Paragliding Skills: Master Strong Wind Launching

[@sailor-rick]

Another new subscriber. This is a great instructional video. It's too advanced for me... for now, but I will keep watching your videos because some of this knowledge may seep into my leaky brain and stay. I'm still 40 pounds (3 stone?) too fat to try flying. Until then I am going to practice ground handling on a too small wing. Since I will be kiting for about a year, do you think it unwise to buy a higher performance wing-- say a hot EN-B wing-- to start. Or should I just go with the A wing. I am a patient guy, but I don't want to bite off more than I can chew (sorry for the platitude). Thanks for the videos.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Welcome aboard Rick. This video is quite advanced but we're also planning to make some more "basic" videos too. No one's too big to fly (within reason). Wings come in different sizes for exactly that reason. We definitely applaud the idea of committing to ground handling. It's an excellent idea and more pilots should devote time to it. When it comes to ground handling you'll probably learn more using a hotter wing. Then, when you come to fly using an EN-A school wing should feel easy. Check out our school website, maybe we can help: www.school.passionparagliding.com/

[@sailor-rick]

@@passionparagliding3994 Thanks for replying so fast. So here's the big question... which "hotter" wing should I purchase and kite for a year (or 20kg)? I know that I will learn to fly under a beginner wing, but my hope is that a year of ground handling will help me move into my "warmer" wing soon after. Thanks again. Also, is it really less than a thousand Euros for the course and the BHPA membership? It may cost less for me to fly there and stay for a week than to take training here.

[@passionparagliding3994]

@@sailor-rick The main advantage of learning overseas (eg in Ager - awesome site - though we're probably biassed) is the weather! It almost always works out cheaper in the long run to get your qualifications somewhere other than the UK. As long as you weigh no more than 120kg we have a brand new training wing for you. I'd say crack on with your qualifications. A good 20% of the course is ground handling and much better to get professional instruction and learn the correct skills from the get-go. You can email us at [e-mail] for more info... With respect to buying a wing to ground handle. It's not a bad idea, but I'd suggest going second hand - something that's been ragged around should be much cheaper and ideal for ground handling (ie even more smacking around)

[@samuelritchie1611]

@@passionparagliding3994 Thanks. Good idea.

[@SteveWrightNZ]

NO. Get a school wing and stay on it until you can frighten it more than it can frighten you - a long long time.

[@KlingbergWingMkII]

Having been a pilot for nearly 50 years and having flown all types of aircraft (including hang and paragliders) I can, with high confidence, say that the best method for handling high wind conditions is to pack up your wing and go to a bar. You can always fly another day, if you live to see it!

[@SteveWrightNZ]

Nar, high wind launching and flying is a blast. Not for everyone, and thats totally fine.

[@tocando_em_frente]

So right !

[@alejandroGonzalez-fu2gv]

😂 yo no tengo saldo me podrás llamar al celular pero ya me dijiste nada de whaltmar compra ya que la renta.incluso estamos en yo

[@goqsane]

couldn't agree more.

[@vertigopilot]

There's plenty of time to drink after dark.

[@peterphil9686]

Very clear bro... the clear language and organization of the edit make for easy learning for all.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Yeah! Thanks Peter. Exactly what we were aiming for!

[@peterkelly8953]

Sorry to be a bore, but flew an Airwave Black Magic in the early 90s & am envious of the current gliders with superior performance of the the rocket ships of the day & all the safety you crave. Even though I am now 68, I would love to fly again. My first flight after training was off a ridge flown for the first time ever & we popped like champagne corks, stunning but with a very nasty rotor if you got too far back. For anyone considering paragliding, it is a glorious experience

[@passionparagliding3994]

Peter. You survived flying a Black Magic! As you note, it's much easier today

[@johnhamilton151]

Very very useful

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks a lot

[@NelsonsWings]

