Sooo... Thought I'd write in English for a change.
Sooo... First time paragliding in Kariotahi beach today... Goddam that shit is hard to handle. :D It's like trying to learn to ride a bike. Seems impossible before you get it. At least that's what I think will happen. If I get it.
Lucas from Wings and Waves paragliding school picked me up from my crib in Kingstown. Instantly liked the guy. We were talking about kitesurfing and other cool sports on the way to the beach. He's almost like a pro kitesurfer. Got sponsors and all. I asked if he's got family and he's like "Hell no. I'm 19 years old!" These New Zealanders kinda seem older than they are..
The excitement was building up when I saw the ocean, driving from the middle of the yellow - brown hills. Waves crashing on the black sandy beach and sun blazing. The wind blowing a fresh 12m/s helped a bit with the heat. Remembered to wear some sunscreen too! It was cool cruising with the 4x4 on the beach to our paragliding spot. The other student had cancelled so I was gonna get private lessons from the pro. We grabbed some big glider bags from the car and walked up the hill.
I was kinda expecting some theory first but Lucas just laid the glider down on the grass and went over checking the lines and glider control in 2 minutes. Then he clipped me into the glider. I was a little scared of the huge thing behind me. It's well above 20 sq meters and knowing from kitesurfing, thats really big in a wind like this. Lucas had no worries and just calmly told me to run forward holding the lines. I started pulling the glider up but It was pulling back like hell! I couldn't even get it over my head! All the excitement was gone and I had to summon all my concentration trying to listen to Lucas' advice. The second time I learned to use my body as a counter weight for the pulling glider. I felt it rise a lot easier form the ground and over me. I ran down the hill hoping for flight but It just didn't happen. The third time I finally got into the air and even managed to stay there for some seconds. After this I kinda lost all the feeling of control for many rounds down the hill and back up again. It felt like too many things are changing the flight of the wing above me and I could only control one at a time. Breaking too hard and the glider was stalling behind me, running too slow and not getting into the air, breaking too little and the glider would fly over me and come flapping down. It's a sport where control is everything and I was still missing the balance.. But I didn't give up. Up the hill I walked again and again. In the end I kinda got the hang of just keeping the glider above me. In the end Lucas did some cool flying and I envied him for his skills. Despite the difficulties, it was actually nice to learn something new for a change! And I am sure I will learn!
We drove the way back to Auckland and had a beer at the paragliding school. I took a ferry to the city center and still got to enjoy the unexpected events of a big city. A latin fiesta and samba music show on the wharf, a hare krishna parade and free samba lessons on Aotea square! The city centre was awesomely clean and well organized. So civilized! Ah! The contrast after Nepal and the Philippines made me happy again.
So... I feel tired. It's been a long day. Wouldn't change a thing!
A video of my first flights coming up! Tomorrow hoping to go to Mt Eden quarry for climbing!
Sooo... First time paragliding in Kariotahi beach today... Goddam that shit is hard to handle. :D It's like trying to learn to ride a bike. Seems impossible before you get it. At least that's what I think will happen. If I get it.
Lucas from Wings and Waves paragliding school picked me up from my crib in Kingstown. Instantly liked the guy. We were talking about kitesurfing and other cool sports on the way to the beach. He's almost like a pro kitesurfer. Got sponsors and all. I asked if he's got family and he's like "Hell no. I'm 19 years old!" These New Zealanders kinda seem older than they are..
 |
| On the way to the beach. Still smiling! |
The excitement was building up when I saw the ocean, driving from the middle of the yellow - brown hills. Waves crashing on the black sandy beach and sun blazing. The wind blowing a fresh 12m/s helped a bit with the heat. Remembered to wear some sunscreen too! It was cool cruising with the 4x4 on the beach to our paragliding spot. The other student had cancelled so I was gonna get private lessons from the pro. We grabbed some big glider bags from the car and walked up the hill.
I was kinda expecting some theory first but Lucas just laid the glider down on the grass and went over checking the lines and glider control in 2 minutes. Then he clipped me into the glider. I was a little scared of the huge thing behind me. It's well above 20 sq meters and knowing from kitesurfing, thats really big in a wind like this. Lucas had no worries and just calmly told me to run forward holding the lines. I started pulling the glider up but It was pulling back like hell! I couldn't even get it over my head! All the excitement was gone and I had to summon all my concentration trying to listen to Lucas' advice. The second time I learned to use my body as a counter weight for the pulling glider. I felt it rise a lot easier form the ground and over me. I ran down the hill hoping for flight but It just didn't happen. The third time I finally got into the air and even managed to stay there for some seconds. After this I kinda lost all the feeling of control for many rounds down the hill and back up again. It felt like too many things are changing the flight of the wing above me and I could only control one at a time. Breaking too hard and the glider was stalling behind me, running too slow and not getting into the air, breaking too little and the glider would fly over me and come flapping down. It's a sport where control is everything and I was still missing the balance.. But I didn't give up. Up the hill I walked again and again. In the end I kinda got the hang of just keeping the glider above me. In the end Lucas did some cool flying and I envied him for his skills. Despite the difficulties, it was actually nice to learn something new for a change! And I am sure I will learn!
 |
| Kariotahi beach |
We drove the way back to Auckland and had a beer at the paragliding school. I took a ferry to the city center and still got to enjoy the unexpected events of a big city. A latin fiesta and samba music show on the wharf, a hare krishna parade and free samba lessons on Aotea square! The city centre was awesomely clean and well organized. So civilized! Ah! The contrast after Nepal and the Philippines made me happy again.
 |
| Little people enjoyng the samba |
So... I feel tired. It's been a long day. Wouldn't change a thing!
A video of my first flights coming up! Tomorrow hoping to go to Mt Eden quarry for climbing!
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