Organiser
Discipline
Paragliding XC
What went wrong ?
There is a huge problem with pilots' technical skills. Official bodies can be blamed for many things. But that won't improve pilots' technical skills.
Just watch the takeoffs during “high-level” competitions. It's disastrous for far too many pilots. The excuse that ballast makes mobility difficult exists. But that doesn't justify pilots not being able to fly their wings properly.
Unfortunately, a pilot who cannot control their wing on the ground will have the same poor reactions in flight. This is dangerous, both for them and for other pilots in a group.
A surprising comparison:
Running is a popular sport, with more and more people running (on roads or trails). The average jogger will train to complete their city's half marathon. They will pay for a coach and invest time and energy in their running.
In contrast, paragliders compete without training. They do so without thinking about their current level, their progress, or how to train to reach the level required for competition. Unlike running, paragliding puts our lives at risk. This happens at all levels, even in a final round of an FAI 1 championship... And yet, are they “the best in the world”?
Just watch the takeoffs during “high-level” competitions. It's disastrous for far too many pilots. The excuse that ballast makes mobility difficult exists. But that doesn't justify pilots not being able to fly their wings properly.
Unfortunately, a pilot who cannot control their wing on the ground will have the same poor reactions in flight. This is dangerous, both for them and for other pilots in a group.
A surprising comparison:
Running is a popular sport, with more and more people running (on roads or trails). The average jogger will train to complete their city's half marathon. They will pay for a coach and invest time and energy in their running.
In contrast, paragliders compete without training. They do so without thinking about their current level, their progress, or how to train to reach the level required for competition. Unlike running, paragliding puts our lives at risk. This happens at all levels, even in a final round of an FAI 1 championship... And yet, are they “the best in the world”?
What would you propose ?
The solution? Training! And changing pilots' mindsets. A competitive pilot must train and become an athlete, not just a flying enthusiast.
An athlete is someone who thinks about their practice, who takes the time to train, to repeat the basics, to progress... And this applies at all levels.
In parallel with this reflection, why are there far fewer accidents, or even no fatal accidents, in H&F races or acro competitions? Because they train to reach their level.
There has never been a death in the Xalps, even though the commitment is at its peak. Why? Luck? Maybe. But that's not all. These guys work hard to be “ready” for their race. In XC, the guys don't work hard.
An athlete is someone who thinks about their practice, who takes the time to train, to repeat the basics, to progress... And this applies at all levels.
In parallel with this reflection, why are there far fewer accidents, or even no fatal accidents, in H&F races or acro competitions? Because they train to reach their level.
There has never been a death in the Xalps, even though the commitment is at its peak. Why? Luck? Maybe. But that's not all. These guys work hard to be “ready” for their race. In XC, the guys don't work hard.
Comments
CIVL Delegate
In reply to Well. If it was so simple… by Markos Siotos
You're right; hours are just one aspect, and I just used it as an example. In my opinion, FAI's IPPI guidelines for paragliding are quite loose. They provide the framework, and each country's training body or institution follows it. However, in reality, we see discrepancies between our expectations and the actual skills and mentality of pilots.