Some great tips in this video, for example the one about getting more rear-risers in hand when balling up the wing, and to carefully loop the lines out when stepping away from the ball. Where we fly in the USA desert South West, relying on brakes to keep the wing on the ground or kill it is a recipe for being plucked and/or dragged. Before stepping away from the balled-up wing, after getting the brakes in hand, the next step is to get the C's one hand and then the A's in the other - yes, the Mitsos technique. Glad you went into detail on that! If the wind is anything above 15 Mph, brakes will just lift the pilot off the ground as the wing come up - many of our launches don't allow for a lot of running under the wing to control the energy. Plenty of force on the C's will not only moderate the inflation, it's the only reliable way to kill the wing if it gets away. Only after the wing is overhead and stable will I let go of the brakes - either to turn, or to control the wing if I am already flying with my back to the wind. If, after I have turned and I'm getting lifted back and am unable to move forward, pulling on the C's will keep my feet planted.

[@bikerdude923]

Thanks for saying this, this is the way I was taught and is how I do all reverse launches, I feel it give the most control, and it works in all wind conditions. I don't understand the industry's aversion to this method!?

[@passionparagliding3994]

Bikerdude. I think it works best with low aspect wings. High aspect wings (and that's the way it's going... eeek) are probably easier with alternative techniques. Live and let live.

[@bikerdude923]

@@passionparagliding3994 I'm not sure that is true as even the P3 and P4 pilots around here all use the A's and C's method and many of them fly high performance wings with higher aspects. I'm not saying it would feel the same on a high aspect ratio wing as on a low aspect wing but it does work, and in the high wind conditions that we get here in the USA SW doing it any other way regardless of wing type could get you seriously injured even just kiting on flat ground. I admit that it takes a lot of practice though to get good at it, but once you figure it out you can kite pretty much any wing in most wind conditions. That's my two cents.

[@hassanlotfi6597]

I am a paraglider pilot from Iran. I wish you good health. Your training program was very helpful. I would love to see you fly to Iran.

[@passionparagliding3994]

We'd love to come to Iran! Looks like a beautiful place to fly

[@clivedavis6597]

Thanks Toby. Great advice. Well done to the camera man Kieran

[@kierancampbell3322]

Thanks Clive!

[@parapilot09]

As a former PG instructor I found this video to be excellent. However, I would wouldn't like to have to take my wing to that kind of rocky takeoff. I would hate to think of the wear and tear to your wing and its shortened life launching at such sites. Another brilliant strong wind launch which I use when flying tandem is the big ears launch, where the ears are applied as the glider inflates. It kills all the energy and stops you from being dragged or boosted up. From a cinematic perspective, the video are beautifully done and edited. Great work.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Ian! Yes, we missed 3 or 4 other techniques out - the ears-held-in technique included (Maybe it's a future video). As for rocky launches, there's not much grass in Morocco😥. On the other hand the wings don't get damp. To look after the wings out here we try to "pop" them into the air to avoid scraping or dragging as much as possible.

[@susankent1030]

I've taken several trips with Toby. When Covid is over, I highly recommend his tours. I heard his SIV is good as well. He is very patient and an excellent tour guide and pilot.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Very kind Susan!! Thank you!

[@AndriyKohutParaclub]

finally, someone made proper video about launching in strong wind. Thank you very much from ukrainian paragliding instructor.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thank you Andriy!

[@matteomancuso8474]

Those launch demos are so impressively clean! You make it look easy! Massive congratulations ! 👏 And now I know that I need to go train a lot more! 😅

[@robinhoughton7139]

Great video. Thanks for the tip on mushrooming, I have never heard the fix of taking in the C's/d's and have had the problem of the leading edge catching the wind. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

[@FaisalKhan-jg6kg]

Thanks, One of the best videos on take offs , as well as aguergor at its best

[@passionparagliding3994]

Glad you liked it!

