You are standing on a mountain ridge, strapped to a brightly coloured canopy that floats above your head.
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| Paragliding west of South Hazelton. The Seven Sisters peaks are in the background. |
You check the wind, take a few steps forward to gain speed and you are airborne. Yahoo!
You sit comfortably in the seat made by your straps and look down at the miles of forests
beneath your feet. You hear only the air whistling in the canopy and rigging above you. Fantastic!
Welcome to the world of Paragliding. If this sounds like fun, you are in luck. The Smithers area is a great place
to paraglide and is home to the largest group of paraglider enthusiasts in Northern B.C.
If you hurry, you may register for a Paragliding Course on May 7 to 11 sponsored by the Bulkley Valley Paragliders. There
are only 12 openings available in the course. Call Walter at 847-2409. |
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Instruction starts on level ground. Chandler Park has been used in the past.You will learn about the canopy, the rigging and how the canopy reacts to the wind and to your controls. You'll
learn how to fill the canopy with air by running forward. Soon you are ready for your first flight.
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| Inspecting the canopy. |
The class moves to a small hill near Tyhee Lake. Students are soaring up to 200 ft high on their first series of flights. The class moves again to a larger hill on the Telkwa High Road. Flights are higher
and longer. Important lessons about winds and safety make you ready for serious paragliding.
Once you are proficient, your adventure begins on a sunny afternoon on a mountain. You must unpack the canopy, lay it
out neatly on the ground and inspect the rigging to make sure that all is safe.
The winds must be right, preferably blowing right up the slope toward you. The paraglider has a forward speed of about 37 km per hour so a bit of wind is no
problem.
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