TOTAL.AWARENESS
"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy."
— Dale Carnegie
How to Prepare for your Best Flight Adventure
This extreme adventure activity is recommended only for individuals who are healthy and nimble. The adventure involves running quickly down steep, slippery, and uneven terrains where you can fall down, as well as enduring high heart rates from extreme movements in the air, as well as unpredictable risks of the unpredictable rapidly changing natural weather, takeoff, landing, etc. If you are not absolutely sure of your participation, please don't make a reservation! There are only minority of days when the weather is great for flying, so please be flexible and line up as many free dates as possible.
Delicate and accident prone individuals, physically and/or mentally compromised individuals must avoid this extreme activity. If you are looking for a safe, passive, predictable amusement park ride like experience this is not the experience for you. The decision for this high risk activity must be a personal one, not a group decision as there are potential serious risks associated to this extreme sport and the participant will each be asked to sign a liability waiver. It is your own responsibility if you choose to participate to have your own insurance coverage in case of injury/disability/death from this activity. In spite of the risks, you will probably be lucky and this formidable experience will probably be worth it for You!
Ensure your phone is fully charged with working mobile internet for smooth communication and Google Maps usage. Carry some Swiss Franc CASH for smaller mountain restaurants, smaller cable cars, and local buses. If you pay the flight by card (only VISA/MASTER), it will cost +3.5% additional. Remove sunglasses before launch, wear grippy outdoor shoes, and be ready to protect yourself if you fall. If we can't communicate close to the meeting time, I'll assume you won't show up.
Consider getting a Swisscom prepay SIM card if needed. Arrange multiple backup dates for better chances of good weather. Mountain weather changes rapidly, with precise flight times decided 1-3 days prior, and confirmed in the morning of the flight. You must be increasingly reachable by mobile internet. This is because of weather changes that can change the meeting time, and also to reduce last cancellations/no-show ups.
Spring and summer afternoons (mid-April to mid-September) offer the best conditions. Dress in grippy shoes, long pants, and a windbreaker. Temperatures drop 0.6°C to 1°C per 100m altitude. Motion sickness pills, water bottle, and sunblock are recommended. Secure belongings in zipped pockets or the paraglider harness.
Rest well, don’t party the night before, be fit, and avoid sweet drinks and junk food to minimize motion sickness. Be confident and energetic at takeoff to ensure safety. Don't bring large bags; leave them at the valley station. Only small bags can fly with us. Plan to enjoy the Swiss countryside, as flight and preparation can take 1.5 hours or more depending on the weather.
Best to plan to spend the day enjoying the beautiful Swiss heartland and villages. The primary launch location is very near to the Alps Restaurant Gipfelstubli at the peak of Rotenflue. The mountain is a no car zone, accessible only by cable car or hike up. If you come by car, please park at the Rotenfluhbahn Valley station. You could take the cablecar, hike, rock climb, lunch up there, and enjoy the stunning Swiss Alps landscape before and after your flight.
Recommend you to bring your swim suit too. After the flight, in mid-summer, you can enjoy the jump into the cool clear lakes: Lake of Luzern or the Lauerz lake. I can recommend that you enjoy the sunset at a restaurant in Brunnen, or better yet, at an Island restaurant Schwanau located in the Lauerz Lake. Public transport is superb in Switzerland so be spontaneous!
Switzerland is full of hidden treasures if you decide to venture away from the tourist traps and cities. Why not combine your flight with a ferry ride from Brunnen toward Luzern before heading back to Zurich. The usual flight area (Mythen Region) is full of dramatic hiking trails from easy street to extreme mountaineering. If you like outdoor adventures, here’s a free hiking map app I use: https://fatmap.com. In the birthplace of Switzerland Schwyz, Gross Mythen is probably one of the most amazing hiking place you will ever experience!
Public transport back to Zurich HB runs until 10:29pm from Rotenfluhbahn (cablecar station) and 11:23pm from Schwyz main station. Enjoy your swim, and a sunset dinner at a fabulous Swiss lakeside bathing area. There are many scenic sites so easy to get to by public transport in the Mythen Region. Mid-summer days are very long in Switzerland so be prepared for sunlight until 9:30pm! Make the best use of your time in the good weather as they are precious in Switzerland!
How does it work?
This is how tandem paragliding take-off and landing looks like. Youtube Video courtesy of Hermino Cordido in cooperation with Ozone Team. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLUTcr1zgEM&feature=youtu.be)
“One who looks outside, dreams. One who looks inside, awakens.”
