Paragliding in La Cumbre

Skydiving or parachuting is an achievement of an ancient dream of the human beings: flying.

How does it go? 

A tandem flight with an instructor in paragliding is a mind-boggling experience. The jump is 2500, 3000 or 3600 meters high with 25 seconds of freefall and 7 to 8 minutes with the parachute open until landing.  It will depend on how courageous you are. 

The activity includes a handycam video and pictures or it can be ordered to have another parachutist recording a video or the whole experience, from the moment you get prepared until the actual landing. 

Paragliding is done in the aerodrome Coronel Olmedo and it can be ordered for any day while the weather allows it. 

4 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PARAGLIDING

Those who have never had the pleasure of floating through the air, paragliding in La Cumbre, often have numerous misconceptions about this exhilarating activity. CEPAC Paragliding has covered many surprising facts surrounding paragliding.

Whether you are thinking about going paragliding for the first time, or if you simply want to learn more about this form of flight, you will likely find many of the following facts intriguing.

1. Paragliding Is A Lot Safer Than You Might Imagine

As you paraglide, you are connected to the wing by at least 30 different lines, which are all strong enough to support your weight. When it comes to airborne sports, such as paragliding or hang-gliding, paragliding is considered to be by far one of the safest.

Accidents and injuries are extremely very rare, as long as the paragliding takes places in suitable weather. The flight is also safer if conducted at higher altitudes, high enough to allow a backup parachute to deploy in plenty of time. 

2. Hang-Gliding And Parasailing Are Not Synonyms Of Paragliding

Many people who want to go paragliding in La Cumbre make the mistake of asking for hang-gliding or parasailing, which are certainly not the same. Hang-gliders have rigid wing structures, while paragliders have soft structures that can be collapsed and transported easily. When you paraglide, you also fly at a slower rate than if you hang-glide, making paragliding easier for beginners.

If you?ve ever seen people being pulled along behind the back of a boat, under what looks like a big parachute, this is parasailing. These structures are not guided by those who are actually flying, but by those who are pulling them along at the surface.

3. The Experience Is Surprisingly Comfortable

Many people assume that they will not truly be able to enjoy paragliding over La Cumbre because they will be distracted by an uncomfortable safety harness and restrictive seat. In reality, modern paragliding harnesses are as cozy as sitting in a lounge chair ? some even have built-in lumbar support.

4. Paraglider Pilots Have A Great Amount Of Control

Steering a paraglider may not be as simple and easy as driving a car, but the pilot does still have a surprising amount of control. At the pilot?s fingertips are apparatuses that control the sides and trailing edge of the glider. Using these controls, the pilot can subtlety control the speed and the direction of the structure. The only element left to chance is how high the paraglide journey will go. This depends largely on the pilot?s ability to find columns of rising air or thermals, as well as a bit of luck.

Pilots who are able to find pockets of thermal air can keep paragliding for extremely long distances. When paragliding in La Cumbre, you might enjoy trips that last approximately 10 to 30 minutes at the most, but experienced pilots have been able to paraglide for hundreds of kilometers, enjoying some of the greatest views in the world.

This article has been written by Stephan Kruger and adapted by Pointer Outfitters