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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 naval cannon situated at the Jan Danckaert museum was brought to Porterville by the Dutch East India Company.

The cannon was originally situated in Cape Town where it was used to communicate with outlying areas by a chain reaction of cannon fire.

It was also fired to alert the local people of the arrival of ships in Table Bay Harbour. The farmers of the area then travelled to Cape Town to sell their produce to the visiting ships and sailors.

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