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Dominican Republic Free Flying Association (VLD)
Vuelo Extremo Santo Domingo 2004
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Paragliding the is closest form of natural flying known
to man. Flying like a bird through the skies opens a new horizon for a new
and indescribable experience.
Usually, everything starts on a mountain slope. The heart beat starts to
increase, the instructor adjust the harness and the helmet on the novice
student and provides the first instructions and tips. The wind blows
just right as you move to the starting point for your first take off.
The instructor yells go!, you start the run, 5 seconds later you are
in the air and your heart feels like blowing out of your chest. Then
silence..., you breath deep and begin to hear the sound of the air
passing around your helmet as you move fast through the air.
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Hearing the pitching sound created by
the air when moving around the canopy while looking to the landscape
below and realizing that you are flying, makes you forget all your
problems as you glide through the skies in this flying chair.
After having a great time in the air,
it comes the landing. You approach the landing zone controlling the
speed and direction of the paraglider and then softly touch the ground
with a little run. Now you have a great satisfaction of achieving your
first solo flight hanging from a cloth by a bunch of strings. Your first
thought is "I want to do it again"....
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Take off at 1600 meters on top of Rancho Guaraguao, Constanza. 2004 |
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Competition at Rancho Guaraguao 2004
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The paraglider is a flexible wing, developed from rectangular parachutes,
reason why the are often confused in flight. There are basic differences
between the two sports. Parachuting begins after a jump
from a airplane or a high rise cliff, and is essentially a short time
fall to ground. Paragliding, on the other hand, starts from a mountain
ridge or slope where pilots inflate the canopy, run off the slope and
glide through the air, rising or falling depending the conditions. A
paraglider can fly for hours and can reach distances of hundreds of
kilometers . |
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Take off at Galvan
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There are many approved flying sites
in Dominican Republic, being the most popular ones Jarabacoa, Matua,
Constanza, Manaclita (Bonao) and Azua. These sites offer different and
interesting conditions for paraglider pilots, from thermal flying in
mountains and valleys to ridge and coastal soaring. Cross country flights
on these sites have reach up to 60 kilometers. |
The sport was first introduced in Dominican Republic in 1992, but in
2000 is when it really started to growth. Among the pioneers in the
country
are Juan Pérez Sosa and Enrique Felius from Spain, and the dominicans
Antonio Esteban, Kostadín Marté, Ricardo Rodríguez, Roberto Rodríguez (Windbike) and
the famous Luis Veras (Guli). |
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Paragliding is the perfect opportunity to glide through the skies in a
unique way, where adrenaline and wind combined
to create the most sensational experience:
fly
To fly with safety,
it is mandatory to complete a training course with a certified instructor
and get your pilot license.
The Dominican Free Flying Association (VLD) was formally founded on August
2001.
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