Return To The Air, Paragliding

Return To The Air, Paragliding paraplegic paragliding Rate Topic:

#1 qman

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Posted 11 October 2008 - 10:50 AM

6 months ago i had a serious paragliding crash and broke L1 and L2 and am a complete para. last week i took to the air again and did a tandem with a buddy.
please find the youtube footage
http://www.youtube.com/user/qksmith

This post has been edited by qman: 11 October 2008 - 10:50 AM

#2 chefonwheels

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Posted 13 October 2008 - 04:18 AM

qman, on Oct 11 2008, 03:50 AM, said:

Only 6 months post and you are already back at it?...Way to go!!! Keep on flyin....
As I always say...."Calculate the risks and examine all the possibilities, Then.....Do At least One Thing Everyday That Scares You."
Darryl

#3 qman

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Posted 14 October 2008 - 09:40 AM

i am an avid recreationist and was hand biking 8 weeks after my accident, and have since kayaked, paragliding, xc skied, sailing and swum.

cant wait to get into the sit skiing next year. the doctors didnt let me this year but they didnt really know about the other stuff ;-)

mind you i think i would be worse if i didnt.

i have a shiney new top end force G handbike on the way to me at the moment. looking forward to that.
going to build a buggy for solo paragliding.

#4 StellaLAtella

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Posted 14 October 2008 - 03:26 PM

WOW! Looks like some spectacular scenery, Qman! I'm sure you had loads of fun. I'm not quite as adventurous about getting up in the air. But I do love kayaking. I feel so free when I'm on the water.

Keep posting video of your adventures so us armchair adventurists can live vicariously through your play!
Take Care,
Stella

~ Time flies, even when I am not having fun!

#5 Jsec64

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Posted 24 October 2008 - 08:05 AM

Hi

Has anyone got an idea what the appoximate cost might be to get to get independantly competant with your own gear to do this sport.

I am so jealous as I often see these guys up the road from me going over the cliffs and I really want to do this. As always cost is an issue and thats the only reason I havent already signed up. I know of a couple of Paragliding schools locally too so I'm sure its feasible.

Any ideas or input gratefully received!!

Regards

John

http://aguardsmansblog.blogspot.com/

#6 qman

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Posted 30 October 2008 - 10:17 AM

i think you could get into the sport with about 2500-4000$nz worth of 2nd hand equipment, new about 5000-6000$nz

check out pgforum and ask ? there.

#7 qman

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Posted 31 March 2009 - 09:45 AM

Yah! i have my first solo PG flight today 353 days after a PG crash broke my back. was awesome to be back in the air

#8 Jax

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Posted 31 March 2009 - 07:11 PM

qman, on Oct 11 2008, 05:50 AM, said:

Kind of brings a whole new meaning to paragliding, doesn't it?

This post has been edited by Jax: 31 March 2009 - 07:12 PM

#9 nomis

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Posted 01 April 2009 - 10:25 AM

Hi qman. Keen stuff. How are you managing to land safely with your solo?

Also, I'm a bit confused, is it 6 months or 353 days ago that you damaged your spine?

Stephen Hawking, physicist, cosmologist and something of a dreamer:
Although I cannot move and I have to speak through a computer, in my mind I am free.

#10 araitn

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Posted 01 April 2009 - 11:04 AM

Nomis: I had the same question initially, but then I noticed the original post was on October 11, 2008. So, six months since the post stating that the crash was six months ago.... equals roughly 353 days.

qman: Congrats on your solo flight. It takes some nerve to get back to what put you in the chair to start with. I hope to do the same with riding a motorcycle one day.