Paragliding - Episode 7 How to launch in high winds and ridge soaring.

Marc leavesley cheif flying instructor and stunt pilot for tv and film.
Please subscribe and any questions please ask away and I will do my very best to help you.
www.leavesleyaviation.com
[e-mail]
Disclaimer
These are my personal hints and tips that work for me,I am sharing them to give you an idea of what could possibly work for you. I am not saying they are the best way or the way you should do them, please take that into account, there are many fantastic pilots doing such movies on KZbin that may well work better than mine, what ever works for you is all that matters.
Marc.

[@eugenechinpl]

the best instructions online

[@leavesleyaviation]

🙏🪂

[@gangleweed]

Nice video, very informative and detailed ........ever since I jumped off of a garage roof with Mum's umbrella in 1946 I decided that flying was for the birds.

[@riccardolentini2256]

You are The Best teacher of paraglider.thanks from italy

[@windfxjeff3363]

I've been watching your video since January. I got my glider three weeks ago and have been waitin go out in the right conditions. Today is the day. I have a 7 mile an hour straight on shore off the ocean. I'm going to practice my groundwork today, tomorrow and the next day, I have your videos memorized. Thanks for the great instructions.

[@leavesleyaviation]

Enjoy the course and all the best.

[@charliedenny1]

Propper wicked video. Everytime I start to think "yeah I've got that now"... Marc belts out another bit of advice I hadn't been told or thought about. "You will never, ever progress on your own as quickly as you will when you surrounding yourself with people that are better than you..." ... I think that's the quote. And it's true. We had already passed with Airways (DSC) and that was awesome and. We moved to Marc and Sian for CP plus and confidence after a break... We might be biased, we found what works for us. But I can honestly say...I will never EVER stop learning from Marc. Guys. Fucking legends. Thank you!

[@thomaswillig5470]

Now that I‘ve got my first high-alpine rocky launches with gusty winds under my belt, this video does help me quite a bit to further fine-adjust my technique. I really appreciate your style of teaching! Thank you from Germany/Austria.

[@leavesleyaviation]

👍👊🙏🪂

[@jeremyfisk4406]

Fantastic video on windy launching. When I was learning 3 years ago I watched someone else's windy launch tips and they caused me no end of trouble - basically trying to launch quickly then run fast at the wing - nightmare. Then Steve Hudson told me the opposite is true - "the windier it is, the slower you bring the wing up" - best advice I've ever had. The wing just needs a little tickle up when it's windy and it will launch - any more and you give it energy to surge and pull you up the hill. I even use "no As" sometimes - just bump it up to launch. Great to see Marc explaining the same techniques as Steve - keeping calm, waiting on the Cs until you're ready then gently bringing the wing up - no stress, perfect. Thanks Marc - perfect refresher. Everyone who has troubles launching should watch this.

[@user-ve5fu3jk9b]

Helo and pleas scuze me for my bad english ' but i must tell you that it defenetly was the best video that i saw ever . you are a very talented paragliding teacher , and i am going to folow your instructions from this day on . i never learnd in paragliding courses , i dont want too fly high , but i do have a paraglide , i have do a lot of grounhandling in the past ,just as a hobie , or sport ,and thats all , i flide once or twice from a litle hill , the first one was a sucsesed one , the second time i losed control and i crashed from about 5 meters with out knowing what i am doing , it was wery painfull during 2 or 3 years , but now i feel mutch beter and i dont want to give up on this new hobie . Sow thank you very mutch for your existens and your teaching activity , for me you ar the best teacher i ever met on the internet and i am going to learn every single video of yours from now and on , of corse just what refers to groundhandling and very low lift ups . your videos are very clierly and easy to understand , and becose of that , i am so greatfull and i am going to remain one of your students , thank you again , you are a god gift to all pilots in this paragliding world . i wiish you all the best in this life , and again , sory for my bad english , i holpe to do beter in the feutcher ., so long my new teacher.

