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Show _ LEARNING TO PARAGLIDING | by David Peck Just when you think you’ve been pilot is the only signature a paraglider leaves. The real appeal to many is how quickly the sport can be learned: _ suckered into the last expensive, equipment intensive sport, and your _along comes another for breath, adrenaline _ aphrodisiac to complicate your life. A fledgling sport in the United States, paragliding has become totally accessible to the average Pat, and among if the weather cooperates, the average BAK are gasping person can become a nationally certified pilot in about a week. | © 1996 - DAVID credit cards Paragliding Utah charges $650 for their full certification program, which includes all the equipment, ground other blessings we Utahns enjoy is school, a temporary United States . the nation’s premier spot to learn this exhilarating sport. Having dabbled in other “air” sports such as ski jumping, sky diving, windsurfing and Dutch Hang ovens, I jumped at the chance to learn to fly with Paragliding Utah; I also managed to drag our newspaper’s Editor and Publisher (kicking and screaming) with me for a baptism. Steve Mayer is the chief instructor at the newly-founded Paragliding Utah, the only gliding school in the State to specialize solely in paragliding. The other three schools that teach ‘at Point of the Mountain, the aforementioned flying Mecca, offer both paragliding and hang gliding. Point of the Mountain is fifteen miles south of — Salt Lake on I-15. Since early morning winds are best suited to beginner lessons, 8:00 AM is the (proposed) starting time. Mayer was patient beyond his twenty-seven years, however, so our tardiness ruffled no feath- ers. Upon arrival I was surprised to ship Gliding Association member(which covers your insurance), _and approximately 35 full flights at several different launch sites. The course is usually completed in six to eight lessons (half-days), but a quick learner can be finished in five. A written exam is part of the certification, John Bresee comes in for a landing like a butterfly with burnt feet about as tough as a driver’s exam see several paragliders and hang glidfrom the “mellow” side with what (though our publisher recently ers dotting the landscape and spiralseemed to me rapid altitude gain, I divulged that he failed his first driing in the air so early in the morning; was plenty content to learn there. ver’s test, surprising no one who apparently initiates to these sports A new sport in the U.S. and not © knows him well). Upon completing don’t take Saturday night as seriously yet a household activity, paragliding the course, the student is certified to as others. ana is already huge in Europe, outnumfly alone, unsupervised, anywhere Our lesson took place at the South bering hang gliding two-to-one. The that launching is allowed. This side of the Point, a three-hundred foot three thousand licensed American includes many ski resorts around the sloping hill that would be ideal for pilots seem meager compared to one country, such as Jackson Hole, Aspen, sledding or motorcycle hill-climbs. hundred thousand in Europe and perhaps soon | Telluride, and _ Both our inexperience and the gentle — Japan. Once again the litigious Snowbird. “Because it’s such a new south wind favored this side; the American culture has put a stranglesport, there are thousands of sites yet North side is higher, with abrupt cliff hold on a great sport, as minimum lialaunches that allow more advanced pilots to soar in northerly winds. Witnessing several ballistic launches bility insurance for paragliders in the States is one million dollars. To the uninitiated a paraglider looks just like a parachute, or as one observer put it “an aerial jellyfish that purports to be a . cross between a | parachute and a FOOTHILL Pse€@sveess & Do You Dream oF... |. © Leading the pack while biking the Wasatch Crest Trail? & ° Skiing High Rustler, or Boarding Great Scott, non-stop, ; from top to bottom?* Running the Salt Lake Classic? ’ MAKE YOUR DREAM A REALITY © hang glider.” Paragliders, hang gliders, How? With Personal Training. Personal Training is just that; an individualized program oes to meet your needs. Kathleen Leopardi can h elp assess your needs, and PERCONAL TEAINING motivate you to stick with a progressive program. Kathleen Leo di holds a BS in Exercise and Sport Science from the University like are GROUP CROSS TRAINING CLASSES , | discovered, thousands of) first of the first to launch from Hidden Peak, and -paign to Snowbird. Though instrumental allow in the paragliding cam- at we were only taking the introductory lesson, a $65 morning which can be applied to your certifi- cation course if you decide to go for the whole enchilada (as most appar- self-launched using ently do), I knew instinctively that I'd. | only the wind and a shortly become a paragliding junkie. I’d been a vicarious voyeur watching parapenting in Europe, as the sport is hill their or cliff, light but weight and ease of assembly and transport of Utah. She is certified with the American College of Sports Medicine, and] make paragliding is also a Certified Strength Conditioning Specialist. Kathleen specializes] the cheapest, easi- in cardiovascular fitness, weight loss/gain, and weight training. to be _ descents yet to be made,” said Mayer, himself something of a pioneer as one est form of flying available. Lacking called there; dozens of bright wings soaring at dizzying heights for hours on end were as spectacular as a fourth of July fireworks display, and I thought there was a good chance of actually experiencing the sensation. Throughout the last two years, Kathleen has been teaching cross train-] engines, they are Once ing classes two nights a week. which simply meant long pants, ankle supporting shoes, and helmets, we strapped into our harnesses and began The group — classes are environmentally taught two eveningsa week for | 1/2 hours. Classes include aerobic,| immaculate: and anaerobic exercises, overall body workout. using weight training and flexibility to get an whooping of the the we were properly equipped, Come join the fun and get fit for your favorite seasonal activities KATHLEEN LEOPARDI FOOTHILL PERSONAL TRAINING 801-484-2828 Test the water! Call 801-484-2828 to book a FREE personal training session with Kathleen. 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