Paragliding XC Flying: A rough guide to scratching

[@dwightbernheimer331]

To say this gentleman is an absolute expert paraglider pilot would be an understatement I never watch videos this long but I was mesmerised, not so much by what he was saying but by the position of his hands and what he was doing this is by far the Best cross-country instructional video that I've ever seen and I've been paragliding off and on since the beginning. Problem is unless you have a lot of time under a wing you can't fully appreciate this video. Well-done mate. Thank you

[@dwightbernheimer331]

@@OriginalDimascus Absolutely I wasn't trying to be a know-it-all I was just trying to explain the way I felt. I'm 80 years old and still flying. Thank you for your thoughts.

[@dwightbernheimer331]

@@OriginalDimascus No worries mate I got it... thank you PS that is the greatest most informative cross-country video I've ever seen LOL

[@dwightbernheimer331]

@@OriginalDimascus Thanks for the tip. I don't follow any particular videos I happened to bump into this one and I just thought it was fantastic. Like I said usually anything over 2 minutes I don't even bother but this one was different thanks again. PS my XC days are over. Prefer a docile wing climb to altitude over launch and watch everyone else LOL Happy Soaring

[@thewinnemuccaparaglider9556]

Believe it or not. I watched nearly a dozen videos on how to thermal and it was this attached video( kzbin.info/www/bejne/bX7aaJylqNRsj6c ) that finally made sense to me. Now I am flying high and I am even more addicted to fishing for thermals. Good luck. @@OriginalDimascus

[@MrWhynotnow]

Inspiring to watch this educational and beautiful video, as well as BillQ and Dwight’s respectful back and forth. I also am pleased by the experience and age differences shown here. I haven’t flown yet, and got interested in the idea just recently and have been glued to KZbin. I’m mid-50s and excited that Dwight is still at it and enjoying at a young 80. Very inspiring indeed. I can’t wait to do some training and get a wing. Boulder, CO USA is a great flying spot, so I’m stoked!

[@lmatthis09]

Great video!!! Beautiful flight. I loved the little phrases where the pilot told what he was feeling that we couldn't necessarily see. "I feel some cold air", "my wing tip is below the horizon", and "found some grumpy air" helped paint a sense of being there. Very well done

[@severinbechtold1873]

"Only turn in lift" --> awesome, that explains a lot of my sinking turns in light conditions. Thanks man!! :D

[@CampTlangram]

very imp. point to me as well

[@crimsonraen]

This video is SUCH an amazing video for scratching and learning to thermal! Loooove it! Watching your leans/ hand positioning and listening to the glider is so great!

[@mikecurran4535]

Wow! Thank you Greg! I am only just getting into the XC game and so am not quite the target audience, but wanted to let you know how helpful this video was for me. It brought so much together in my head - not only about the mechanics of thermal flying but also the importance of patience and of making smart decisions without hesitation. I know that it would be a ton of work, but it would be amazing to hear and watch you narrate an entire cross country flight (and given the responses below, I think plenty of other people would be excited too)! Thanks again.

[@woefuldodger]

Incredible. More power to you! Beginner 'pilot' with 30 hours, but, this was something else!

[@alexwoods4825]

Great video! The first two seconds of it immediately brought to mind an experience I had almost 20 years ago in the mountains. I followed an expert pilot across a narrow valley with steep forested sides, hoping he would find me some lift. He got super close to the trees, scratching, and immediately got into a surprisingly solid climb. No way in hell am I getting that close, I thought, and I started looking for ridge lift at my normal distance, maybe 50 feet away from the hillside. Nothing. I inched in a bit, saw those trees getting closer, still no lift, and thought, to hell with it, I don't feel like hitting a pine. I flew out and landed and went back up the gondola for a couple of relaxing sled rides instead. The place? Luchon, of course! I had to laugh when you said where you were. Such a beautiful place to fly. Glad I found this channel.

[@paraglidingpassion338]

Greg this is one of the best you have done. What a great camera view on how to thermal all down to being patience. Love your smooth flying control. Flybubble another great video on how to teach us to fly better you're a credit to the sport.

