Day 9 is where “it works sometimes” becomes it works every time. We focus on rock-solid take-offs and landings: posture, cadence, timing, and decision-making in changing wind. You’ll finish with a drill routine to make your launches smoother than an airliner’s. Join our paragliding course, fastest in Europe.
Why Day 9 of the paragliding course matters
If the accelerator (Day 8) opened the door to more efficient flying, Day 9 gives you fine control in the two most critical phases: the start and the finish. Most avoidable incidents come from poor posture, weak timing, or late decisions. Today we attack those causes with a clear method so you move from “I can do it” to “I can do it consistently.”
What you’ll learn
- Pre-flight checks that actually prevent issues: clean lines, centered wing, load test before commitment.
- Posture and run that generate energy: tall chest, eyes forward, steady cadence (no “stutter steps”).
- Inflation timing: when to accompany the wing and when to keep brakes neutral.
- Handling cross or gusty wind: small, early inputs to avoid drift and involuntary turn.
- Landing approach logic: pattern, visual references, and unhurried decision-making.
- Flare timing: how to sense the “arrival,” then execute a decisive, progressive flare.
Drills to practice after watching
- Two clean inflations in a row: restart if the wing isn’t centered and quiet. Builds a clear go/no-go habit.
- Metronome run: count softly or use a watch metronome. Ban hesitation steps; keep one rhythm start to finish.
- Spot landings: choose a broad, safe marker and aim to stop within 5–10 m.
- Debrief loop: record your run/landing, identify three errors, then repeat fixing one variable per attempt.
Pocket checklist (save this)
- Harness and leg straps closed; lines clear; wing centered.
- Wind checked; clear plan A and conservative plan B.
- Eyes forward, chest tall; run through the pull (don’t sit early).
- On landing: hands high → level → decisive flare (no half-measures).
Frequent mistakes and how to fix them
- Looking down during the run: keep your gaze far. You’ll read drift earlier and hold a straighter line.
- Braking too soon on inflation: if you brake because you fear the wing will “run away,” you’ll stall it. Accompany, run, and save brake for fine control.
- Sitting at lift-off: driven by the urge for comfort. Maintain a useful run and sit after a clean departure.
- Late or timid flare: the ground “speeds up” visually; use references (horizon/target), then apply a progressive, firm flare.
Safety first (always)
- Train in conditions within your limits and the site’s rules. If wind rises or veers, step back to basics or pause.
- Gradual progression: build repetitions in easy conditions before “raising the stakes.”
- Honest feedback: ask a buddy or instructor for one correction per attempt (not ten).
How Day 9 connects to Day 8
The accelerator helps you manage energy in flight; today’s work teaches you to create and dissipate energy where it matters most—on and near the ground. Combine both, and your piloting gains stability, efficiency, and safety.
What to watch for in the video
As you watch, focus on:
- Body alignment to the wind (not just the wing).
- Timing of corrections: good inputs are small and early.
- Run-to-flight transition: there’s no “jump”; it’s a fluid hand-off where the run doesn’t die too soon.
- Hands on landing: height, symmetry, and commitment.
Wrap-up
Work these fundamentals and your take-offs stop being a coin toss; your landings move from “acceptable” to predictable. Confidence doesn’t come from luck; it comes from a repeatable process. Practice methodically, one variable at a time, and keep this checklist in your phone.
When it clicks, you’ll feel it: your launches will be smoother than an airliner’s.
Was this helpful? Hit Like, subscribe, and check:
- Day 8: Accelerator and energy control.
- Day 10: (up next) Ridge-soaring control and real-time decisions.
Location: Gran Canaria, Spain · Level: Beginner → Intermediate · Goal: safer flights, consistent landings, and clear judgment in changing wind.
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FAQ — Day 9: Take-Offs & Landings
1) What wind range is best for practicing take-offs and landings?
Light to moderate, smooth wind within your site’s limits (typically 6–15 km/h for beginners). If it’s gusty, cross, or picking up, step back to ground drills or pause.
2) How do I stop my wing from drifting off-center during inflation?
Square your shoulders to the wind, keep eyes far ahead, and use small, early inputs on the appropriate brake and hip. If drift builds, abort early, reset, and relaunch—don’t “save” a bad start.
3) What’s the simplest way to time my flare on landing?
Use consistent references: when your eye-level intersects your chosen ground reference and you feel ground-rush increasing, apply a progressive, decisive flare. Avoid half-flares or last-second jabs.
4) I keep sitting too early after lift-off. How do I fix it?
Commit to a run-through: keep running until you’re clearly flying, then hands momentarily neutral, stabilize, and only then sit. Practice “run–glide–sit” as three separate, clean steps.
5) What are the top pre-run checks that actually prevent problems?
Lines clear, wing centered and quiet, leg/chest straps closed, wind checked, plan A/B defined, eyes forward, chest tall, steady cadence. If any item fails, abort and reset—speed comes from clean setups, not rushing