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thank you so much for this lovely message, people like you saying things like this make it all worth my effort. Fly safe and one day we may meet. 👍🪂🙏

[@user-ve5fu3jk9b]

@@leavesleyaviation il be very hapy to meet you one day , i am an israeli sitizen , live in ROMANIA , and the paragliding sport is very popular here, but i have seen many acsidents of licend pilots , so i desided not to take any corses and stay on thre ground until i found a realy realy teacher to instruct me . al the athers are just young boys with out anouth experience in this domain , only for taking money for nothing , thats what it is

[@MikeHobbs71]

Definitely my go-to Paragliding channel whilst waiting for my course. Thanks for this recent series Mark. 👍

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thanks mike.

[@vicariousaviator9742]

Best PG tutorials on KZbin, bar none. Superb 😃

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thank you Iain 🙏🪂👊

[@erdmax_]

Oozing quality this. Brilliant series.

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thank you.

[@jsin101]

I love the fact that you were flying in the wind and things were not always perfect. Stay calm and fly on. Perfect lesson. Another great video in your series.

[@MeadsLTC]

Very good Mark. So nice to see your demonstration in actual high wind. I have watched others talk about it but you need to see it WITH the wind! Thanks.

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thanks Brian.

[@yanerik6850]

I like the bit at the end where the wing drops and you get scooped sideways - and that it still makes you laugh. Good video Marc,

[@windfxjeff3363]

Thanks for a perfect training video. I'll be launching soon n can't wait

[@leavesleyaviation]

Happy you enjoyed it.👍🪂🙏

[@scenicsteve]

Great video Marc. This one and some of your others have helped me achieve my CP which I finished this week. I'm down in Sussex but can't wait to visit your part of the country. It looks just as scenic as down here. Very jealous of you Man Cave. Thank you.

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thats great steve well done mate.

[@loums52]

I am REALLY enjoying this series. I continue to lean quite a bit of new techniques and is helping to refresh some "forgotten" ones. Your enthusiasm is contagious! Thanks and keep them coming. 👍👍👍

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thanks a lot and I am glad your liking them.

[@hejs1962]

😊 super intro how to start in strong wind, i like your Way to say the things, its nice slow and so understandable, and i also like your small paragliders and the hill, super job, best regards Søren from Sweden, beginner to the flying world

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thanks buddy

[@josephking7021]

Marc you are one of the best instructors ever. I don’t para fly or motor but I’d love to do it but my time is running out I fear. It gives me great pleasure to watch you tame the wind. Amazing! I’d be over too see you if I lived in the UK. Keep up the good work mate!

[@leavesleyaviation]

thank you.

[@johnfarbrother4614]

Diamond! Thanks Marc :-)

[@parker9083]

Great work I'm learning and patiently waiting for the right day to get ground handling done 😁

[@DarrellMalick]

really great teaching video.

[@graiganderson8433]

Looks so good, l love how in control of your glide wing are the whole time , easy to listen and understand all your instruction. You truly are a marster and love what you do. Thankyou.

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thank you very much Graig.

[@martinpolach6171]

Cheers from the colonies...nice manner and good technique ..thanks

[@MikeyFirst]

It's always good to get information from what source ever. I like your clear explanations. One note though, you're getting into the air at high wind strength, but you don't have any means of accellerator on your setup; no trimmers and no speedsystem/bar. Your margin of safety becomes very narrow in gusty situations, when there's no way of accellerating your glider to get out in front. You should mention this when teaching beginning pilots.

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thank you Michael and yes your quite right, For demo's this lite weight set up is fine but when we teach and for others it's 100% better and safer to have a speed bar.

[@mohamedsaifi1026]

Im slowly watching all of your videos .Thanks for the many tips you share.i fly for many years and did not think of many tricks you schow .im gratefull.

[@leavesleyaviation]

Great to hear.👍🪂🙏

[@giveitstick66]

hi, beginner here and i must say im really glad to have found your videos.. defo one of the best instructors out there.. thanks very much.. happy days.. : )

[@markmcgoveran6811]

I love your stories and your lessons and the side effect lesson that you didn't even think about. Just because I am slick enough imitation of you to launch in the high winds doesn't mean it will be any more fun to fly in it. Certainly encouragement to be conservative about which day you fly. Even if you safely launched in high speed winds once you get the air it might be miserable.