[@barrywebber100]

That was incredible, it looked very hairy at the start gliding over tree tops with steep rocky ground below! How fantastic when you have the skills and expertise to cope with those conditions though. Thanks for posting Greg and best wishes.

[@johnfinagin351]

Excellent video Greg. The combination of your narrative and the moves you made works really well and you certainly captured the 'nuances of the turn,' along with pulling the watcher into the decision-making process. I think a caveat at the beginning about proximity flying is to remind pilots that the air as a medium is not even and proximity incidents often occur because that fact is not factored into flying decisions, although you do implicitly refer to it in your commentary. Thanks for sharing - really valuable insights for pretty well all PG pilots.

[@clauderousseau3305]

Absolutely captivating the way you built up that ascension from scratch. I'm way too much of a rookie to attempt that, but it's certainly pointing to where I want to be in a couple of years!

[@DanKon75]

The commentary is fantastic. It makes it very easy to understand what’s happening and why.

[@ColoradoMikeC]

Super edit.. camera view and audio perfect.. and of course great commentary and instruction. One of my faves so far!! Thank you!!!

[@ErolSensoy]

Twenthy million year's of revolution can't be wrong! Exactly sir! :-)

[@viliamgazo8589]

I think you mean evolution :)

[@lewisjohn892]

"Going up like a homesick angel" :)

[@mark.bailey]

I watch a lot of paragliding and hang gliding stuff on KZbin. Only every so often does a vid hold my attention to the very end yet alone enough for me to come back and watch it again. Great vid :-)

[@jansport0409]

I love it when patience pays off. Beautifully done Greg!

[@pierrevacheron4475]

This video is brilliant, very instructive. I just start to learn how to thermaling but I always fail in little weak bubbles. I’ll learn a lot from this thing. Thank you 👌👍

[@sza1985]

What a fantastic video! Incredible. Your disclaimer is absolutely spot on. This is not for v low hour pilots. Please keep as many disclaimers as you think appropriate but keep making these videos for the intermediate level. Most accidents happen when pilots are in intermediate syndrome, and this segment needs a lot of such instructional videos. Sorry for my weak English. Hope I make my point. Simply superb!

[@MarkLoves2Fly]

That's good stuff right there! I found myself leaning in my chair, due to muscle memory. Scratching is one of my favorite activities. It requires intelligent, active piloting, and can result in some EPIC flights! (>*

[@dudekerel]

It felt like I was flying myself with an instructor! Great images, great audio and great instructions! Thanks!

[@AndreBandarra1]

Really good video Greg, brings back XC memories of low saves. I'd also add that it's also "common" to scratch in laminar ridge lift when needed. Both are dangerous and pilots have to keep in mind their skill, the wing, the conditions etc but doing this in thermic conditions as you have done is another ball game all together which requires even better judgement and much more experience to draw from. All in all, awesome work that paid off massively in the end :) nice flying!

[@junuhunuproductions]

It was so mesmerizing to watch this. His judgments & 'feels' were quite amazing.

[@ashleybarnes3444]

The joyful stressful part of paragliding, very satisfying.

[@carlcolorado3549]

Love this video! Perfect way to show how to excape the mountain and get up!

[@kyleoglee]

Even knowing how to do this, I enjoyed that tremendously Greg!

[@garethcbayley]

Thanks @Greg Hamerton another amazing video. Just wanted to note here what I’d been taught, perhaps even by Carlo (!), on how you can improve your safety odds when scratching by leaning away from the slope as you fly along it. Then, if you have an asymmetric collapse on the slope side, you are already leaning away and can maintain direction of travel without being turned into the slope.

[@cloudsculptor1]

So good to hear your commentary and vario so clearly.

[@jamest4363]

I hope to be this good some day. I love the views so much. I believe this is the greatest free flight video out there. Unbelievably well done.

[@johnwest3768]

Greg has outdone himself with this video, and that is a very high bar!!!! Wow Just Wow!!!!

[@NikHawks]

Super useful, thanks for putting this together! Video + commentary + the comments about hand position and listening to the vario and your response to it. Very helpful, good on ya!

