Acrobatic
Paragliding in the Andes: The Dance of the Brave
Flying has always been a human obsession. In the beginning, there were several
attempts to conquer the skies with fantastic and incredible machines. Then,
the airplane appeared, and with a little bit of creativity and lots of technology,
flying became a reality. In globes, zeppelins, jets, and rockets, transportation
over the clouds succeeded. But still there was a dream that was not achieved:
to fly like a bird, to feel the cold wind against the cheeks, to dominate
the air currents only using our body. Paragliding was the answer.
Paragliding is considered the closest way to imitate a bird’s flight.
Paragliders, just as birds, take advantage of hot currents to sustain themselves
in air and move smoothly through the sky.
 |
Ecuador has great places to practice this sport. Conditions
are perfect throughout the year due to the constantly mild weather. Moreover,
the scenery couldn’t be better. You can choose to make your flight
at 2,800 m above sea level from Pichincha, the active volcano that shelters
Quito, our capital city. From the air you will see, just as the condors
do, the incredible topography of this city, named Patrimony of Humanity
by UNESCO.
Or maybe you’d prefer to fly in solitude, driven by inspiration.
In this case, Crucita Beach would be the perfect place. Crucita is considered
the best spot to paraglide in Ecuador, and in South America, as well.
A constant current of air hits a 100 ft. cliff overlooking the Pacific.
Here, you take off and land in the same spot, after gliding for more than
6 hours above the sea.Crucita is a town that combines fishers and paragliders.
Cheap places to stay, delicious food to taste, and lots of gliding hours,
all these complimented by hot equatorial weather, make Crucita a great
place to take flight.
Another incredible place to paraglide is Yahuarcocha Lagoon. Yahuarcocha
is located in the province of Imbabura, two hours north of Quito by car
or bus. In Quichua, the native language, Yahuarcocha means Blood Lagoon,
a reference to a huge battle that was fought on this spot five centuries
ago. Many died and were thrown into the lake, thus turning the water red.
Nowadays, you won’t find any trace of that battle. The only thing
you will find is a great Andean scenery: a lagoon surrounded by mountains
inhabited by local indigenous communities.
This place is becoming increasingly popular among paragliders because
it’s
the perfect spot to practice acrobatic paragliding. Some prefer to call
it extreme paragliding, because the goal is to provoke emergencies in
air by doing twists and fast turns before returning to a safe position.
In this magical aerial dance, you will see how the pilots close their
chutes, defying gravity with reckless free falls, and you’ll watch
how they fold the chute so that the two tips of the wings touch each other.
This dangerous acrobatic stunt is called the ”croissant”, or
the crescent.
Acrobatic paragliding was born in Europe. Professional pilots tested new
models of paraglides in extreme situations and that is where it all began.
In Ecuador, it is a relative new way of flying, but there are already
great pilots that are practicing for international competitions. This
new way of paragliding must be practiced above water, and for safety reasons,
there must be a boat with life vests waiting below throughout the flight.
Also, paragliders must have certain basic safety equipment, including
a helmet, a life vest, and an emergency parachute.
To practice extreme paragliding, you should have previous experience in
normal paragliding. But even if you don’t have the experience, it
is still a great spectacle to watch these people do amazing aerial maneuvers.
Moreover, you can still enjoy this spectacle from the air, even if you
don’t know how to fly as local companies give you the opportunity
to experience the thrill with tandem flights, which allow you to paraglide
in safety as you’re strapped to a professional paraglider.
There is no sensation compared to this, so you better come here and extend
your wings. A beautiful country is waiting for you.
TOP
|
