THEO DE BLIC'S TUTORIAL : RAPID DESCENT TECHNICS

Théo de Blic's tutorials is a free web serie where I give a few usefull tips on various aspect of paragliding. The tips I give are coming from an already long career as a professional pilot in acro paragliding.
In today's episode I will talk RAPID DESCENT TECHNICS, it's a list of the technics I use personally in order to go down fast, from the easiest to the most difficult.
This tutorial is a bit different that what I usually do but is aimed at beginner to intermediate pilots.
As always please subscribe share and like this video. This is really important in order to maximise the amount of pilots who get access to this tutos but also to give me more views which eventually translates into more videos :)
Thanks in advance ! Pour les français il y a la possibilité de mettre des sous titres en Français ! Profitez en !
Pilot : Théo de Blic
Wing : ION6 S - Nova Paragliders www.nova.eu/en/gliders/ion-6/
Camera : FPS_Production / Mael Jimenez
0:00 Intro
1:17 Why and when to use rapid descent techniques? / Wann und warum nutzt man Schnellabstiegsmethoden?
2:42 Technique #1: “Find the sink” / Methode 1: “Finde sinkende Luftmassen”
3:15 Big ears / angelegte Ohren
5:35 Big ears + spiral / angelegte Ohren + Spirale
7:15 Side collapse + spiral to the other direction / einseitige Klapper + Spirale zur anderen Seite
9:30 Spiral dive / Steilspirale
10:42 Flyback (Tailslide)
11:45 B-Stall
14:20 Horseshoe (pulling inner A-lines) / Hufeisen (innere A-Leinen ziehen)

[@intarsienschrankzwetschgen4224]

"It is süper easy" has become a running gag among my paragliding friends. Every time someone botched a maneuver 😊.

[@ralfstahl6558]

11:10 - 11:20: **David Attenborough voice** Here we see a acro pilot in the wild stalking it's prey, only to realise that it is in a friendly mood :D

[@TheFreeLandersGuide]

On the though of the B-line stall damaging the glider, is it at the attachment points along the middle of the glider due to the pressure being pulled? I found the decent rate was exactly what I needed to get myself out of a really bad situation on a Blue sky euphoric day, where the air was buoyant and lift was everywhere. The issue's were the freezing temperature, not having enough proper layers on, & going hypothermic during the flight. This was during my begging years of flying. I waited on launch for awhile watching conditions before committing to flying a bit hungry for both food & airtime. My flight plan was for an hour flight, taking off around 3:30/ 4pm. Gaining altitude was really easy on this day, I was flying my Ozone Alpina2 m/s Getting caught off guard with lift Everywhere, approximately 4,000' agl in February ground temperature was 15°f (-4° per every 1k) with 12mph winds on launch. After playing in the air for about 45 minutes I'd realized how cold I'd become needing to land I started my decent. I started to do some spirals trying to focus on a spot on the ground. Key word is tried. Turns out when you get Really cold things start to happen that becomes out of our control. Not a great feeling but being conscious & alive to share Is. So I start spiraling down and my eyes kind of skipped around lethargiclly & slowed response was really hindering my ability to descend. I became sick, throwing up, and balled up to warm my core loosing my efforts as I started to climb back upwards into the sky. This multi repeated process wasn't going to work in getting myself grounded. I reached up pulling Bigears & speedbar but sink was so minimal if at all & the exposure to the cold went right through my bones, feeling the exhaustion I released again to try to get comfortable & collected. The next phase was weird as I was overcome by what felt like a heat flash & I felt drunken almost euphoric by the extreme cold. I reached up grabbing the B-lines, keeping my legs up/ arms clinched in like a cannonball position, I pulled my weight on em'. I could feel the pressure on the lines, the feedback in the wing, & most importantly the decent rate. I landed in the Lz field. I didn't move I was So cold & nauseous. Two guy's came down to my location after some time & got me + my gear to the my vehicle. I laid there in my car unable to leave but warming myself up gradually. The 1.5 hour drive probably took 3hrs from pulling over & resting when needed. It took a couple days before I felt good.

[@billcallahan9303]

Like Eduard said below, Thank You Clio! You do a great safety service for the sport! I like how you pronounce "comfortable" too! As an American, it's funny to us! You say "come-for-table." It's okay Clio! My French accent is much, much, worse!...and so is my French!

[@ra4534]

Great demonstration of really good and less ideal options. When we want to get down, we want down now. I enjoyed the comparison details. Merci beaucoup.