[@MocoLocura]

Thanks for that great video... Taken from a site where i tried several times to do the same thing .... Without obtaining the same success !

[@markdixon7407]

Absolutely spot on! Great video, Greg!!

[@paraglidingtalk]

Just missed the premier. Thanks for putting this together. Its a great idea. Have a great day.

[@borjatomas]

thats a good one @Greg Hamerton . Sometimes you gotta scratch a lil bit to find some lift. but you gotta be confident with it. you gave some good and well explained tips like "allways turn on lift". And as you showed us, patience, hard work and knowledge pays off. Cheers from Spain!

[@archiebob11]

Fabulous flying Greg, patience is a virtue 👍 How anyone can give this a thumbs down is beyond me 😏

[@paulgrover6364]

Fantastic video Greg - thanks for these they are so helpful!

[@tyylerrr]

This is so good to watch. Amazing content as always!

[@ChrisJewell7333]

Very cool...! I felt like I was in your seat...!

[@AP-gn9fd]

Awesome video. So cool when you follow the bird and the vario goes nuts!

[@milcog3662]

What a joy to watch again!! Thx Greg!

[@ourwilliam2405]

Fantastic video Thanks

[@StanBarankiewicz]

Smashing vid! Very informative. Thank you for your efforts to impart the ways of a master!!

[@berkhanb]

I just felt every bit of that air. Thanks for the video!

[@eversondg]

The best paragliding video ever! You rocks!

[@TonyTheNerd]

A bit of concentration and patience, and away you go!! 😀

[@ANNAI89]

you make me so hungry to go flying right now in the middle of home quarantine!!

[@49Taz]

Thank you Greg for the very informative videos. As a new pilot I find the information invaluable. Can you tell me what helmet you are wearing in this video? Yours looks ideal for summer flying.

[@bornuponawave]

Your videos are supreme.

[@ClarkKent-kg6tl]

great camera angle. Felt like I was right there in the thermal with you.

[@LittleNoiseBoy]

As ever, you offer something to aspire to - spirits soar on watching: thank you!

[@AFlyingGlenn]

i don't like it when your videos come to an end :( so addictive to watch you climb out of an interesting situation :D

[@bigsailboatproject]

That was some pretty touch & go scratching, well done! I would have bailed on that several times. Big payoff though, nice!

[@Abundnce10]

Awesome video, Greg! I'm assuming you were using the 360 camera off the back of your right shoulder. How much time did you have to spend in post production to get this video to come out as well as it did? Keep up the amazing work!!

[@greghamerton4422]

A week ago it would have taken me about 15 hours of editing, but insta360 finally included the 'follow the subject' edit button I asked them for in the latest one X studio. so it was only 3 or 4 hours! You'll see more of this soon, it's MUCH easier for me now. Over shoulder selfie stick, phone recording voice.

[@JTWardle]

Such a beautiful video! Wonderful flying!!! Love, Laugh, Live!!!

[@laniik]

Great video, more of this backseat flying! When was this filmed? Love the obvious joy of hitting the core :)

[@enricgx1]

Fantastic!

[@johnoutside84]

This is amazing to a newer pilot like me.

[@SurvivalSquirrel]

This is so awesome. Cant be better...

[@greghamerton4422]

To make it better, I could have out climbed Ceri. :-) he kicked my butt.

[@SurvivalSquirrel]

Didnt you climp out millions of years of evolution at one time? :-) It looked like it at one time.

[@leonardparapente9807]

Nothing like french pyrenees to learn how to scratch ! :D

[@RoseValleyFly]

Very well explained!

[@juergenloenholdt8490]

Beautiful scenery, very skillful low safe!

[@thegrimnorth2835]

Mint video as always! Keep them coming 😁

[@SimonHergott]

This makes me so stoked for summeeeeerrrrrr!

[@kartik3595]

Thanks Greg, love your videos! Awesome flying :D

[@lorenzopernigotti]

Very very well done video! Thank you! I have a question: After the minute 10:00, your outside hand goes up and down (obviously), but also in and out of the turn. Is that because of the bouncing air or are you trying to control the outside or the inside of your outer wing by pulling the brakes in and out? Thank you

[@rowill2968]

One of your best!

