Paragliding is a relatively new sport, invented in the U.S. in 1972 but first popularized by the French
in the Alps. The sport spread across Europe, refined itself, then returned to the American continent in its current
incarnation in the late 80's and early 90's.
Paragliding is a compound of the words parachute and gliding.
The Spanish equivalent parapente derives
from the word for parachute paracaídas, and the shortened form of the word for hanging pendiente.
A paraglider is basically a modified parachute with a greatly improved gliding coefficient.
By way of comparison, a parachute moves 3 meters horizontally for every 1 meter it descends: in this case, we refer to the "LD"
as 3:1. A paraglider with its modifications can achieve an LD of up to 10:1. The modified paraglider can
glide and ascend with the cross-current of the mountains and slopes, or with the thermals.
There are various types of paragliders depending on the pilot's skill and type of flight. For example, we have
beginners' sails for pilots who are just getting started: that level is LTF "A". These levels
run consecutively up to LTF "D", which is the certified best sail. Separate from the
certified sails are the prototypes used by competitive pilots, making modifications to the sails
for optimum "LD". These are really exciting flights, with lots of speed and susceptible to sail collapses,
resulting in violent reactions.
There are also specialized sails designed for acrobatics, which is another branch of the sport
in which the pilot develops acrobatic manoeuvers such as loops, tumblings, wing overs, etc.
Another branch of paragliding is Tandem flight in which the pilot flies with a passenger who doesn't
require any experience: he or she is only required to help by running a little during takeoff and landing. Through Tandem
flight, the
pilot is able to show others the sensation of free flight without the other person needing all the requisite training.
