Paragliding is a sensational sport that's more popular than ever, but in the collective mind it's seen as a risky extreme sport with all the associated risks and fears. All it takes is the courage to take a tandem flight to realise that, in the end, this is one of the most accessible and attractive activities. Still not sure? Then at Les Grands Espaces we'd like to tell you all about the sensations you can imagine having during a flight over the lake, so that you can be reassured before you embark on this unforgettable experience.
Why is there no such thing as vertigo in paragliding and hang-gliding?
The feeling of dizziness is in fact a problem linked to the inner ear and the visual field. You have to have your feet on the ground or on an object connected to the ground, such as a chair, and be looking downwards to feel dizzy and be unable to stand up. The good news is that when you have a paragliding experience over Lake Annecy, you end up with your feet in the air! It is therefore not possible to have the paragliding vertigo. The same applies to a hang-gliding experience, even if you're lying under the wing.
Fear of heights: a natural sensation that you get used to.
Fear of heights is that sensation that either repels or attracts you when you approach a precipice. This sensation is present in small doses in a large proportion of the population. It's the brain's natural reflex when faced with the unknown of a void and the risks of falling projected and imagined mentally by our brain, especially in adults.
It's a feeling that all rope access technicians and other professionals working at height, climbers and mountaineers are familiar with at the start of their activity. But don't worry, it's quite possible to get rid of this fear of heights quite easily. All you have to do is desensitise yourself by spending time close to heights.
After a few hours or a few days in a dizzying aerial atmosphere, the fear of heights disappears and you regain all your faculties and ease of movement in this new environment.
With paragliding, this fear of heights only lasts for a few moments, because once you've got past take-off and settled into the harness, the feeling of heights disappears and gives way to excitement and the contemplation of the magnificent landscape. The fresh air on your face also helps you to quickly regain your composure and get rid of the adrenalin rush you feel on your first tandem flight.
Acrophobia: a real panic fear that you need to learn to tame
L’acrophobie est une peur intense, irrationnelle et exacerbée du vide et de la hauteur qui se traduit par des vertiges, des tremblements, une accélération du rythme cardiaque, des nausées et une perte de discernement et de réflexion. De nature psychologique, l’acrophobie toucherait environ 3 à 5 % de la population. Très intense, cette peur du vide extrême peut être travaillée avec un médecin par désensibilisation. Pour éviter tout incident en milieu réel de nouveaux procédés à base de réalité virtuelle permettent d’en venir à bout en cabinet sans se mettre en danger.
How not to be scared when paragliding?
Take-off is generally the most stressful part of the flight. But you'll find that, unlike a parachute jump or bungee jump, take-off in a tandem paraglider is upwards, not downwards. The wing will inflate above your head and you will feel yourself being pulled gently upwards until your feet no longer touch the ground. Once in the air, your pilot will sit you down in your harness, giving you a more natural position, like in a hammock, and the fresh air will help to relieve the pressure.
One tip for not being afraid when you take off is simply to look off into the distance at the heading your instructor has told you to run towards.
After a few steps, you'll already be in the air and all you have to do is
enjoy the flight!
How does paragliding feel?
There are 3 phases to paragliding: take-off, flight and landing.
Each flight offers its own special sensations.
Take-off : You're stressed the first time, but in the end you discover a sensation of upward attraction that gently lifts you off the ground with the wind cooling your face.
Theft Once you're in the passenger harness, you feel a bit like you're in a hammock in mid-air. The glider can rock back and forth depending on the thermal conditions, with a sensation roughly equivalent to that of a swing. Turns are smooth and at times you may feel that the glider is pulling you upwards. This happens when you enter a thermal.
The landing As you get closer to the ground, you discover a mixture of relief at being back on the ground and fear of hurting yourself on contact with solid ground. You'll see that the pilot will perform a flare manoeuvre shortly before touchdown. This manoeuvre will cause you to suddenly lose speed so that the landing is a smooth one. If you're also lucky enough to have a gentle lake breeze, you could even land statically without having to take a single step forward!