[@maraue2960]

Amazing video, as usual! Congrats!

[@climb315]

Beautiful

[@instrumentenfreak]

Awesome flying!

[@philredmond]

Great video as always Greg. One question: Is that the Insta360 camera you're using for this?

[@Freelance3DAnimation]

Would like to know the answer to this also

[@mbrunnme]

Damn, that was incredible. Low-hour PPG pilot here, so a lot of this video is probably going over my head, but it was awesome to watch. Question: The increasing lift once you're established: why is it so much stronger? So far all I can think of is lapse rate contributing once you're up away from the slope, and maybe catching thermals off the back face that are getting entrained with the one you're already in, leading to some more organization. Any other reasons for this dramatic change?

[@greghamerton4422]

Yes the rear slope had a good thermal releasing that my little slope bubble led straight into. A steady circling turn also causes less sink than switching, and it's easier to centre exactly on the core.

[@MarkLoves2Fly]

@mbrunnme, In addition to Greg's reply, which is spot on. The thermals close to the hill, are disorganized, and have not met with their thermal buddies yet. As we gain altitude, we get into air where several smaller thermals, have joined. For a visual, think of the roots of a tree. All roots lead to the trunk. When more thermals release from the terrain, they join into a column of rising air. Eventually momentum takes hold, and the primary direction is up. Eventually the thermal gets as high as it will go, due to the equalization of heat, moisture, and pressure. At that point however, it is usually far above our useful flight envelope. When a mass of air rises, an equal mass must also sink. This is one reason there is usually sink, just outside the core. Keep flying, and once you have the skill to do so safely, play with the motor turned off, or at least at idle. Feel the lift as the tension changes in your toggles. Use gentle micro motions to feel out the rising air. Some harnesses allow you to feel it in your hips too, which is a topic for another video. Have fun out there! Blue Skies & Fly in Peace (>*

[@hartman12349]

Usually quick flying at the beginning of the heat before it went, slightly slowing to the edge of the sagging and gliding

[@u0000-u2x]

What a battle! This will be my go-to video when trying to explain how technical paragliding can get! Very entertaining and instructive to watch. One question: I noticed you had almost no brakes at the very start of the video and upon reaching the first indication of lift you put some brake pressure. Was this to maintain a more active flying/minimize collapse chances? Or are you trying to slow down and take more out of the lifty patch? Or both? :D

[@greghamerton4422]

yes, both. I try to slow down or turn in lift, speed up or go straight through sink.

[@severinbechtold1873]

In addition a bit of brake has the lowest sink rate. Trim speed gets you far, but a bit of brake keeps you up

[@u0000-u2x]

@@greghamerton4422 thanks for the reply :) btw.. are those headphones for the radio or are you listening to some tunes while flying? :D also, this was a great camera angle to follow your decision making while flyinh. gives a clear view of your brake handling and also the environment around you

[@jimfuhrman8665]

Yes! Love the video Greg! I would love to see the wing as well or maybe a graphic overlay to indicate where the thermal triggers were. Great content!!!

[@greghamerton4422]

@@u0000-u2x headphones are for tunes, I dislike radio chatter, it pops my freedom bubble.

[@MrTomy2203]

thanks for sharing !

[@albertxabi3844]

Thank you Greg for this great instructional video, what do you mean by turning flat ? is it the opposite of turning tight ? if so I guss you turn flat into the wind ?

[@flyinghero5283]

that's a really good close chase cam... what gear are you using there??

[@kolleso]

Waw that looked like hard work but it paid off 👍🏼

[@RedlabsTV]

Wow, hopefully sometime i can fly like you! Perfect!

[@manuelfischer9603]

That is masterclass.

[@YankeeinSC1]

..is that syncopated flute music some new English band? :)

[@haryomukarnadi3282]

👍loose stress by enjoying view.

[@mickbrett1608]

Super..thanks for posting..

[@zephyrjo6947]

awesome!

[@alberto1963valpo]

Exellent Video Greg!. Thanks for sharing it! Question? How did you hold you 360 camera?

