TRAINING TO BE A PARAGLIDER

It is not difficult, or easy to train to be a paragliding pilot. First of all, one must have interest in sports; any sports. That's basic. Secondly, he or she must enjoy out-door activities. Gliders must be both mentally and physically fit. It's like playing with kite. Except this one is a very-very big kite! To be a paragliding pilot, the Kelab Luncur Udara Kinabalu (KLUK) the official gliding club of Sabah, requires interested participants to have a basic two weeks training. The final few days will be conducted in Ranau (those not familiar with Ranau; is a town very close to Mount Kinabalu). After the KLUK instructor is satisfied, the participants will be given a certificate TO FLY SOLO; NOT TO BE A TANDEM PILOT! After getting his/her certificate, one must get his/her own glider wing and harness to fly solo.

  I can give you a few tips. See the picture above? That's me doing the "walling" or "kiting". Remember when we were kids, how we play kite? It has the same principle, to catch the wind for the purpose of creating lift.

The above picture is call a "launch". Unlike small kite, we cannot simply run to create the lift. We have to wait for a slightly strong wind. Don't worry. This sort of training will not drag you upward. This is the basic training that students of gliding must master before they could start jumping down a hill. 

Once you master the walling and launching, then the instructor will led you jump downhill. BUT the above one is Kokol Hill. Too high! and too complicated for new flyers! You have to start with a very low hill, at the Take Off Base Two in Lohan, Ranau. 

Ah! This is the one! Ranau Take Off Base Two! Here is where the beginner make their first jump!

For more information, please contact/call/apps me at 013-8645606 or e-mail me at chrislammert@hotmail.com or see my Facebook Page CHRIS EXOTIC SPORTS.