[@leavesleyaviation]

thanks.

[@AlexS-mf2kc]

26:53 - NEVER F. PANIC. .... just do not panic ))))))) best quote of experience in life....

[@Tlasheen]

Really appreciate the info and amount of good work in this video... from Egypt with love

[@leavesleyaviation]

👊🙏👍🪂

[@alexrands2580]

Nice work. you make it look easy! hope your glasses were ok 😎 cheers🍻

[@Smidge]

Thank you for such informative videos. i cannot believe how much i am learning from these videos! you're very clear and understand and the "tell me show me" style is perfect. Appreciate the vids

[@leavesleyaviation]

Happy you like them great to hear.🪂

[@xmaxfuture]

Wow, this video is absolutely amazing! 🌬😄 Thank you so much for this awesome episode on launching in high winds and ridge soaring. The knowledge and education you provide are truly invaluable. I used to struggle with understanding how to handle windy conditions, but your clear explanations and demonstrations have made it so much easier. Your channel is a treasure trove of paragliding wisdom, and I'm incredibly grateful for the insights you share. Looking forward to more incredible episodes and expanding my paragliding skills with your guidance. Keep up the fantastic work!

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thank you.

[@jirisilhan3094]

Well explained Marc. Thanks!

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thank you buddy 🙏🪂👍

[@leoplaza-ponte6536]

Another fantastic video. Thank you!

[@mitchsmith71]

Loving the series Marc, each episode gets better and better, and you leave us wanting for more. In this one I especially liked a couple of tips, one where you allow the wind to unpack the down wind side of the wing, genius, and also the launching in higher winds just using the inner A's, rather than both A's... Look forward to what ever the next episode brings. Many thanks.

[@ethanv.1178]

your videos helped me lot man thanks

[@tomekbumat]

I can just envy you that big launch not just a 40 square meter spot that we have surrounded by trees and crops behind...

[@leavesleyaviation]

Wow mate,I guess it makes you concentrait every launch!!

[@Longyearbye]

Thanks so much again for this lesson! You are a lucky person to have this landscape! here in germany i have to drive many kilometers araund and the restrictions here are very strong.

[@SailingRhapsode]

Another good video, thank you.

[@leavesleyaviation]

🙏👍🪂

[@LernGuru]

Excellent. Very helpful and great to watch.

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thanks Robert.

[@LernGuru]

@@leavesleyaviation I do enjoy flybubble's Greg but I like Your videos better as they do explain better the little details that make my ground handling and flying better. At the moment there ist no flying here unless one doesn't mind "corona parties", as it is far too crowded on Bavarian mountains but soon they want to open the border to Austria again, and then the game is on! Until then I enjoy Your videos and practice mentally. Thanks again.

[@leavesleyaviation]

@@LernGuru 🙏👍👊

[@patrickaubichon]

definetely going to help. thank you for making this video

[@thomasr.5517]

Hi Marc, I’ve just come across your extremely instructive and most sympathetic tutorial. I appreciate your expertise yet your very down to earth explanations and attitude. Great job !

[@leavesleyaviation]

🙏👍🪂

[@jessesavoie6029]

Dude you sound like a broken record hahaha. Repetition is how we learn so don’t change that record. Love your videos and it’s really improved my skills and given me confidence in stronger winds knowing I can keep it safe on the ground. Much appreciated keep up the good work. Awesome dude thanks

[@leavesleyaviation]

I hate listening back to myself but I just feel it needs to be said A LOT so you pilots get what I mean you know, haha!!

[@FlyBabyFlyPPG]

great videos thanks for share your experiences fly baby fly.

[@Lionheartsm]

Your videos are so valuable. Thanks dude!

[@Vl7248]

Thank you so much!! I learned a lot from this video. Just got started.

[@leavesleyaviation]

👍🪂😎

[@sergiojmena]

Thanks for all the great tips, Love your videos !

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thanks Sergio.

[@MrKbtor2]

You filled in a gap in my knowledge. Thank you!