[@MarcusRumpel]

The best video of rapid descent technics ive ever seen! Thank you so much! Greets!

[@Ruzzaaaaa]

Great as always! Thank you for your awesome tutorials Theo!

[@Lunc-mong]

Got caught in rain yesterday on my prion 3, top end wind and used big ears speed bar with weight shift to get me back to the top land. Think I'll practice a few of these in case I need to land immediately without the option of a top land. Thanks 👍

[@StanBarankiewicz]

This is a really good tutorial! Thanks so much, Theo!!

[@kimik1082]

best explanatory video for descent techniques on youtube. simple, concise, good shots and points of view. thumbs up and hands up

[@P4n0r4mA]

Absolutely perfect tutorial. Very valuable information! Even after flying for 3 years now, I didn't know much of that! Brilliant!

[@360turns2]

Great overview and demonstration, very thoroughly explained.

[@Stepptanez]

Excellent video Theo, really helpful. Many techniques I haven't seen before.

[@lucassoler333]

Great tutorial, thank you, Theo!!! I not only like how you explain the techniques, but also much appreciate your opinion on each.

[@GeorgieWorgiey]

Thanks Theo!! I had this video up on my flight deck yesterday. Watched it while climbing then did the techniques on each descent. Awesome practice!!

[@5i1v3rStorm]

I'm a skydiver. I ALWAYS descend rapidly :-D Thanks for the nice and interesting video!

[@SkywalkerPaul]

😅

[@Robin-wp9ov]

Génial de voir toutes ces techniques en une seul vidéo !

[@Paiadakine]

Thanks. I like the different techniques you show.

[@carlosgarcazon9711]

Theo, Thank You very much for all the Vids. And this is the one! Very educational: Who knows one day may save my life. Once again, Thanks!

[@denishooper2618]

tes tutos sont excellents merci Théo

[@igortrindade-dev]

Amazing!!! Thanks for sharing such great tips with us 🙏🚀🚀

[@safranpollen]

the side collaps and than spial against is my favorite and meanwhile I have done in several times and it was a real easy, efficienet stuff, THANXXX :-)

[@butchdelayaute]

the first technic is very unrated too but useful most of everyday cases 😂 always good to remind it !

[@MrCody7006]

Definitely trying the outside collapse spiral next time! Thanks Theo.

[@haveawonderfulday279]

I tried it and it's really cool and works well :)

[@indridi]

Do you have to pull the A-Line in order to collapse one side? He didn’t explain that. Thx 🙏

[@MrCody7006]

@@indridi Yes. the A lines on the side you wish to collapse. You may need to hold the A lines depending on the glider.

[@calvacoca]

How do you collapse one side of the wing ? Pulling the outside A line on one side?

[@SemiFlyingPharmacist]

Great tutorial, thanks Theo !

[@haveawonderfulday279]

The thumbnail made me laugh out loud. Thanks for the video. It's nice to be reminded of all these techniques once in a while.

[@para.k]

Great tutorials Theo~~! Thanks!

[@crimsonraen]

Thanks for the video, Theo! Big Ears and Speed Bar have definitely been a huge help!

[@varunsparx2402]

What is Big Ears mean ..?! Is that B riser he mentioning

[@torbjornkristiansen1673]

Amazing tutorial again, thanks!

[@DavidHotz21]

You are saving life mate. Bravo

[@alexsakon]

this was great Theo, I actually learned a lot from this short video

[@ripmanridin7092]

Great info.........thanks for putting video out there!

[@BertrandMangin]

Merci Théo ! J’ai essayé la fermeture maintenue et 360 dans l’autre sens. C'est top ! Pas besoin de se mettre l’estomac à l’envers 😊

[@rogiraa]

Thanks a lot of your knowledge !!!👍

[@kulfonbustardo1588]

Thanks heaps matey i really apreciate this videos and i am using them to practice alot.

[@henriquespsurf]

Obrigado Theo, Forte Abraco.

[@StellarStoic]

Thank you Theo and Nova 🍀

[@stefansmuts8882]

Great video! Thanks so much!

[@SkywalkerPaul]

Big ears + spiral = I like that! Tnx! 💯

[@ferelo9538]

Thanks... So good this tutorials. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@redsharkredshark5434]

Gracias Theo, saludos desde México

[@rolandwiberg1555]

thanks for these advices 👍

[@ChristianSchebitz]

Great and very helpful. Thx!

[@nelsotube]

Thank you, great tutorial.

