wrenching, heart-pounding moment of launch. You run (or get a boost, in tandem), and then—gravity releases you. That second when you realize you are airborne? Pure magic.
You feel slight dips, you feel shifts as the wing catches thermals, you hear the whispers of wind past your helmet. Your view widens. Ground becomes distant.
What You See, What You Feel
In the air, you notice details that are lost at ground level:
Patterns of fields, rivers, ridgelines
Shadows shifting with clouds
Tiny moving dots—cars, animals, people
Silence... punctuated only by wind, your breaths, communication with your pilot (if tandem)
Emotionally, you oscillate between exhilaration and deep calm. Adrenaline pulses, but there’s also awe, humility, perspective.
Challenges & Lessons
Trust: You must trust your gear, your instructor/pilot, current, and yourself.
Patience: Sometimes you circle, waiting for thermals or favorable updrafts.
Respect for nature: Conditions change fast. You learn to read clouds, winds, and sky cues.
Acceptance: You might have to abort, land early, or wait. Flight isn’t always a guaranteed clean run—but that’s part of the beauty.
After Landing: Reflection & Gratitude
Touching down feels like returning from another world. Your legs are wobbly. Your heart is full. You want to relive every second, memorize every angle, recount every feeling.
Looking back, I felt gratitude—for the skies, for the pilots who guided me, for every gust of wind that lifted me.
Why You Should Try It (At Least Once)
To see your favorite landscapes from a whole new vantage
To challenge fears
To feel alive in a way few other activities allow
To discover what it is like when you relinquish control—and trust