[@JanPBtest]

3:00 I may be weird and wrong but I never use the brakes in a strong wind launch because if the wing pops up even a little bit (there is an excellent chance of this happening), it will usually _not_ go back down if you pull the brakes but it will respond by dragging you (strongly) backwards instead. I just use the rear risers exclusively for controlling the wing with one hand and the As in the other, with the brakes in "neutral" (the handles in my hands). If the wing rises crooked, I find that in a strong wind it becomes very reactive to even small sideways movements, so a half-step in the right direction almost always fixes the problem without pulling the relevant brake. All of the above may be very wing-dependent, mine is Ozone Buzz Z. Wonder what other people's experiences are.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Hi Jan. Thanks for your comment! I think make a couple of great points. The point you make about applying brakes then receiving a "dragging" is the "spinnaker effect" (think billowing spinnaker on a sailing boat) I think with high chord wings or low aspect wings (EN-A and low EN-B wings), like your wing the Ozone Buzz, using the C's is very effective indeed. The wing in the video is a higher aspect wing which in many ways makes it easier to control on the ground. I would however suggest keeping the brakes in your hands whilst you also have the rear risers. If you have the rear risers the brakes won't be doing much (and you'll still avoid the spinnaker), but importantly you'll still have the brakes if you need them. Trying to find the brakes once the wing is overhead (or once you're already in the air) is not ideal. Thanks again for your comment

[@mitchsmith71]

Oohh that ankle rolling over the rock at 4:54 made me wince!!

[@cirogonzales7707]

iNTERESANTE TUTORIAL, GRACIAS.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Con gusto!

[@daniilfyodorov7887]

Clear and technical training video! Want to see the second part: launch with the a+с lines, and only two central A'-lines, and others methods. And will see the methods of how to landed the wing in a strong wind - is also very important.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Daniil. More in the pipe line...

[@ferelo9538]

Really good 👍🏻👍🏻👏🏻

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thank you Fer Elo

[@73martinmc]

Nicely done Toby. Nicely shot Kieran.

[@kierancampbell3322]

Thanks Martin :)

[@whitejtw]

Wow all your videos are packed with tips that I can't find anywhere else.

[@azukichiromaro5146]

This is the greatest video I have ever seen for rising up a glider. Thank you very much

[@ChristianSchebitz]

So great how your show us what to do! Thx!

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks for watching!

[@CitadelPhotography]

As low airtime P2 I loved this. Although explaining which way to turn your hips when controlling roll would have been good to hear. I hope you have a whole video on the cobra launch. That will be a fun skill to practice

[@passionparagliding3994]

Hi Kyle. Really appreciate your points - well made. We'll be focusing on both those points in future videos...

[@3hutp]

A long time ago I did a paraglider beginners' course. They told me that pulling the B-lines is more effective than pulling the brakes when you need the wing to collapse immediately. I think it makes sense, because with the B-lines you stop the airflow midway, whereas if you pull the breaks you allow the whole wing to inflate first.

[@passionparagliding3994]

B lines can work, but can also be heavy. Most pilots use the C lines

[@nathandrake5127]

Hello Toby , tu peux pas savoir comme j'ai progressé grâce à tes explications claires et nettes. UN grand merci professeur.

[@vmlinuxz]

That's a good tip on not having a brake tangle on launch. I've been guilty of that even when I thought I had gotten it right. I'll start at the carabiner from now on, and that should make it impossible!

[@FlyPhiGuy]

Nicely produced. Easy to hear and see the points you were making.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thank you

[@marktaggart4610]

Love it Toby - awesome, really enjoyed this - you rock - hope you and the family are all cheers Mark & Elena

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks so much Mark! Best Wishes to you and Elena!

[@hansb.8]

Great done. I'm not a Paraglider but I m sure it can be very exciting.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Hans

[@cihanemre1]

Hi! this is the best launching video which gives really valuable information and tips! I've just looked at other videos.. well, I expect you to load more videos which may give really good understanding such about SIV, Soaring, XC, meterology etc.. I will be following you always!

[@passionparagliding3994]

Glad it was helpful! We're hoping to release lots more videos in the future. Thanks for your kind comment

[@MissMarinaCapri]

Very useful and informative instructional video I have liked and subscribed thank you for sharing

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks for the sub!