[@leavesleyaviation]

thanks

[@andrewsparkinson1566]

I do like your instructive repetition style cheers.

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thank you

[@curtis517]

I caught myself pulling my arms in during kiting last year. Even in low winds when you are trying to inflate. Straight arms helped my rise of the wing. I noticed my Rush 5 leading edge collapse, closing air pockets only when I pulled hard by bending elbows.

[@leavesleyaviation]

Yes straight arms are much better for a good leading edge launch.

[@alfredasjasaitis7561]

Wonderful as always, so detailed and informative, thanks Marc for what you do!

[@leavesleyaviation]

🙏👍🪂

[@relaxflyrepeat2302]

Excellent demonstration and explanation, I wish my instructors had taught me this! Thanks

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thank you Ian, I am just about to start filming a new film on do’s and dont’s using bowls.

[@relaxflyrepeat2302]

I look forward to it Marc!

[@ChristianSchebitz]

Great explanations! Thx!

[@leavesleyaviation]

🙏🪂

[@melvinleggett727]

liking your intuitive view on all aspects of control and flying.i will watch all you do .thank you

[@crimsonraen]

Thanks so much for the video!

[@nickluck3790]

Fantastic videos Marc - I just like the plain-speaking, common sense approach and it's also really useful to have repetition! I'll be on my rear risers ...! Thanks a lot!

[@leavesleyaviation]

Cheers nick 👍🙏🪂

[@tonysherrington3137]

Looking forward to it Marc

[@sjkishan]

excellent spoon feed great keep doing more videos on paramotoring also Marc

[@leavesleyaviation]

Just waiting for my new power wing and I will make a XC para motor one buddy.🙏👍🪂

[@sjkishan]

@@leavesleyaviation thankyou eagerly waiting for your video marc I am from India this sport is not in light here, I will be an instrument to develop this here,

[@mohamedsaifi1026]

Thanks à lot!the teatching was really good .

[@edwinlooy6551]

Very clear educational video's👌 Awesome tips, And you are a charming personality😊 Keep it up👍

[@leavesleyaviation]

🙏🪂

[@madsloper]

Awesome lesson and thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Cheers!

[@qinzheng4106]

Thanks for share and good tips

[@mindfulmunchkin1215]

Great info, thanks for posting all your content!

[@leavesleyaviation]

👍🙏🪂

[@markdowning6773]

Great video Marc I'm going to try your technique as I'm s very low air timer only 2 hours but having a lot of difficulty launching properly . Thanks

[@Avrora707]

Cool! Regards from Ukraine!

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thank you and hello.

[@munkapkhimhun5587]

Great sir.Thanks.

[@nathansciacqua1030]

That was was great. You have a new sub. Well done

[@johnnywiggers2420]

hey Marc here's Johnny from Holland I like your video's very good explaining & tips Keep on flying mate

[@leavesleyaviation]

Heah nice one Johnny thanks, more coming very soon.

[@johnnywiggers2420]

@@leavesleyaviation I'll can't wait

[@theworldbridger506]

Great content mate, looking forward to go practice. Greetings from Costa Rica 🤙🏽

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thanks buddy

[@ChrisJewell7333]

Thanks great technique.

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thanks very much Humboldt.

[@roberthodzic]

And where is that strong or high wind? All of you who take off in strong winds always keep the c lines. The best technique! A and C of course

[@goldgeezer2370]

Gonna be trying that in next couple of days as it’s got bit windy up top Mt Babadag first few days no wind front launch .

[@leavesleyaviation]

All the very best.🪂

[@drewlawrence696]

What's a fiver....a decent cup of coffee ;-). Great advice, many thanks :)

[@leavesleyaviation]

Glad it was helpful!

[@baris_erdogan_]

great explanations thank you sir greetings 👏👏

[@pambbidara9125]

Thank U sir ...

[@DansEscapades]

Fantastic stuff in here. Even the bit where using wind to help you get the wing out.... Simple yet iv never considered it! Thanks again 👍🏼

[@adhbadoang1086]

jimi hendrix ... thank you for showing me that ...

[@leavesleyaviation]

👍👊🪂

[@drewlawrence696]

Thanks!