[@ionutz89ful]

I love the way you explain and your accent is killing me, I subscribed for this hahaha

[@panther-xc8929]

Thanks champ awesome tutorial 👍🔥

[@edge6715]

Excellent tutorial. 👍

[@MrKbtor2]

This was great info. Helped me a lot. I'm scared to fly high because I only know big ears. To see it combined with a gentle spiral makes it seem more effective than I thought. I didn't know that just with weight shift spiral could be achieved.

[@maxmaxov1003]

Thank you a lot for your help 🙏

[@philippetarnier9026]

Thank you Theo you deserve la légion d'honneur du parapente.

[@ts-gp4ew]

After only having done 10 stalls and flybacks seeing you enter the flyback so fucking smooth was amazing. That transition was so clean - I'm jealous. Nice tutorial!

[@jindrichjochec296]

The pilot with the blue and white glider was having so much fun XD.

[@ParaglidingChronicles]

Good work. Useful share 👌

[@PolyActif]

J'ai maté cette vidéo à sa sortie, je l'avais trouvée top ! 😃👍💪 Sauf qu'aujourd'hui dans le dynamique (soaring) + les thermiques du jour à l'Oeillon Sud dans le massif du Pilat, j'avais oublié quoi faire... 😡 Et donc quand ça a continué de monter même avec les oreilles, ben j'ai regretté amèrement de ne pas l'avoir re-regardée récemment cette vidéo !!! 🤦😱 Dont acte dès que j'ai enfin mis le pied au sol... 😅😈😂 Merci Théo pour tous tes tutos !!!!! 😃 Ils sont vraiment précieux pour notre sécurité... 👋🙏

[@pawsNparachutes]

Thank you my fellow bird man! This explains very well with examples ! I will be practicing as soon as Michigan gets above 30° :)

[@ethanv.1178]

This techniche my uncle had a paragliding accident and i was in the air it helped me a lot to go down quickly

[@sylvester.2842]

Theo ! I Love it ! 7:11 ... I will recommend it to my girlfriend too! 😂😂😂😎 Love your videos MINE OF KNOWLEDGE!

[@adnanhodzic072]

Tnx man great turorial

[@raxis1000]

THANK YOU!! this tutorials are amazing!! as a beguiner paragliding pilot I feel a lot safer trying this thecnics! Amazing theo! see you next season in Organya!

[@bulentkamali]

Very good tutorial.

[@airgaborpara3824]

I agree that B stall damaging the glider. As you made your B stall that not the easy way, actually the hard way. There is better way to generate B stall without pulling B lines. You must brake the lines with 90 degre wrist turn. Less effort and girls could do it. Not good if its Asymetric. Thanx for uploading! I Learnt 2 new technics from you. Keep on uploading these great videos. Thanx a lot!

[@XxFallenFlagxX]

I am a beginner and we got surprised by shifting clouds two weeks ago. It was my first time having to descend, and I did big ears + accelerator. It happened 3 times, the last time it thickened so fast that I had to fly for a good 30 seconds inside the cloud without knowing how close I was to the two other gliders. It was scary and I feel reassured knoing more ways to descend now. And one thing sure next time I'll listen to myself and not more experienced pilots if they say that "it is fine" and that we can still stay up while I think it is time to land.

[@SkywalkerPaul]

💡

[@rogiraa]

Don't know what to do? Always feel closer to danger!

[@sontags]

"It requires a high level of skills"... "See, easy!"

[@edwinlooy6551]

Only technique i missed is going down with ears,speed and wingovers. It is really usefull too and not at all problematic. And you are still going forward, But going down a bit faster

[@sandrainthesky1011]

That was great Théo! I also wonder about completely collapsing the wing if you are in mega cloud-suck, regardless of the twisting potential, then using the reserve. I guess the best way to avoid that is not to fly in the first place ha ha!

[@niklas7355]

Cool video 😊hopefully I will never get in a situation where I have to use them

[@ludocean7738]

Merci Theo 👍💪🔥

[@dofrefly909]

toujours aussi cool tes tuto mon blues :) see you later

[@theoflies]

😬❤️

[@SkillzzzSkillzzz]

well the backfly rapid descend technique was just a flex :D i dont see someone doing it in turbulent condititions when you really want to get down. the others i agree with.

[@haukeplambeck]

Would you recommend these descent techniques, backfly, spiral with big ears and spiral with one big ear also for two liners?

[@user-jh5li2nu5m]

Hi, thank you for your video. Side collapse means pull the A riser or B riser?

[@renhuschle7575]

Great video Theo! Would you use flyback on a 2-liner for descent?

