Like
A Hawk
Tandem paragliding flights are the closest you’ll ever
come to flying like a bird.
Ever since I can remember I’ve
had a recurring dream where I’m able to soar gracefully like
a hawk in flight, looking down at the earth from above, feeling
the cool breeze in my face and the warmth of the sun on my skin.
And I’m here to tell
you that I’ve just turned that dream into reality several
hundred feet above the Pacific Ocean.
As I rolled into the dirt parking lot of the Torrey Pines Gliderport
on that postcard-perfect southern California afternoon, the gods
of flight smiled on me with a steady 14 mile-per-hour breeze off
the ocean. When those remarkably consistent winds hit the steep
cliffs here they create the “ridge lift” that makes
this one of the world’s best places to experience the sport
of paragliding.
One look at the dozen paragliders soaring up and down this five-mile
stretch of coastline seemed to confirm everything I’d ever
heard about the unparalleled beauty and freedom offered by this
unique form of flight. Still, the idea of running off the edge
of a jagged precipice, suspended only by a handful of thin nylon
lines attached to an oversize kite, left me feeling more than a
little uneasy. The fact that I had to sign and initial an eight-page
liability waiver in what seemed like 47 places didn’t exactly
add to my peace of mind.
Thankfully, I didn’t have too much time to fret over the
sport’s potential, ahem, downside as my tandem paragliding
instructor Tad Hurst introduced himself and led me outside to the
Gliderport’s gently sloping lawn. After buckling into helmets
and harnesses, Tad offered a few basic words of instruction and
tugged on the lines to fill the 35-by-15-foot canopy with the incoming
breeze. After a quick walk down-slope the ground fell away and
we were flying.
Once we were off the ground, my anxiety was replaced with an
uncommon sense of joy and wonder as we soared above the rugged
cliffs and deserted beaches of the Torrey Pines State Reserve.
Contrary to its daredevil appearances, paragliding is among the
safest forms of recreational aviation because you’re hooked
to what is essentially an oversized parachute at all times.
Tad and I spent more than 30 minutes banking and wheeling like
a hawk in flight, with only the occasional gentle ruffling sound
of the canopy in the wind to destroy the illusion. All too soon
we came in for a gentle stand-up landing on the brilliantly green
lawn of the Gliderport.
Despite my initial apprehension, I came away thoroughly enamored
by paragliding’s ability to strip away virtually all the
man-made technology inherent in other forms of flight, leaving
behind an experience that is the closest I will likely ever come
to living out that dream of flying like a bird.
Xtrordinary Xtra
There are less than two dozen paraglider pilots in the U.S. with
a top-level “Master” certification and three of them
are on the staff of Torrey Pines Gliderport.
Xtrordinary Xtra
If something strikes you as odd about the folks sunbathing on the
beach below but you can’t quite put your finger on it,
it could be that they’re not wearing any clothes. Turns
out that the stretch of sand directly below the Gliderport is
one of the few “clothing optional” beaches in all
of California.
The Facts
Name: Torrey Pines Gliderport
Location:, La Jolla, CA (20 minutes
north of downtown San Diego).
Phone: (858) 452-9858
Website: www.flytorrey.com
My Advice
- Tandem
flights are available seven days a week. When planning your day,
however, keep in mind that flying conditions don’t
usually get good until early to mid-afternoon.
- While the weather
is ideal for tandem paragliding flights here more often than
not, it pays to call ahead to check on current conditions.
- Bringing
your camera or camcorder is encouraged. Just make sure it has
a securely attached neck or wrist strap as dropping it will surely
void the warranty.
- The Gliderport’s facilities include a
snack bar and picnic tables with one of the most stunning views
in all of southern California.
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