Frequently Asked Questions???  Huh??

Is it dangerous?
Paragliding is a risk sport. It can be dangerous. When you place yourself in a medium that you can't see and which moves in three dimensions at once there is a risk. However, the sport can be enjoyed with a huge amount of safety if you learn how to properly assess conditions and continually work on flight skills. Paragliding is a sport of strategy, tactics and judgement. Good judgement is key to your safe enjoyment of the sport. You don't have to be a hot shot aerobatic kamakazi destruction driven maniac to enjoy it all.

Do you jump off cliffs?
Are you kidding? That would be a very stupid thing to do. You might get hurt. What you've seen and /or heard of is pilots launching off very dangerous lookings cliffs. In fact when the conditions are right we do launch from such places but we never jump. The canopy is laid out far from the edge and inflated like a kite over the pilot's head to ensure the wing is ready to fly. After a quick check of the canopy and lines the pilot will proceed forward and if soaring conditions prevail he or she will be lifted off the launch by the rising air. Hardly a jump. More like an elevator.

Do you need a hill?
At this point in Atlantic Canada that is the only way to get airborn.The steepness of the hill depends on your degree of skill. Of course when you get your skills together, the higher the better. In the beginning though take comfort in the fact that a hill with a slope of only thirty to thirty-five degrees will allow you to gently get airborne. As you run down the hill after inflating your wing you will find that the wing will not let you run down the slope and you will literally run off into the air. Yahoooo!

Can you get blown out to sea?
It's not impossible but pretty much improbable in our area. Why? Since you always have to launch into the wind and the wind needs to be blowing onto the bank or ridge where you launch, it therefore follows my dear Watson that the wind is blowing on shore. That being the case, you are constantly being pushed onshore.

How much does the gear cost?
Paragliding equipment, like that for any other sport, comes in a variety of sizes, shapes, styles, colours and types. The value however, is fairly consistant among manufacturers and dealers, the price generally more for an advanced wing than it is for an entry level wing. Never buy a wing that is not certified under one of the rating systems, Afnor, Acpul or Dhv. Now back to your question. New gear will run you between $3500 and $5000 depending on a whole whack of variables. By the time you finish a full course of instruction you will have a very good idea of what you want and what you can afford.

What about used equipment?
That question is difficult because there are so many variables. Who is selling it? Do you know him? Do you believe her? Do you know the right questions to ask? I've seen a couple of prime examples of buying  long distance and neither have good endings. UV deteriorated nylon in one case and a Model T in the other. The paragliding industry has gone through many design changes based on technological advances over the last couple of years. The wings are much safer now generally so I would advise against older canopies on that criteria alone. It's funny how people want a cut rate deal on a paraglider. What would you get  from an insurance policy or your dentist applying the same criteria. This is the canopy you're trusting your life to? Ask that same question at 3000 feet above the ground. On the other hand if you know the person well and have watched the wing in operation over time and you have flown it yourself and you know what repairs have been carried out on it, it might be a very good opportunity. Schools generally have an excellant maintenance program for their wings and although they get a bit of hard use from students they are usually in good shape and a school has its reputation to worry about.

The last word goes to those pilots who want to sell their old wing and move to something newer and more snappy. If you know your old wing is next to being committed to the trash heap, do not sell it! Do you want to be responsible for someone else's good health? Make a tent out of it or turn it into a wind breaker.

Do you need a reserve parachute?
A reserve, like a good maintenance program or a good wing, is an insurance policy. You hope like hell you never need it but you have it just for that purpose, insurance. As soon as you get your new wing and you are flying in conditions that allow you to fly 500+ feet above ground level it is a good plan to have one. Yes, they cost in the vicinity of eight hundred but they will last you for years if you maintain it properly. You only need it or wish you had it once and the answer becomes abundantly clear.

When can I get my first wing?
All schools/dealerships will refrain from selling a wing to anyone cold off the street. That is good. After you have completed a course of instruction such as the Complete Beginner here at Pegasus you will be very aware of how to stay out of trouble and ready to purchase your first wing.

Can you only fly in the summer?
No, you can fly all year around provided you dress for the conditions. Flying conditions change with the seasons so you will probably find that certain sites are more productive at different times of the year.

How old do you have to be? (you're never too old!!)
You need to be old enough to show good decision making abilities, stay focused on the job of learning, weigh at least 110 lbs and have decent muscle tone. You're never too old!   If you have the desire it can be done even if you have to work out a specially personalized training plan with your local school. One of my favorite pilots is an older gentleman who started flying when he was 70. He's still flying strong and his passion for it is incredible. Parental permission is needed though for anyone under the age of 18.

Can I teach myself?
The short answer is no. The longer answer involves the school of hard knocks and reinvention of the wheel. Why bother! Your comfort and safety are very important.

How does paragliding affect my insurance?
If you already have a life insurance policy my understanding is that your coverage will not be voided. If you don't have coverage then it is down right difficult to get it. There are more people that die per capita while playing golf (lightning strikes, etc) than die paragliding. Why isn't golf considered a risk sport then? Go figure! On the bright side, for the price of your annual dues to the Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association of Canada you get three million dollars of third party liability insurance which, incidentally, covers land owners liability as well.

Where are the best places to paraglide?
I assume you are asking this about Atlantic Canada because there is an incredible number of tremendous flying sites all over the world. The Alps and the Rockies come to mind in the world class categories. Closer to home the Cobequid mountains of Nova Scotia offer some of the best flying east of Quebec. The Parrsboro area is especially good. A guide to many of the flying sites in Atlantic Canada can be found at http://www.lupinworks.com/hpaac/  The sport is growing in the region and as it does, so too will the availability of new flying sites.