[@leavesleyaviation]

Very Good of you Drew thank you very much.

[@martinginsburg7222]

ERRORS: Many A) Instructor had no prelaunch checklist!!! count out as you engage 1) helmet strap 2) reserve pin not loose 3) reserve handle in position 4) left leg strap 5) right leg strap 4)Chest strap 5) 2nd chest strap 6) biner left side closed 7) biner right side closed 8) reverse launch? right or left riser on top dependent on what side you turn towards 9) speed bar 10) visually, clear air traffic. Most pilots DO NOT have a ck list and I call them flyers regardless of how many comps, records, youtube vids, or years of experience. If you are interrupted by anything start from #1 again B) Don't disconnect harness unless it is a new harness or wing and then only one time will you ever have to make sure you have no riser twists or accidental line over. Also you will make other flyers/pilots wait longer while you mess around hooking up your glider if it is a single launch pad (we call dem flyers "launch potatoes") C) Verify all lines are true and clear with harness ON the ground. If a dust devil comes through launch then you are in no danger because you are not hooked in. D) Glasses unteathered to your head without a keeper strap is another object that could fly off and get caught in the lines. And no damn ego Go pro cam on the helmet (he didn't have one, but I bring it up because I see so many just asking for a line tangle and crater in the ground by having a hook on their head)

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thank you for your message Martin and you are 100% correct all pilots should do a check list before flight, I do mine in my head and don't say it out loud but it's a good thing to bring up so people remember to do all there checks, in the UK we use WGHHCAT I guess you do the same or similar?

[@marekmagyar5119]

not a bad tutorial for a medium strength wind. For winds around the trim speed of a glider I would use a different technique.

[@E620SE]

in winds around trim speed you are a pro or shouldn't launch at all

[@Efntodd]

Thanks for the video by the way. I've been the guy that gets dragged because I was mistakenly pulling brakes instead of rear riser. I was actually trying to pull rear riser but the riser were so tight I couldn't. I did get the B's which depowred the glider very well but in high winds the wing gets very flappy with Bs pulled

[@josephking7021]

Marc have you ever done a video on a slow closeup of your hands, fingers, as to where the various lines are situated in ones hands in the different phases of pre flight, launch, cruising, and then landing etc. I know in your videos you spend time on the subject and I’ve heard pilots speak as to where the lines go in their hands but I’ve not seen a down and dirty up close slo mo tutorial that one can follow. Just a thought…. perhaps it’s too basic a subject? Joe

[@rogerioformac4191]

MUITO BOM! VLW ÓTIMAS DICAS.

[@Paiadakine]

Thank you for your lesson videos. I like how you teach and appreciate the little tips. BTW in the US we have the same ridge rules. Ridge to the Right has right of Way. There are other rules if someone is over taking you or under you but the Ridge to the Right has right of Way. How do you get the follow me video in the air?

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thanks.

[@MauiZeus]

I'm curious why you didn't have your speed bar installed for high wind flying...

[@leavesleyaviation]

Just to show you that you can put yourself in a flying position in higher winds to not need it, if you keep away from the hill a bit ie out the front you will be out of the compression zone therefor not need the bar anyway, that being said your correct in saying it is best to connect it always to be safe. 👊🙏👍🪂

[@alexandredacosta3236]

danke you very nice profissional

[@jfkjfk1]

3:55 .. Isn't that what we do to launch in a gale to get UK records 😉😉

[@nacerwahid6009]

from algeria .think u

[@leavesleyaviation]

Thank you.

[@amirsafari3658]

Mark I practice grand handling when the wind blows hard I get very frightened when the wind blows me off the ground

[@leavesleyaviation]

Hi Amir, practise in less wind and build on your confidence and the skills will grow faster.

[@Efntodd]

Question. If a glider has A,B,C & D risers VS ABC only, I imagine the rear riser "kill" is more effective but if the rear risers are "D" then there is even less surface area removed from applying rear riser making them more effective then just brakes but less effective then rear risers on one's that only have ABC

[@leavesleyaviation]

Exactly buddy.👍👊🪂

[@turkeyphant]

I can't keep my Explorer 2 on the ground with rear risers. All other wings have been fine but it horseshoes up in thr middle or the trips fold in. Any tips to keep it on the ground like using rear risers on other wings?