[@nathandrake5127]

Thank you so much Toby . You have hello from France (CORSICA)😎😎

[@SteveWrightNZ]

A wrap of ears is good when its strong, take them first, then the A's and just launch and release the ears when you are happy, all the time steering with weight shift - when you are ready to fly just load the lines, pump the ears out and lift off vertically, its fun too and looks real pro and you stay planted until you are happy to go and not until - very safe, no involuntary launches... During the lift, the overall key is constant weight on the lines, as in, line tension = wing speed, so manage the line tension and you now have control of the wing speed, very easy and intuitive.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Hi Steve. Totally agree. Yet another great technique. We'll include it in the sequel

[@ahsas9436]

انا لا اتحدث لغتك ولاكن فهمت الشرح المرئي اتمنالك لك التوفيق والنجاح المستمر نال اعجابي جدا جدا شكراً لك من اعماق قلبي

[@passionparagliding3994]

شكرا جزيلا!!

[@AndreBandarra1]

Really good video Toby with lots of great info and nicely put together. Well done team! :D

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Andre!

[@SkyLoveForever]

Excellent video. Watched it several times already. Thanks a lot for sharing.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sygnalistaZDR]

thank you :) Greetings from Poland

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thank you too!

[@nickluck3790]

Excellent video - really clear and well explained - and worth watching several times! Many thanks!

[@susankent1030]

I often use the A's and C's method, but you don't go over that. Also it is clear that you are slowing the wing down with one pull of the brake, but you don't explain what you are doing. Great video!

[@susankent1030]

I mean one brake only, like a lot of advance and comp pilots do. Can you please explain the method.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Hi Susan! As&Cs ("Mitsos" technique) can be a very useful technique. (Perhaps we should add it to the list of future videos) With respect to "one brake",... if one side is rising faster than the other, you can sometimes (if there's enough energy) add brake on that side just BEFORE the wing climbs overhead. (Sometimes adding brake can also serve to clear a tangle or encourage a wing tip to inflate with the "Ball Launch" for example, as the wing climbs). I think I tend to grab both A risers in one hand. This will leave one hand free to add brake if necessary. I can easily swap hands if I need to add brake to one side or other as the wing climbs.

[@johncoutts]

Well presented and filmed with excellent bite sized chunks of info. I must go and work on several of them. Every launch perfect - outstanding!

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks John. See you in Macedonia very soon...

[@jstolba]

great idea: crouching down to be able to release some energy by standing up! not sure if you mentioned it: when cobra launching, one can also use the the body position in the later phase to fine tune the launch

[@passionparagliding3994]

Hi Johannes. It's a good point. We only really touched on the subject of Cobra. It probably needs it's own video.

[@cj3t]

Great video, would love to see more! Very nicely put together.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Chris. (Comments like that will encourage us to continue making more helpful videos)

[@coryturner9140]

I always use the A’s and D’s to launch in strong winds with a scissor action to control the wing as it comes over head. If it’s gets out of whack, just pull the d’s to your chest and it will kill the wing. This scissor method works great for kiting back up the hill if you sidehill land and need to get back to the hop of the hill. Great video!

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks @CGS_Hawk_Pilot. Your method is sometimes called the Mitsos technique and works very well, particularly on lower aspect wings. Not many wings have D risers these days though - usually it's As and Cs these days. Stay safe. Have fun

[@coryturner9140]

Passion Paragliding agreed...

[@geraldaliasjednolan9893]

Naebother Tobee, Gid info will try the rear risers and mushroom technique + Cobra launches. EE made it look as gid as a scotch pie.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Gerald. Lang may yer lum reek!

