Blog: Action woman

Flying high

Paragliding

“Ok, so once we are harnessed up, we take a few steps down a gentle slope, to fill the wing with air then we’re away. It’s as simple as that!� My pilot Ozgur Gokasan explained to me as we looked across from the mountain ridge to the sea, a mere 2500 feet drop. I felt a little comforted by the facts I had learnt on the trip up to the jump site, that he has made over 4500 previous jumps and has been paragliding for fifteen years.
Highline Tandem Paragliding started in North Cyprus in 2002 and is owned by husband and wife team Angela and Ozgur. There are three pilots in total, Ozgur, who was to be my pilot, Adrian Jones, who was paired up with fellow jumper Rebecca Rouse and Itai Almog, who was jumping with Christine, Rebecca’s mum.
We met at their office in the harbour at 10.30am, they run four trips a day, 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm, although this does, of course, depend on weather conditions. The pilots, jumpers and chutes were then transported up the mountain. Comedian Arian giving us a running commentary on the way and I’m sure his jokes about holes in the wings and quick release mechanisms for the pilots, if their passenger upset them, really were just meant to put us at ease!
We travelled past St Hilarion castle to the jump site, which was identified sixteen years ago, when a group from Germany came over to fly. Ozgur spent fifteen days searching the mountain for a suitable place to take-off, in the end it was a shepherd who pointed it out and the German pilots named it ‘Paradise’ as this was how they thought it looked. And the views are pretty spectacular, although I was concentrating more on listening to the instructions and trying not to think of launching myself into the abyss below.
Rebecca and Christine went off first and obviously hit a thermal almost immediately as they soared above the take off point. Having been strapped into my harness, which meant having to walk around as if you have a large nappy on, Ozgur then explained where I should stand and attached his harness to mine.
We took a few steps forward, the wing filled with air causing us to be pulled backwards.
“Lean forward and keep walking and don’t sit back until I tell you.� Ozgur told me. We carried on walking down the gentle slope and then we were airborne. I waited until instructed and then sat back to enjoy the journey.
The conditions were medium apparently. Some days the trip can be calm and others the wind can pull the wing about. As it was, we would get an occasional tug as the wind caught us. The six of us gently twirled our way downwards and occasionally up again, getting the most fantastic views over the mountain, looking down on the birds and trees, until they gave way to villas, swimming pools and the bypass.
Depending on conditions, the flight down can take between fifteen and thirty minutes and if the thermals are particularly good, the paraglider can be lifted as high as 5000 feet, double the height of the take off spot.
All too soon the ground was getting closer and the landing site in karaoğlanoğlu was in view. Rebecca and Adrian started to descend more rapidly, due to them performing a few tricks once they were clear of the mountains. Maybe I’ll give the “Wing Over� or “Spiral� a try next time, but on this occasion I was quite happy to enjoy the relaxing float down.
As we approached the landing area, Ozgur explained I would need to pull myself up and out of my reclined position, stretch out my legs and be ready to take a few steps as we touched down. And it was as simple as that!
Paragliding is a fantastic way to get a different perspective on the views of North Cyprus and well worth a try. Highline are professional, safety conscious and make the whole experience a lot of fun. There are a few limitations to who can participate, the weight restriction is between 4 and 21 stone and there is a minimum age limit of four. The eldest Highline have taken up is an 89 year-old holidaymaker. To date they have made 4000 jumps
During the winter month in Cyprus, pilots Adrian and Itai work for Angela’s sister in Queenstown New Zealand, who also owns a paragliding company, whilst Ozgur remains behind in his home country, taking aerial pictures.
Weather permitting Highline jump seven days a week, jumpers will need to wear t-shirt, shorts and trainers, everything else is provided, including pick-up and drop-off for a cost of £55, contact details 0542 855 5672 to book. Or to find out more visit their web site at www.highlineparagliding.com

by Claire on 14:17 on 8th May 2007