The Meeting up
The flight's plan depends on the prior day's wind and weather forecasts. Please only bring essentials due to limited storage space. If uncertain, feel free to ask a local Swiss resident for assistance. Typically, our meet-up spot is either the valley cable car station or a mountain restaurant. Don’t get intoxicated the night before, because you need to be nimble and alert. Detailed instructions, including travel directions with Google Map links and pictures, will be sent via internet messengers like WhatsApp. The train ride is very beautiful so keep an eye not to miss the stops with GoogleMaps. 2nd floor of double decker trains give you the best views. Punctuality is crucial; lateness could result in missed flight opportunities due to changing weather or other scheduled passengers. If you have a suitcase, you can leave it with the cable car operator if you explain that you are flying. Use Google Maps and pay close attention to the stops to ensure you don't miss your flight!
2. Cable car up the mountain
It typically takes about 20 minutes to reach the take-off spot in the mountains from the valley station. If you're running late and can't find me at the valley station, I'll likely be waiting at the restaurant at the mountain top. However, excessive delays may require me to assist the next passenger in line first. Many travelers enjoy a mountain top hike or lunch at the restaurant before our flight meet-up. I suggest taking ginger shot and motion sickness pills, particularly for longer flights, especially if you've experienced motion sickness in your life before. Dramamine Original appears not to be effective, whereas Swiss motion sickness medication, Itinerol B6, taken about 30 minutes before flight, works well. Always research and choose what's best for you.
3. Walk to the take off area and get a debriefing
Typically we'll take a short walk from the mountain top cable car station to the take-off spot. You'll assist me by carrying the lighter gear, which is your harness. Before we proceed, you'll need to sign a liability and photo waiver. This document essentially states that you comprehend the potential dangers of paragliding, voluntarily accept these risks, and agree not to hold anyone involved in the activity liable. It also grants permission for the use of any photos taken during the activity. I will then guide you through the procedures and equipment workings. Make sure to secure your belongings to prevent them from falling during the flight. Items in zippered pockets are generally safe, but things in unzipped pockets very often get permanently lost.
4. Unpacking and Takeoff
Keep clear of the paraglider lines and avoid stepping on any part of the paraglider. The pilot will assist you into your harness and helmet after unpacking the glider. Make sure your shoe laces are tight and remove your sunglasses in case you faceplant. Small items can be stored in the paraglider bag. Keep your selfie-stick away from your body during take-off and landing to prevent injuries. If you feel nervous, take a big inhale, then two additional quick breaths through your nose and slowly exhale through your mouth like you are blowing. Repeat as needed. Here is another relation tip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3-O7gPsQK0
The pilot will recheck the equipment and when the wind conditions are good, you'll be instructed to run into the wind at full speed to ensure a safe take-off. The launch speed is roughly 25 km/hr, adjusted for headwind and slope steepness. While a moderate front wind makes take-off easier, don't rely on it. We may need to abort and retry several times if the wind suddenly changes. Move in sync with the pilot, stay on your feet, and lean forward with slightly bent knees in case the glider pulls you back, resist it, but not so much that you fall over. Never sit down in the harness too early, and keep running until the glider is at least 10 meters above ground. Premature sitting can stall the glider, or cause you to faceplant and may cause a serious accident. Once airborne, put your arms between the 2 attachment points between the pilot and the (you) passenger, and slide into your harness into a comfortable seated position until landing.
“What does it matter how many places you have visited if none of them gives you the Universe?”
5. Flying and Landing
Ensure your shirt, skirt, pants, and jacket are tucked in again, after running off the mountain. The harness may pull up your clothing, giving a funny look on videos and making you feel cold.
For landing, hands should be in front of your face to protect your head, stay seated, lean back in your harness with your legs together and raised up, allowing you to slide on your bottom, not your legs, similar to sledding on snow. This is to prevent leg injuries. Your seat has an airbag underneath and landing speed can be about 25 km/h, slower with front wind and much faster with backside wind. Nature is unpredictable. From a height of 10m, it takes about 7 seconds to touch down. The shock is usually similar to jumping off a chair, so stay attentive until the end and keep the selfie-stick short and away from your body to avoid self-injury. Be mindful of the selfie-stick even post-landing to avoid damaging the camera lens.
After landing, avoid stepping on the paraglider or lines and keep attentive of other pilots who might be coming in to land near you. It is your responsibility to avoid them as they come in for a landing!
Once you've landed, the pilot will detach you from the glider, but keep your harness on until we move swiftly to the glider folding area. Help the pilot carry the wing to the folding area, away from the main landing zone, and assist in lifting the glider and lines off the ground to prevent damage to the glider. The folding area is located at the edge of the short cut grass field, near the wind sock. You can take off your harness at this folding area, taking care not to damage the camera lens. Always avoid stepping on the paragliding lines or any part of the paraglider.
Your Wonder is your Prayer
Your Gratitude is your Answer
Your Curiosity seeks your Highest Awareness
Your Courage is your Path
When You let go of things that enslave you
You begin to seek experiences that
Brings you back to your True Home
Belong and Believe in Yourself
Never Betray Yourself to belong with the others. Love Yourself.
Because You can never be more connected to others
Than You are to Yourself. You can never love others if you don't love yourself.
