Pleasure of Paragliding Paradise

20 kgs weight on your back. Standing 200 mtrs above the ground on the edge of hilltop. All watching you. Heart beats like rapid train. Radio asks – “ready?” “Free flight check had done, Suchithra ready to take off”. Fighting with the aggressive tempest to open your glide and gush through gale, instructor on the radio shouts – Run, Run, Run….. you are off the cliff with glide and within no time, you are flying in the high sky. Dear Toastmasters and guests, that’s pleasure of paragliding paradise, To fly in the high sky, gaze stars, view clouds, float like an eagle is human dream. Flying inspired civilization from inception. Sighting the sunrise and sunset from a calm seat in the air, braced by the buoyant twilight or morning dew, with perchance an eagle or hawk joining you off your wing tip charms you, then paragliding is for you. It’s subtle, serene, not muscle and adrenaline. It requires physical, mental alertness and vigilance than fitness. A successful paraglider listens well and thinks clearly. Trivial mistake could be fatal. I once, was inspired by people flying from hilltop and slowly landing in the bank of a lake. Watching them dancing and swinging in the air, mind said “even I’d like to try it”. After few search, I learnt, India has excellent paragliding termini. Kamshet near Pune is one termini, where you take-off from the hilltop and land in gorgeous greenery. Deciding to accomplish my reverie of flying, reached Pune. First day, the video sessions on paragliding, briefing on DOs and DON’Ts, followed with ground-handling and bunny hops sessions, where you take-off from a slope, slowly slithering through the pasture. Since the land of flight is not smooth and air might wary, wearing good ankle support shoes is must. Though my friend took off in jiffy, mine take off was difficult. Wind pushed me backward and I had to restart the flying process. Paraglider gear has 20 Kg backpack, wing, harness, helmet and reserve parachute, costs nearly US$3,500. It’s a non-motorized, foot-launched inflatable wing. The pilot drives the glide without any engine and supporting mechanisms from the cliff or hill-top. The pilot sits in a comfortable harness suspended by kevlar lines from the canopy and steers the paraglider with two controls. ONE can fly soaring upwards on currents of air. There is no free-falling or jumping off of cliffs. The launches and landings are slow, gentle, quiet and Serene Experience. Paragliders often stay aloft for hours, climb to cloud base, and may go Cross-Country. Tandem flights, flying with a pilot are for those who want to taste the nerve-racking flying sensation with veteran pilot. Started in the 70s in France, by the mountaineers who were experimenting descending in relaxed and fun way. Paragliding is global sport, like climbing, rafting, trekking, mountain biking. After 3 days course, on the final day, we started from the hilltop. Just unpack the wing, clip harness, helmet, inflate the wing overhead by letting the breeze into it, and then turn and RUN, the earth drops away and the sky is yours. View everything from up there! The worst situation in the sky is clash of two paragliders. I was petrified, when I was about to sprint another paraglider, but followed the instructions warily and both are alive. As you glide through the air, it’s a magnificent and exciting experience. You’ll fly over the mountains relishing beauty and silence. It entails audacity, bravery and control, ABC formula. While descending, slowly you have to run till you are stable and steady. If you dream to be a flying bird, you too can try to float in the high blue sky. Paragliding is the most affordable forms of flight, perfect for those who can’t buy a plane and fancy flying. “For once you have savored flight; you will stride the earth, with your eyes turned skyward; for there you have been, and there you long to return”.