[@locossanity]

Its on a selfie-stick (you can see the shadow of the stick on the back of his harness) but the stick is software removed so it looks like seamless 360.

[@gabbagabba5388]

Your hands are not freezing cold ? Thanks for the amazing video!

[@giuliogasparella8799]

hy flybubble, i really love watching your videos. they are great to lern something new!! i would like to know which camera do you use and how can you keep it in that position?? =)

[@locossanity]

I think its a 360 camera (probably go pro fusion). Its on a selfie-stick (you can see the shadow of the stick on the back of his harness) but the stick is software removed so it looks like seamless 360.

[@greghamerton4422]

Check out patreon.com/flybubble for filming tips .. and KZbin search our 'Filming in Flight'

[@camotobe]

Can you make one more with some turbulences please.

[@BobNL1964]

No matter how skilled you are, if you're flying this close to the trees and you hit strong sink, then it's game over. Without any collapses. It's a game of chance. Your best bet was that there was no strong sink because there was no strong lift.

[@CampTlangram]

wonderful

[@RoshenRRujj]

Can someone tell me how you video record like this? What's that? A fly following drone?

[@MAGApepe]

any feed back on a Bruce Goldsmith Design adam ??

[@locossanity]

can someone explain to me the difference between a pull down on the brake VS pull to the side on the brake....and then varying between the two. What's the deal with that?

[@greghamerton4422]

Pull inwards pulls on the wing tip more for a hook turn. Pull outwards pulls slightly more in the centre of the wing for holding onto lift by flying slower with a flatter turn. Its subtle, the brake pulley limits the effect. It's also just comfortable sometimes as it's the outside/high hand so interferes with your body twist if you pull down too close.

[@locossanity]

@@greghamerton4422 sweet man thanks for that. Finally makes some sense

[@rhoener_hoehen-rausch]

The Harness Strike is my Favorit, but after Version A4 the Space in the Back is to much and the Bubblebump is death. Sorry, this Upgrade is Not Evolution. More Space and fewer protektion... I think the original Strike was perfekt.......... IT is only my opinion

[@mojtabaebrahimi]

good and profitional thermal flying resisit in slope ridge and get gift bravo

[@appcarpenter1]

can you, or have you done a video on the difference in EN rated beginner to advanced, and reflex wings. differences in design, design speeds, "safety", difference in aspect ratios ect. I watched a video yesterday that called reflex wings death traps and a scam. Some of what he said made sense but then also trying to sell his brand.

[@bobflyman]

That must have been the SuperDell video slagging off Reflex wings. Superdell is not a respected source of information! (I'm being very polite with my comment ;) )

[@bobflyman]

I'd trust a comment from Greg a 1,000 times more.

[@greghamerton4422]

flybubble.com/blog/choose-the-right-paraglider

[@appcarpenter1]

You are correct sir. Which is why I'm asking.

[@greghamerton4422]

we haven't done a video on reflex wings, although some paragliders have incorporated a little reflex in their design. Full reflex is the domain of paramotor wings, which we don't review. It definitely works for collapse resistance, but destroys performance. Some highly respected brands produce reflex models, but not all reflex wings are made equal! IF they collapse, some can be badly behaved.

Out of curiosity, where is the camera attached?

@@flybubbleparagliding Thx, but where is it attached? It looks like you've got a cameraman following you 2m behind! Great vids BTW, makes me think that I should get back in the air.

@@flybubbleparagliding Thx

[@Showmetheevidence-]

Looks rad...would be even easier with a motor :)

[@MrWhynotnow]

D.B. Easier....probably. As rewarding and challenging? Not a chance. Kinda like sailing and motor boating. Nothing negative. Each to their own.

[@brunoroque7712]

Excellent video! I'd like to translate the subtitles to Portuguese, so more people in Brazil could see and understand your tips. If you allow me, please contact via email.

[@flybubblecarlo]

Glad you like the video! For how to help translate our videos see: flybubble.com/blog/help-us-translate-our-videos

[@VLADParagliding]

Greg fly for a long time already, look at his biceps ;-)