[@leavesleyaviation]

Try taking the stab line as well as the rears buddy.

[@turkeyphant]

@@leavesleyaviation Thanks I will try that (though annoyingly stabilo isn't marked), The main issue though is that when on rears the centre bucks up and lifts straight up in winds >10mph.

[@thepistolsuk]

Another great video, thanks! Quick question on windy launches. If you've got the skills to cobra launch is that the better option? Ie to minimise the chance of being plucked or dragged?

[@leavesleyaviation]

Yes to be honest when I arrive and do that rig, from there I myself ALWAYS cobra from there for the first launch of the day.

[@thepistolsuk]

@@leavesleyaviation Thanks that's good to know. Again many thanks, very much enjoying the series!

[@markmcgoveran6811]

Will a class B glider with a heavy weight in the range settle to a neutral pitch when flying hands up? Is trim speed hands up for extended periods a good habit? Is the glider the most stable in this position?

[@richyandliz4802]

Thanks for your videos.Just wondering if you could give some info about wind range and what strength winds are safely soarable for a beginner to intermediate pilot on a full size wing please?

[@leavesleyaviation]

I tend to soar my students in no more than 10mph, remember a paraglider fly's around 20mph so judge that from the wind speed on the hill.

[@makumba011]

Perfect video. Question. I am using niviuk kougar 2 for PPG and PG . I found out that is more difficult to control my wing in free flight in windy weather as is bigger. Do you think is safe to use this wing for free flight?

[@leavesleyaviation]

I also have had a Niviuk Kouger 2 and found it not very good for hill flying at all, better to buy a hill wing for better performance really pan.

[@chilli8364]

What are you using to record/edit video after ~ 26:00 when you're in the air? That's a REALLY nice looking steady shot! The shadow looks like you've got a chase-cam, but the shot is so steady on the horizon, it almost looks like a drone is super close. What did you use to get that result? Also, at 26:30 why did you mention ears and not speed-bar, when getting parked or pushed back?

[@leavesleyaviation]

Yes it’s an home made windsock chase cam, the most stable one I ever used, I may start making some to sell.

[@chilli8364]

@@leavesleyaviation wow. I’d love to get the specs if you’re willing to share.

[@leavesleyaviation]

@@chilli8364 Tomorrow we are out teaching so I will take some pics and add them to my community page 👊🪂👍

[@chilli8364]

@@leavesleyaviation Much appreciated. I'm an inveterate tinkerer and would definitely be into making one, if it gets these kinds of results. Looking forward to checking it out! ^_^

[@niklas7355]

Sometimes i See that people get almost "launshed" towards there wing. Is it becaause they were leaning back or becaause the Wind was unflyable? In every Situation where you could make a cobra launsh could you also reverse back launsh?

[@leavesleyaviation]

Yes in high winds you must run towards the wing when you pull, but maybe what you saw each time was too windy.

[@wonderfulworldofWoody]

That video was great but not as great as that CHOPPER in the background.😃😃

[@namvarnaderi5288]

how much was the wind speed ?

[@doitmyway9089]

If you weigh the minimum glider weight is it safe to fly in 10 mph wind as I'm right on the 90kg minimum and finding it hard to ground handling in a good breeze but saying that this video is so helpful and I'm going to try this next time I practice.

[@leavesleyaviation]

I myself fly between middle to top end, the gliders respond much nicer to inputs and fly better more loaded.

[@doitmyway9089]

@@leavesleyaviation thank you so much for replying, your video explains so much and will be much help, I did have one lesson in ground handling with someone in Lincoln but he didn't say much to help with what we was doing and didn't answer any questions so I didn't bother going again, I had a feeling he didn't know much himself. That's again I have subscribed and will watch all your videos.

[@leavesleyaviation]

@@doitmyway9089 Get yourself to a BHPA professional instructor buddy, save hurting yourself or come and see me.