[@Pangolier]

Thanks for the useful tutorial, you make it look easy but I think they are a bit more challenging to learn for newbies.

[@theoflies]

Actually only back fly and spiral are not for newbies, the rest are open for beginners, the side collapses with keeping straight flight and turning around is done before the 20th flights in french schools

[@andreik5102]

@@theoflies Which lines are you pulling on when doing side collapse + spiral? Outside + middle As?

[@Pangolier]

@@theoflies Thanks, btw, is wingover a RDT?

[@theoflies]

@@andreik5102 all A lines. So Ear line + the other A riser

[@theoflies]

@@Pangolier not really it’s not going down that fast and does not meet the requirement of a RDT which is you must be able to keep it forever. Or a very long time at least :) wing overs you can do them forever but you need to stay focus and therefore a spiral or big ear spiral will be more effective. Also small wing overs really don’t sink at all

[@kaptanpilotunuz4047]

Thank you bro

[@enricogirardi]

Super-merci Téo por m'avoir appris le "side collaps + opposite spiral": je l'ai essayé aujourd'hui avec un peu de peur et... fantastique! Si tu as d'autres tips que tu as appris à ta copine - please - enseigne les nous!! (...même si je suis sûr que ta copine les fait bien mieux que moi).

[@thewatcher5248]

AWESOME

[@cabanford]

What's your favourite when decending on a CCC wing, where big ears aren't much of an option?

[@Hidden308]

Merci pour ces conseils! La technique de la fermeture asymétrique + spirale ne risque rien dans une aerologie turbulente? La dernière fois j'ai fait les oreilles et des 8 (pas de spirale je voulais rester face a l'attero), ça m'a suffit pour descendre jusqu'au sol mais ça fait mal aux bras, et dès que je relâchait les oreilles mon vario s'emballait 😂⏫

[@user-jh5li2nu5m]

Hi, I'm watching your tutorials thank you for that. May I ask you something? When you pull down side collapse which riser do you use? A riser? Or B riser? I can't see clearly. I want to try that. Take care Theo. I appreciate your efforts.

[@dewadunia5455]

Thank you

[@Daveparapente]

merci pour ce tuto, le decro marche arriere ca a l air tellement facile , mais en verité pour l avoir fait en siv pas toujours evident de trouver la marche arriere

[@approachingmax]

Big ears descent with speedbar possible and may better and how high is the sinkrate with the side collapse technique? Cheers

[@parapentefun]

How about Big Ears with speedbar + rolling along an axis with lots of weight shift? It's really efficient (maybe around 10m/s) and you can still get away.

[@theoflies]

Yes that’s good too, but then you don’t move as fast away cause you are not doing a straight line so if you really you need to escape first fly away then go down but If you have the time that’s very good

[@nickpiner2755]

love it!

[@sotlio]

your right brake handle is crazy :)

[@TheOli42]

hey Theo, what kind of helmet are you using? thanks for all your videos! salut

[@carlosurquijo3563]

Another is helicopters and infinity tumbles while side collapsed and reserve semi open for extra drag. Maybe a bit advanced if you are just out of school...

[@artunbayrak5176]

very nice 💥💥

[@DrAElemayo]

Is a B-line stall a good idea for emergencies where you want to go down extra fast but don't have the skills for a regular stall?

[@ScoringStageDe]

i wonder why not useing speed-bar when spiraling in big-ears. wouldnt the speed-bar set a more stable angle of attack?

[@gabordejonge1303]

hi Theo, what do you think about C3/B3 descending technic ?

[@marionocentini4126]

I wonder whether the thecnique "SIDE COLLAPSE + SPIRAL" is still feasable with 2 liners?

[@swiss_2k]

Thank you!!!!!!

[@wahrheitwirklichkeit285]

Merci 🙏💪🍻

[@estupidoParapente]

u found the ideal whether, son of .. it wa snice to see

[@corbendallas6664]

Excellent Théo, rien à enlever, rien à rajouter, c’est perfect :) Et cerise sur le gâteau : je comprends tout quand c’est toi qui parle anglais 😁😁😁 Grand merci à toi

[@nivuz]

I'd love to see that tutorial for 2-liner wings.

[@rudy34110]

Parfait, merci

[@LadoAventureiro]

Nice!!!!

[@s.w.backcountry3982]

Hey Theo, do manufacturers have an opinion on the asymmetrical spiral technique? Some of my club members are saying manufacturers are against this technique. Do you know Nova's take? Thanks!!