Paragliding: A Sporting Life Under the Clouds

Flying with a paraglider is most similar to the flight of a bird, as it relies on the use of air currents, and the extent to which natural conditions can be utilized is evidenced by the record of 502 kilometers traveled in a single flight.

Written by Tatjana Brebrić
 
People have always been attracted to mountain peaks, conquering heights, fairy-tale views from above, and climbing. After a strenuous ascent and the triumph that comes with reaching the summit, some of these people have sat down, enjoyed the breeze, probably sighed a little, and thought, ‘Who will descend now?’ This is likely how the idea of paragliding was born for the first time, a sport that almost everyone has heard of, but most know very little about. The idea of paragliding, or gliding on air currents using a specially designed wing, originated from mountaineers, although it is impossible to verify whether the previous description of its origin is entirely accurate.

Like a Bird
What is paragliding, actually? The classic description of this flying sport is always the same – paragliding is the simplest form of human flight. A paraglider is not motorized; rather, pilots push off the ground (elevated) with their feet and fly using an inflated wing. The aircraft (paraglider) is easy to transport and simple to launch, made from non-rip nylon. The pilot ‘hangs’ suspended from the wing and is oriented in a seated position for maximum comfort.

 Flying with a paraglider is most similar to the natural flight of a bird, as it relies on the use of air currents, and the extent to which natural conditions can be utilized for flight is best evidenced by the world record of 502 kilometers traveled in a single flight. Today, paragliding gathers a large number of flying enthusiasts, although their number is difficult to estimate. In Croatia, it is estimated that 200 people actively engage in paragliding, to which another 300 recreational flyers should be added. Compared to France, which is estimated to have 25,000 active flyers, the number does not seem too impressive, but for a young sport that has only existed for 25 years, the number is not small. Domestic paragliding enthusiasts gather in about 20 clubs across the country, one of the largest being the Paragliding Club (PJK) Zagreb, which has 50 members.

Dependent on Weather
– It is not just a sport; it is a way of life, because once you fall in love with flying, every day when the weather is nice pulls you outside. I think most flyers would sign immediately to work on weekends in exchange for being able to leave work during the week when there are good flying conditions outside – explains Ivica Huljek from PJK Zagreb with a smile. Unlike enthusiasts of some other sports, people who love paragliding are indeed limited by weather conditions, and besides being physically demanding, it requires a lot of knowledge, and there are other limitations as well. For example, the best launch sites are about an hour and a half drive from Zagreb, so all those coming from the metropolis mostly travel for flying, which, combined with several hours of flying, takes up the whole day. Nevertheless, many would gladly set aside time for a day of flying above nature. Learning to fly a paraglider is not easy and can be compared to taking a driving course. The course consists of a theoretical part, which includes 10 lectures lasting about two hours each, and a practical part, which involves performing flights.

Training of Flyers
The practical part is divided into two phases, the first consisting of about 30 school flights at low altitudes, and the second, with about 60 high-altitude flights from sites higher than 300 meters. It encompasses training participants until they obtain a paraglider pilot license. The cost of the courses is around 3,500 kuna, which may seem a lot at first glance, but it is actually an extremely good offer when considering what is included. – The flights are group outings, so when costs are shared, they are not significant, and the course covers the costs of the equipment used by the participant, the instructor, and the learning materials. Since flying mostly occurs on weekends, and only when conditions are good, training can last up to two years until the required number of hours is accumulated. To fly that much, without paying for equipment or traveling to airfields, at that price is truly affordable – explains Huljek. After completing the flight school and obtaining a paraglider pilot license issued by the ministry, paragliding enthusiasts can fly at all designated locations in the country and worldwide. Graduated pilots then, of course, need to acquire their own equipment, which, if purchased new, can cost up to 4,000 euros.

Domestic Airfields
The high price should not discourage enthusiasts, as quality equipment can also be purchased used for much less money, with prices starting from 1,000 euros. After completing the course and equipping themselves, flying is possible everywhere where conditions allow (i.e., a sufficiently high hill from which a paraglider can take off). The only exceptions are areas around airports, to ensure the safety of air traffic. In Croatia, there are about 15 registered airfields, i.e., sites prepared for the takeoff of paragliders, which also have areas where pilots can land. Flights occur from Medvednica, as well as from Krk, Pelješac, Grobnik, Biokovo, Mosor… even in flat Slavonia, where they are launched with a winch. However, Istria is the most ideal, where foreign paragliders from Slovenia, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary often come.

Competitive Flights
The fact that this young sport is becoming increasingly popular is evidenced by the fact that among domestic pilots, as few as they are, as many as 10 achieve notable results in world competitions. The best is definitely Marko Hrgetić, the national champion, who can boast of being the best athlete in paragliding in Croatia.
Competitive flying is done in three disciplines; the first is cross-country, which can be free, meaning that it is flown ‘for distance,’ or a cross-country flight in which a designated route is followed. The second discipline is precision landing, in which the pilot, as the name suggests, must land on a precisely designated point, while the third discipline involves acro maneuvers. Although it is often classified as an extreme sport, those who engage in paragliding will say that it is not actually extreme. – There are few injuries, and those are mostly sprains due to improper landings. If conditions are properly assessed and the equipment is correct, the danger is extremely low – says Huljek, adding that on the other hand, the enjoyment is immense.