To guarantee an exceptional experience in complete safety, Adrénaline Parapente makes it a point of honour to accompany you in the best aerological conditions. But with the recent changes in the weather, flying conditions are not always ideal. So what impact are these changes having on flying? And what solutions are being put in place to deal with weather phenomena? Here's what you need to know about the influence of weather conditions on paragliding!
What are the fundamentals of paragliding?
When paragliding, there are certain fundamentals you need to know to ensure your safety. Obviously, paragliding weather conditions are essential for handling the glider correctly. But that's far from being the only technique you need to know to enjoy a superb spectacle. So to understand how to gain altitude with a paraglider, here's what you need to know.
Paragliding take-off
To take off with a paraglider, you need to position yourself on clear, gently sloping ground. This makes it easier to run up into the air while inflating the glider. The weather conditions must therefore be favourable for launching your paraglider.
The glider can be inflated face up or back down. In the latter case, you first need to grab the brakes in each hand and the risers on the leading edge. Then, as you take off, you release the risers. If you want to launch facing the wing, you need to launch from the back while sitting in the harness with the brakes in hand.
Flying a paraglider
Paragliding requires a good command of speed and turns. Among the different types of paragliding, speed is determined by the use of brakes to take advantage of air currents. As for the turns, it is possible to take advantage of thermal currents for an acrobatic flight. These are currents of warm air that rise and allow you to gain altitude. That's why the weather conditions influence paragliding.
Paragliding down
Finally, to descend a paraglider, you need to pull on the outer lines of the risers. This ensures a safe and stable descent with a sink rate of 4 m/s. Some instructors can also offer you a spiral descent, which will be much faster for maximum thrills.
What impact will climate change have on weather patterns?
Today, the consequences of climate change on weather patterns are undeniable. These include, of course, the melting of the polar ice caps and rising sea levels. Extreme weather phenomena can also occur when paragliding. In particular, very heavy precipitation or sudden changes in wind direction with gusts of wind can be detrimental to the activity. The same applies to heat waves, which only intensify and make flying conditions difficult.
What are the direct effects on paragliding?
The weather conditions have a direct effect on paragliding. It is therefore essential to adapt this activity to its environment. Among the most notable direct effects are strong winds. A sudden change can destabilise the glider and lead to safety problems.
It's also essential to keep an eye on the weather and, in particular, the amount of precipitation. In Annecy, the mountain climate can sometimes cause sudden changes in temperature or weather. This is a phenomenon that is tending to become more pronounced with climate change.
Finally, if you're going out in spring or summer, it's essential to be aware of any dry spells. Indeed, even at a height of several metres, the impact of UV radiation or heat can have unpleasant effects on the sensations experienced during flight. So it's essential to entrust your flying to certified, experienced instructors who can deal with all these problems.
What adaptations and solutions?
With climate change accelerating, it's essential to keep an eye on the weather conditions for a paragliding flight. Contrary to popular belief, paragliders do not need strong winds to inflate and take off. On the contrary, gusts of wind are very dangerous and could harm the activity. As for rain, a sudden downpour with a high rate of precipitation could weigh down the permeable plastic fabric of paragliders. This could alter the glider's trajectory or simply cause it to lose control.
As for thunderstorms, they have aerological repercussions up to 50 km away. To make sure you have the time of your life, our certified instructors are always on hand to avoid any safety problems and ensure you have an exceptional experience.
What does the future hold?
Weather conditions have always influenced paragliding. But today, with climate change, certain phenomena are tending to intensify or become more frequent. Because a first paragliding flight should be an exceptional experience, our entire team of certified instructors is constantly on the lookout. Above all, we want to share our love of paragliding with you by guiding you through the best aerological conditions, in complete safety.
If you can't make a paragliding flight, we can refer you to other activities such as bike or paddle hire. On the shores of Lake Annecy, you can enjoy a picturesque ride to explore the surrounding area in a practical and environmentally-friendly way. In summer, you can also immerse yourself in the crystal-clear waters of the lake to enjoy water sports with friends or family.
Conclusion
At Adrénaline Parapente, everything is done to ensure that you fly in complete safety. To guarantee an unforgettable experience, all our state-qualified instructors pay close attention to the weather conditions for a paragliding flight. Our aim is to give you the best possible support during this exceptional experience, so that you can share our passion for flying over Annecy. If the weather report does not allow it, the excursion will automatically be cancelled and rescheduled at a more suitable time.
