This is Paragliding

This film was made to answer a question I was surprised to hear several of my friends asking me, "What exactly is paragliding?"
It was filmed during 3 cross-country flights around Saint Hilaire, in the French Alps, in Spring 2012.
The glider is a Gin Sprint Evo, and the camera is the GoPro Hero 2.

[@hollywissler2057]

Thank you very much for this lovely film about paragliding. I am with my deaf godson in Peru who is learning about parachuting, paragliding, etc, and because of your film I could show him what beautiful paragliding is. He has to see it to understand it, since he is deaf. Thank you from Cusco, Peru. Holly Wissler and Dante Flores

[@lusjokastro]

For me, paragliding is flying with freedom, feeling the air, flying with the birds, watching the sunset and the world down there. There is no need to compete, just enjoy.

[@harrylee7900]

Warum seh ich das Video jetzt erst???? :) hab den Startplatz schon bei den x-alps gesehen und wollte hin! Mit deinem Video mach ich mich nun schnellstmöglich aufn weg! Starkes Video! Wurde geteilt!!

[@ratpatrolxxx]

On the bucket list. And this one I'm going to accomplish! Great vid Rolf! Grazie!

[@LL-uv3um]

This is what i call "living in the now" . Great video from many different perspectives. That one low alt. situation over the forest was interesting. Makes life worth experiencing. Nice music too.

[@clamocca]

superkrass! absolute amazing! Schöne Musik zu schönen Flugsequenzen. Ich mag das kleine Schiffchen. Ich wünschte, ich hätte so bequem sitzen können als ich 30 min geflogen bin :)

[@skyjack1ifly]

Supper film- I love it!

[@ancoraluna]

Sweeeet!!! Looks like a great place to fly.

[@jonesieboy100]

One of the best paragliding videos I have ever seen thank you for sharing it with us. I am going to give it a try

[@Murdock76er]

Black mamba at 1:11 ;-) btw. "This is paragliding"....like a boss :-) I love this sport so much and I am just at the beginning ...

[@austinhatcher4969]

Wow! That was spectacular!

[@shanepark31]

that was so beautiful. this just made my bucket list. wonderful video as well.

[@pepecohetes492]

Thanks for posting, Rolf; beautiful film. I have been considering taking up paragliding, after watching this, I am convinced. Cheers!

[@ramases1]

beautiful video!

[@Gaspo46]

Very nice video. Thank you!

[@High9231]

Awesome sceneries! I really enjoyed watching the video. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[@xptoestampagemeimpressao2275]

Dude, you really told your friends what this sport is... Hope they 'got it' Beautiful scenery bro, Thanks

[@feheeraaron]

Paragliding is my new dream... But this sport is too expensive for me. So I keep dreamin'. Thank you for the video :)

[@BelusTraveller]

Awesome, Thanks for sharing, Have to put Saint Hilaire and French Alps on my list for sure, Thanks again, Rolf,

[@fotisaiki]

Excellent video. Thank you for sharing !!! :)

[@WoodyPembs]

Lovely video. I'm sure 'what paraglding is' for me will evolve the longer I do it, but I hope it never stops being that first moment when I felt the tops of thistles brushing my boots and realised I was actually flying :)

[@williamdeaguiar]

Hello Rolf, that was a awesome video beautiful scenery with a bit of water to cool you a bit more ...:), Congratulations, from your fellow pilot William DeAguiar form Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA.

[@Dlive2005]

That's picture is unbelievable looks so clear man great video love go pro

[@fiannafahl]

Lovely , Rolf! That looked perfect... it is the very most freeing feeling...isn't it? Thank you for sharing these great moments with us :)

[@RolfGibbs2]

Hi David! Thanks for watching.

[@Thargolit]

Nice video :) Lovely place.

[@motomx69]

thank you for this. we need more people like you to get vids up of youre own personal flying experiences. for me. its paramotoring and pissing off the locals with my flying chainsaw ;-)

[@mattcicero6936]

AWESOME!!!

[@MrTopherlicious]

Sweet vid! Thanks for the inspiration! Hope to fly the alps someday!

[@romano5497]

Awesome footage

[@3badger3]

this is one awesome flight you had man

[@RolfGibbs2]

Flying in Chamonix is just fantastic, of course when the weather cooperates. Good luck!

[@Windummie]

very nicely done

[@samanwahhab]

this is a sport for the great people.. you do very well

[@andreasunturlic6702]

Amazing

[@thescurry]

excellent paragliding, excellent videography. thanks for sharing, i hope to fly there someday soon. :)

[@RolfGibbs2]

You can fly tandem first to make sure you like it, but taking a course of lessons from a paragliding school is the best way to learn to fly.

[@selmandalan]

This is such a great video. You made me wanna fly for sure :)

[@TheParapente74]

Awesome !!! :)

[@mawalls2001]

Beautiful video, great music choice, too :)

[@darko7223]

amazing !!!!!

[@alexdragon2]

Congratulations, as I am from Brazil means crazy and amazing flying in St. H. France. 2014 We will be there!!!! Regards,

[@Valmirsaxfly]

Very nice.

[@pohotnez1]

Nice video!!!! Best regards from Slowenia!

[@davidbaldry5516]

Magic video Rolf.

[@MistahJMix]

I like how u run and spread that glider like its part of ur body!! Human nature!!

[@benwest123]

Rolf, amazing video bro, loved every second. I have book marked it for when my friends ask the same question! Thanks for sharing :-)

[@MrBenOates]

Nicely edited video :)

super video.

[@samanwahhab]

It is a sport for a great people..... you do very well

[@mitchamus]

wow - outstanding launch site....

[@jerryjdotson]

So cool

[@gregsimonson4312]

That would be so awesome, looks cold in the mountains but it would be so worth it.

