The following list of questions and answers are provided to assist you in your research about
paragliding. You can click onto a specific question or scroll down and read the entire list.
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Why Fly? |
Rather than just looking up at the clouds, go up to them. Be in contact with them."Real, alive, touching, feeling
physical contact; being a part of, involved with." These are some of the experiences we are now able to know as a result of personal physical flight. Only in the last 10 to 30 years has personal
flight been a part of the possible experience of large groups of the human species. We have dreamed of personal flight for ages, now we have it! For our entire existence as a species we have only
experienced the first 6 feet or so of the atmosphere above the ground. We could get to 200' for those rare individuals who could climb a very tall tree. Now, with Hangliding and Paragliding, we,
the masses can explore and experience the first 2 or 3 miles of this "cloud world" with our own bodies. One can spend hours without ever looking down at the planet. The sensation of our feet losing contact
with Terra Firma for hours and becoming purely a part of the lighter and softer gaseous part of our planet is exhilarating to say the least. So, why fly? Because it's fun!!!
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How safe is this sport? |
There is one study that rated paragliding as being safer than driving in your car. Just as with any other
sport, paragliding is as safe as you make it. It can turn into a high risk sport if you make unsafe decisions about when to fly, when not to fly and what to do while you are flying. If one takes
up skiing, it would be a foolish and unsafe decision to put on your skis and begin skiing "black diamonds" or even "blue" slopes. You wouldn't have developed the skills to handle these conditions
safely. The same goes for paragliding. It's important to get good, thorough, complete, safety focussed instruction to stack everything in your favor so that you can enjoy this sport for the rest
of your life.
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Do people ever get hurt in this sport? |
Yes. Sometimes the incident may be one of a sprained or broken ankle or wrist while other times, one
can sustain major trauma to the spine, bones and internal organs. There have been cases of paralysis. Though it must be noted that accidents do happen, (as with every sport), there have only been
3 deaths in Utah, in 14 years. It is important to note that this is a high risk sport. For this
reason, making a good decision on the type of instruction you receive is very important and should not be taken lightly. Good instruction does not guarantee that you will not have an accident but it
does give you more tools and experience with which to stack things/safety in your favor.
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What is so different in foot launched aviation from conventional aircraft?
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We start with the notion of being in charge. This is my aircraft that I'm carrying on my back.
The conventional aircraft surrounds and protects your body with metal or some form of external "housing". Usually it has wheels or pontoons or some form of landing device. Though one can
experience being in the air, one still has an exterior source that separates him from the elements. With foot launched aviation, there is nothing separating you from the sky. You are held up
by a large sheet of nylon and some strings. (yes, the quality and the strength of the nylon and strings are extremely high but it doesn't change the fact that this is what holds you up.) There are no
wheels or pontoons on the paraglider.. your landing gear are your feet. If you are flying a regular paraglider (not a motorized one) there is no external noise or motor sound... just the sound of the
gentle wind blowing through the wing and strings. With foot launched aviation, you get to carry your "flying machine" wherever you want. You get to land wherever you want (some restrictions of
course) and take your flying machine with you as you hitchhike home or have someone pick you up. You get to be in direct contact with the birds, the clouds, the elements, the sounds. It's like
sitting in a portable swing and exploring the atmosphere. With paragliding you get to explore an element of our planet that has never before been experienced in this way.
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What is the difference between hangliding and paragliding?
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The primary difference is equipment, hangliding is a rigid, delta (triangular) shaped wing while paragliding is a
soft ram air wing. Other differences include flying style, performance characteristics, and setup time.
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What if I am not sure if paragliding is right for me? |
Take a tandem
instructional flight with Ken Hudonjorgensen. It will help you to decide if paragliding is right for you. You will get to
experience being in the air, get first hand instruction on what it feels like to steer the glider, look for thermals, soar like a bird, launch and land...all in your first
flight. It is a great way to learn how a paraglider responds in various situations.
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Tell me more about tandem lessons. |
Getting instruction during a tandem flight helps dramatically increase your learning curve. Flying with the instructor,
getting immediate feedback on glider input and certain maneuvers gives one more confidence and opportunity to progess more rapidly in the sport.
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How long will it take me to learn? |
The number of flights and days of lessons to complete all the requirements will vary depending on weather, location and the
individual. A good average is approximately 18 lessons. Some days, 2 lesssons can be given per day.
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How big are the classes? |
It will depend on how many people signed up for lessons that day. The average number of students ranges
from one to three people (maximum six). The pros to a big class size is that you can learn from other people's experiences. A private lesson can also be very rich.
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Where are the lessons normally taught? |
The beginner lessons are taught at the Point Of The Mountain in Utah. On a normal day, in the morning, the lessons
are taught on the south side and in the afternoon, the lessons are taught on the north side of the mountain.
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Do I have to pay for all the lessons up front? |
No. You will be allowed to pay per lesson, however, buying the lesson package will be less expensive in the long run.(to top of page)
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Do you offer group rates? |
Yes, contact us for details.
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Do I have to have my own equipment? |
No. The wing, the harness and the helmet will be provided during the lesson. The wing is specifically designed
for beginners. A radio will also be strapped onto your harness so that you have radio contact with the instructor and his guidance at all times. Clothing: We recommend high ankle support
footwear, layered clothing so that you can add or remove layers to ensure comfort, gloves, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen. (to top of page)
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Where can I buy equipment? |
Two-can Fly Paragliding
sells all the equipment you'll need for all levels of Paragliding. We will help you choose the right equipment for you and your abilities.
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How much does equipment cost? |
For all of your basic equipment: helmet, harness, reserve and wing, the cost will range between $2000.00 to
$5500.00 depending on the quality and whether it is new or used. For safety and quality reasons, anything less than $2000.00 is usually not worth getting. At Two-can Fly Paragliding
we offer you excellent quality equipment -- new or used. Your life and safety are important to us.
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What happens after I recieve my P2 certification? |
You are qualified to fly on your own without needing to have an instructor present. To continue adding to your
skill level and safety, it is recommended that you take part in various clinics that are specifically designed to help you get the most out of this sport. click here for clinic dates
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When can I start? |
Anytime you want. Lessons are offered 7 days a week, weather permitting, as well as year round.
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How can I find information about the Local Utah Paragliding club? |
The name of our local UT Club is UHGPGA (Utah Hangliding, Paragliding Association) Please click here
to link to their website.
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If you have any further questions please feel free to call or write to us:
Email: twocanfly@gmail.com
Phone: (801) 572-3414 
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