Saturday, March 22, 2014

Powered Paragliding In Sarangani


 Paramotoring also known as powered paragliding  is another sports that is  related to paragliding. The pilot wears a paramotor (composed of motor and propeller)  at his back that is attached on the harness. The paramotor weighs about 20 to 36 kilograms.
 Just like in paragliding, it can be launch in still air and level ground by the pilot alone. However the ability to fly  with wider variance of wind speed and altitudes with portability and minimal equipment and maintenance costs gave this form of flying merits.

 There were only a few powered paragliders in the Philippines. In General Santos City or in Saranggani the paragliding sites were avenues to see the paramotor pilots as the sites were utilized as launching and landing areas.


Include Paragliding in your bucket list, contact:
09333736871- Titoy Romano (Sarangani Paragliding Tandem Flight Organizer)

09178167820 - Buko Raymundo (Airsports Specialist) 

Sunday, March 16, 2014

My First Tandem Flight


Imagine that you can fly like a bird. To view nature in a different perspective  without the use of any engine. I never thought of it as a  possibility  but it was possible with paragliding. Who could have thought that man could device  such innovation and I was grateful to take notice of it.
I had my first tandem flight  2 years ago .  A friend invited me to  join a group of 6 and was prearranged.  When we reached the SAFI ranch, the weather was perfect with the blue sky above and a slight wind touching our skin. A 4x4 wheel  drove us to a bumpy- super rocky road up the fly site.
At the top the view was spectacular, the sea on one side the mountains on the otherside.
The group waited for the wind. There was only  one pilot (Joseph) available that time. The bravest soul took the first flight, I took the fourth.
Walk…run…run fast…these were the instructions I heard while still on the ground. After doing what was instructed, I couldn’t imagine that we were flying above the ground. I took a deep breath to internalize that I was really up in the air. …so I was really up here, I thought.
Then the pilot maneuvered the lines and we soared up. Excitement mixed  with awe filled my heart as I looked at the view. The gentle air  and the sun rays touches my face  were elements that what I was experiencing was reality. 
It took us 8 minutes before we landed the ground.  It  was the  longest awesome  8 minutes with a moment  savoring a  peculiar (in a good way) feeling. Now I can imagine how the bird feels while flying.

You might want to experience the thrill of  tandem flights, please contact the following:
09178167820 - Buko Raymundo (Airsports Specialist) 
09333736871- Titoy Romano (Sarangani Paragliding Tandem Flight Organizer)


Photo credits: Ana Gabuat