[@impostazioni1]

AWESOME

[@user-rs6gg6bb1d]

good shots, nice video...

[@drgrampo]

Great !!!

[@RolfGibbs2]

Thanks. That is also my favorite moment.

[@jayjohnson1631]

Incredible views! Can't wait until I get my license.

[@Kyoto99952]

WAUW! looks sickKK!! im checking videos because i want to do it... this looks awesome!! thanks for the upload ! :D

[@davidtaylor7421]

BEEEUTIFUL!!

[@xptoestampagemeimpressao2275]

I think he is asking if paragliders collapse easily. P.s. you made 100 km xc both North and South ? That's skill bro. Respect.

[@RolfGibbs2]

Flights of 200-300km are accomplished on good weather days, and 500km is the world record, but these distances are highly dependent on wind and thermal conditions. The Red Bull X-Alps race goes 1000km from Salzburg to Monaco, where only flying and walking are allowed. It lasts 1-2 weeks. So you can cover big distances, but not so suitable for getting somewhere by a certain time.

[@RolfGibbs2]

Thanks for the compliment. Yes the sound is a vario (or variometer) which reacts to change in air pressure (altitude) and helps pilots use their ears to stay inside the rising thermal currents.

[@LaurinchenEliannah]

Oha das sieht wundervoll aus! :) ich überlege ernsthaft ob ich's auch lernen soll.. Und ab 3:30 hab ich gemerkt dass ihr über Grenoble, meiner Heimatstadt, geflogen seid :))

[@RolfGibbs2]

Thanks. So many ask the same question, even thought the answer is in the description of the film, right on this page, and also in the credits of the film. Saint Hilaire, French Alps.

[@mushtaqmohammed9663]

My favorite

[@RoseValleyFly]

nice one Rolf. GJ

[@RolfGibbs2]

Very true! Let's see your films on those. Show me what paragliding is for YOU!

[@RolfGibbs2]

The film was made during three flights from St Hilaire du Touvet, France (look it up on map), one went about 100 km south, the other 100 km north, and the third was local, landing just below take off, to get the pilot-footage from the the pole mount. There is no single track log I can post.

[@pchernyuk]

Hell yeah!

[@GoiabaDumal]

Amazing dude! Come to Brazil, we have beautiful places too.

[@johnmarsden1034]

Wow!

[@ahmedsingawi2768]

That's so sick dude

[@SacatecaDi]

Danke fürs Video! Supertolle Ansichten und passende Musik. Bin gerade von der Hohen Wand gekommen. Die Thermik war ganz gut heute. Bin noch Flugschülerin (heute war mein 22. Flug). Solche Videos inspirieren für die weiteren Flüge.

[@rodgerkerr]

You make it look easy

[@adavivi210]

Parabéns, belo vídeo e o lugar e exuberante, ainda vou voar aí, Adauto, Brasília-Brasil

[@RolfGibbs2]

A paraglider has a greater ability to glide forwards (than a parachute) while losing a minimum of altitude, and it can be launched from a hillside. It is a different animal altogether.

[@James-C24]

thanks a lot

[@lusjokastro]

I forgot to thank you for your great video. I hope that one day you come fly here in Brazil. In my opinion, one of the best countries for this sport. Be welcome. I fly in Ferrabraz, in Sapiranga, Brazil. Check that at KZbin or Google.

[@costelgabriel997]

nice !

[@PuffPuffClown]

I love this song what's it called??

[@renatocampos1998]

junte uma bela condição, e um excelente piloto,o voo fica marvilhoso!!! E o que presenciamos neste voo..

[@bobbleheadman123]

I'm amazed that his giant balls didn't weigh him down to much

[@parachute1nut]

That is one cool vid. Good work. Looks like you have a very comfy seat to enjoy the view! What is the squealing noise I hear? Is that for updraft detection?

[@elfcc]

Beautifull movie....Do you remember how the location is called where you took off?

[@trashcan_man]

thanks, good to know

[@incum12]

Living in the wrong country to do this sadly :( Great film!

[@MdniteLongboarding]

4:21 - awesome.

[@pindordan]

Great!!!...; please tell me how did you corrected the lens distortion from hero2 and which soft did u used. Thanks

[@RolfGibbs2]

Thanks. There is no lens distortion correction in this film.

[@RolfGibbs2]

Great. I like your idea of paragliding. Was there something in this film that was not like that? This film is about free flight, and nothing to do with competitions. But I do love competitions, and will be making a film about comps next...

[@lamilumag]

Klasse Video! Danke! Als jemand der noch nie geflogen ist muss ich fragen: Ist es sehr gefährlich so nahe an Felswänden oder über die Baumwipfel zu fliegen?

[@Allan_Melon]

hey Rolf how long did it take you to learn to paraglide? I would love to try it one day, always thought about it

[@RolfGibbs2]

The answer to these kinds of questions is often in the end-credits...! Saint Hilaire du Touvet, France.

[@wilson143421]

E AI VOADOR QUAL É ESSE PAIS BELO VOO PARABENS

[@trashcan_man]

As somebody who know's nothing about paragliding, could it be used as a long range transportation? it seems slow but looks amazing.

[@RolfGibbs2]

By turning in circles inside thermals you go up (up to the clouds), between thermals you glide gradually down. Next thermal, you go up... etc.

[@RolfGibbs2]

Thanks, William. I am also in Los Angeles at the moment. Where do you fly?

[@FREEDOMCONSERVATION]

Hi Nice vid, where was this vid shoot? What locations?

[@RolfGibbs2]

Es kommt auf die Wetterbedingungen an. Sowie ich im Video geflogen bin, war es nicht gefährlich. Das lernt man alles in die Flugschule.