[@zeljkokumer223]

i could feel a bit of pain in my ankle at 4:53 :)

[@passionparagliding3994]

Ha! Well spotted Željko. Just a little tweek. Was OK. 🤫👍

[@svetre87]

Great video. Hurts to look at the wing and the rocky environment

[@nathandrake5127]

thanks a lot Toby . Im french beginner and i progress whith you

[@britishnomad]

Thoroughly enjoyed your instruction style... Greetings from Sweden 🇸🇪... Cheers 🤙🏽

[@aligoudarzi6612]

Woa that was PERFECT, thank you for your great tutorial, I am a beginner paragliding student and your video, changed my take offs completely.

[@lexrox1]

Nice one Toby. Excellent

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Lex!

[@sanjuansteve]

Great video my friend! I'm a hang glider pilot but I did get a chance once to learn to control and launch a paraglider at Glider Port in Torry Pines, Ca. :D

[@wolfgangaugustin]

Hi. Very professional video and fantastically explained. Thanks. Greetings from Germany.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thank you Woga

[@locachaloca]

Great video, well explained and examplified. I recognize the place, Aguergour, Morocco.....I love the place....a "must" when paragliding in Morocco....

[@passionparagliding3994]

Well spotted Luis. Check out our new video about Morocco here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZXEq5irrcyar6c

[@zeljkokumer223]

also at 7:04 you mention that many pilots don't understand "how our body position and twist can affect the roll of the wing" but offer no explanation on - how does it affect the roll of the wing? :) although i presume this is more of a subject for another "groundhandling techniques" video :)

[@passionparagliding3994]

Zeljko, top marks for observation. You're absolutely right. We mention roll and weight-shift but go into no detail. It would be a good subject for a further video. As another example we also don't talk about how to prepare for the Cobra launch. So many topics for future videos......

[@andrewtracey-smith5258]

Yep, I too was keen for more on this. Thanks for the vid.

[@geoffcattrall1669]

Great vid... very pertinent! For those that live in light wind places you can get will into an 'advanced' paragliding career without ever mastering these basics. Nice job as always Kieran hope all is well with you guys!

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Geoff!

[@benparadude2028]

Always great to review......thanks again .

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Brendan

[@Iamluischavarriaga]

Great video. learned a lot THANK YOU.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Glad it helped

[@adrenaline_dealer]

It would of been beneficial to talk about different hands positions for strong wind inflation? But other wise really nice teaching video which I will recommend

[@passionparagliding3994]

Hi Adrenaline Dealer. Sounds interesting. Could you expand on what you mean with respect to hand positions please

[@adrenaline_dealer]

With D riser in each hand only, with D riser in one hand and break in the other, with D riser in one hand and A riser in the other and show the reason for each

[@hsnsbr]

Thanks for the clear instruction

[@Robelixxx84]

So wonderfully explained. Love your commentary and all the stuff you do! Subscribed! Greez from Austria

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Robert!

[@arnsteinressem3894]

Great video. Professional advice and good takeaways.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Arnstein

[@DaveSearle]

Thanks. I really enjoyed this video!

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Dave. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@matthewscleary1]

Fantastic video. Thanks very much.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Glad you liked it!

[@filipgraorkovski3063]

Correct. Thanks for this video. I learned some of the launches.

[@rossflanigan598]

Nice video - really helps to mentally prepare for future flights!

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Ross

[@Goitzsche]

Great video. Normally I don't have much trouble while launching. But I like your explanations, very calm, good film material of the scenes paired with clear explanations. I take home some very useful tips. This video is already more than only an overview. Thank you for sharing. Where did you grab the clip? Is it "at home" in Wales? I had already a view on your offered trips. Very tempting!

[@passionparagliding3994]

Hi Goitzsche. Thank you for your kind review! 95% of it is filmed at the site of Aguergour in Morocco, There's the odd clip from Ager and Oludeniz.

[@IwanAlqodrie]

Happy Landing brother 👍🏻👍🏻

[@FlyRusty]

Great instructional video. What about publishing link to BHPA and or Paragliding Clubs?

[@passionparagliding3994]

Nice Idea! On its way...

[@nathandrake5127]

Thank you very much again Toby super explications . Véry good instructor 🙏👍✌

[@viktorwerz]

Great video with max. content. Thank you

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Viktor

[@peterphil9686]

Very clear

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thank you!

