Paragliding Porterville - Safety
During peak summer months (December to February) mid-day paragliding Porterville conditions call for current, thermic-experienced pilots:- Take off:
- Small. Precise skills are required.
- Strong thermic and cross wind.
- Launch timing in thermic cycles.
- Falling over and/or being dragged can lead to severe injuries.
- Landing:
- Thermic. Active approach is required.
- Strong winds later in the day.
- Flight
- Strong, wind swept thermals.
- When present, low, solid inversions can lead to prolonged periods of active flying.
- Ridge flying is over/next to a very solid, sharp edged bolder strewn mountain. Contact almost cetainly means injury.
- NW sea breeze can be blue and very fast moving.
- Equipment
- Fly at the top of your glider's weight range.
- A reserve is a must.
- Speedbar connected and be proficient in using it.
- Carry water in case you have to walk out.
- High factor sunscreen. The sun is relentless.
Outside of the mid-day window these tips apply to a lesser degree.
If you are offered advice then determine if the person you are speaking to has actually ever flown. Porterville paragliding is not PG bullsh*t or accident free. Do not become the next statistic.
If you are inexperienced or unsure then join a fly-guided group or hire a guide.
Pampoenfontein take-off.
The lovely Blue Lotus Water Lily is South Africas’ most common indigenous water lily and is found in ponds, rivers and dams in and around rural Porterville.
The water lily does not have true stems, the leaves grow on long petioles (leaf stalks) and one plant can spread over an area of about 1 metre.
White, mauve and pink are other colour forms that occasionally occur. The flowers are fragrant and visited constantly by bees for pollination. A fully open flower measures 15-20 cm across and lasts for about four days. Once flower buds rise to the water surface they open in the morning and close in the evening.
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