[@ismailzeytun457]

Perfect

[@CitadelPhotography]

Holding the As and Cs is much better for high wind launching than relying on brakes. I tried the brakes only method on my first high wind launch and felt extremely ill equipped. As and Cs helps tremendously with building a wall in high wind and keeping it pinned to the ground. Then you already have the Cs in your hands if you need to fully kill the wing. Looping the brakes over your hands lets you hold the Cs while also having quick access to the brakes. This is better correct?

[@breefield]

Incredible production value, great job.

[@ljanda1980]

Greate instructions ! :) I found some small errors in my lunching, I could correct them now. Thanks

[@finntanke-holmvik7458]

i liked this video. very good !

[@SzollosiMihai]

Very good video, wish I had this 3 years ago when i started paragliding :), but still I enjoyed now very much and learn one or few new tricks :)

[@yojanalopez9265]

Wow, que excellent work, volar estos hermosos paisajes ha de ser un sueño

[@infoatjeremybillingham1414]

Brilliant Toby, truly excellent video, well done!

[@passionparagliding3994]

Jeremy Billingham!! Blast from the past. Many thanks

[@camusmonamour]

très instructif ta vidéo, merci beaucoup

[@passionparagliding3994]

Merci Camus!

[@ivanrojas1085]

Thank you, maestro! Great video and tutorial.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Glad you liked it!

[@CornishColin]

Good one Toby.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Colin!

[@久田秀雄]

Great video.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thank you!

[@paraworth]

Excellent instruction. Thanks🤩

[@moritzleidler]

Is there a video that shows what to do, when wing is upside down (leading edge to the ground)? Thank you in advance

[@julianengland7021]

Nice one Toby.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Julian!

[@GarthTissington]

Great video! Really looking forward to seeing more.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Garth

[@jameslauchmen1858]

Well Done Toby. Good advice and tips. I'm sure that you had fun filming this. Good to see Morad co-staring (or photo bombing) Some things never change. Hope to see you again soon ... maybe some SIV

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks James! Next video gets even more Mourad. 🙄

[@timharraway919]

Awesome video thanks very much

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Tim!

[@seungdongkim7202]

후방이륙에 중요한 요소가 다 들어있네요. good!

[@steveblake3931]

Great info and video. Thanks Toby and team.

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks Steve

[@CuriousSoulCanada]

new pilot here....I never clip into the harness while getting ready; before i learned to fly, I watched hundreds of launches, good ones and bad ones. First i kite the wing while my harness is away from the testing area; if I am able to kite the wing and I don't feel it trying to pick me straight up, then I am confident to go ahead and set the lines and harness, not attached to the harness yet, then once everything appears right, while holding the risers, I go ahead and clip the risers to the carabiners. My preferred method is to hold the two risers carabiners eyelets parallel, turn them upside-down 180degrees, and then clip them one. Big No-No is to have the helmet camera attached while getting the lines ready. i don't use any gear and clothing or boots that could "grab" my lines. Do not follow my suggestions!

[@passionparagliding3994]

All sounds good to us!

[@markus2851]

To good information about windy takeoff

[@THESkiViking]

I like this video. I've learned these techniques and demonstrated them flawlessly about 4 years ago. I've since forgotten some as I primarily fly paramotor. Thank you for the tips for strong winds. I needed that.

[@travelsome]

Very very informative

[@passionparagliding3994]

Thanks!

[@aracelyd.6455]

Great video, thanks 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@zbedr]

I take, great briefing 👍👍👍

[@jesse2006]

great tips. can you also talk about just flying along and suddenly taking your first full frontal in rough air? cheers!

[@passionparagliding3994]

😳 Sounds scary! We have some "Active Flying" videos in the pipeline....

[@NCPPGpilot]

Timeless info and thanks for sharing!

[@apriliahfitridamayanti9507]

Happy flying 👍👍👍👍👍