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| Welcome
to the website dedicated to providing SA paraglider pilots with the world's best gear |
| News
regularly updated with new products and pilots' achievements, from home and around the world |
| About us
who we are, where we fly, and what we aim to do |
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Welcome |
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Paragliding is the epitome of free flight. Flying silently like birds, one relies on the earth's free energy
(wind and sun) to stay air borne. And as free as flying is to birds, the only thing that should rise sky-
high in paragliding, are the thermals. Dedicated to the free flyers of South Africa:
we can't control the weather, we can't cure your zest for flight,
we can offer you the world's best gear, to nurture your soul's delight!
For our paragliding visitors, one will find a range of gear from some of the best manufacturers around the
world, at down-to-earth prices. And don't be fooled, this is the very same gear chosen by the world's top
pilots for use in their international competitions, record attempts, adventurous expeditions, or just to fly
off the hill in their backyards.
For our earth-bound friends, it is hoped that these pages will impart one with a little more knowledge or
at least an introduction to the freest form of flight. Super-keen and wish to experience the thrill of flying?
Come for a tandem flip - follow the Services link.
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News |
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Pierre conquers summit #2 (10 Jan 2008)
Local pilot Pierre Carter has become the first person to fly off mt. Aconcagua in Argentina on new year's
eve! This is the second peak that Pierre has successfully summitted and flown off, the first being mount
Elbrus in Russia in 2006. Aconcagua, at 7000m high, is the highest peak outside of Asia. After waiting
for seven hours in no wind conditions, he eventually managed to launch his Delite into the thin air and fly
back down to camp. His next feat of his seven summit challenge is mt. Kilimanjaro later this year.
Absolutely nuts!
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Cover page freestyler (1 Jan 2008)
This freestyler was snapped in November last year whilst the Gradient test pilots were camped out in
Wilderness. The wind was blowing about 40 km/h at Kleinkranz, just strong enough to keep the tiny
Freestyle wing hovering overhead. :-)
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FLY 500+ (18 Dec 2007)
This summer season saw a team of three Slovenian and three South African pilots camped out for one
month in Prieska, in the Northern Cape. The mission, code-named "Fly 500", was not only to try and
set a new world record, but to fly 500 km too! All armed with Gradients, the race was on. Unfortunately
an uncommon La Nina season brought in lots of moisture and hence low cloudbases and early OD.
Despite the abnormally green Karoo, good flights were still logged, the best being 310 km from
Vanwyksvlei to Colesburg. Full story in the Feb ' 08 edition of the Go Fly magazine.
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Gradient team back in SA (20 Nov 2007)
Ondrej Dupal and his team of test pilots came for another whirl-wind trip around SA. Their purpose: to
photograph their new gliders for this year's catalogue. First stop was Wilderness for some beach fying,
followed by some time in De Aar for slightly stronger thermal flying. And with them, came their latest
flying machines... Hope you enjoy the SA flavoured pictures on these pages.
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Avax XC2 passes EN C certification! (19 Sep 2007)
Gradient's new high performance model, the XC2, has just completed certification with all five sizes
being awarded an EN-C rating! This implies a serial class glider with sports class stability. Suited for
experienced cross-country pilots or serial class competitors, this glider is sure to become the bench-
mark of it's class. Now available in three new colour schemes.
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For the freestylers (12 Apr 2007)
Gradient have just released a new acro glider called the Freestyle. Basically a scaled-down Aspen II,
the Freestyle is not as hardcore as the Seven. Two sizes are available to choose from, either 20 or 22
squares. This is a glider to 'play' with and as such, is not certified. It has however been DHV load tested
to a respectable 14G! Anyone want to play?
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The new Golden II is here (8 Feb 2007)
Gradient's new intermediate glider is here, the Golden II. Based on a similar plan form to the Aspen
and with thin lines as standard, this glider offers sports-class performance yet maintaining DHV 1-2
security. Due to the minimal line-drag, the resulting glide ratio is excellent - it is sure to become the
benchmark in the intermediate category. Available in five sizes and several new colour schemes, it's
already proving popular amoungst SA pilots.
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The world records tumble (7 Dec 2006)
It was bound to happen sooner or later! Three pilots who had been camping out in De Aar chasing
records were at the right place at the right time, and their efforts paid off. The Valic brothers both
set new open distance (427km) and declared goal (360km) world records! Richard Westgate and
Phil Bibby, who already hold the SA tandem open distance record, flew a new world record of 356km
on their stock-standard BiGolden. Finally after a long absence, the records are returning home to SA.
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New Comet harness from Gradient (26 Sep 2006)
The new Comet harness, made by Woody Valley for Gradient, is now available. The harness has a
clean ergonomic profile, is very comfortable and, inline with their reputation, boasts Woody Valley
quality. It comes with 17cm back protection and karabiners as standard. A set of side protectors
and stirrup are available as optional extras. The harness is DHV certified.
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About us |
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My name is James, I've been paragliding for the last 10+ years. I have a passion for aviation and started
paragliding when I was a student, as it was then the cheapest way to fly. Looking back, I've come to the
conclusion that it's the freest form of flying too. Paragliding has taken me to many flying havens around
the world, to see and experience places that one would not otherwise have the opportunity to do so.
I was trained under a very conservative instructor, Jonathan Bass, to whom I give credit for my skills and
knowledge. My first glider was a super-safe Edel Quantum, but I soon upgraded to a sporty Edel Saber.
I was introduced to competition flying eight years ago by Sprinbok pilot Hans Fokkens, and have since
competed in almost every event of the SA circuit since.
After finishing very well in the 2000 SA Open whilst flying in the Sports class, I felt that it was time to
upgrade again. At that stage, only the four big-name brands were available in SA, and their prices were
rediculous! During a trip to the Czech Republic to visit the Mac para factory, I met and spent some time
with Gradient founder and designer Ondrej Dupal. I took the opportunity to test fly their wings and was
really impressed; they flew well, were well made and didn't cost the earth! A month later, I was back in
Prague, buying new gliders for myself and my fledgeling varsity buddies. And so the first Gradient Onyxs
and Saphirs appeared in SA skies.
The following year, I was granted my tandem rating, and started competing on the international scene.
Now flying a Bliss, I entered the back-to-back Dutch and British Opens in Piedrahita Spain and finished
high up in the points, boosting my SA ranking to it's all-time best of 16th.
One aspect of paragliding that I find incredibly rewarding is one's three dimensional freedom. And there's
no better way to express one's self than a good dose of acro: high G's, pumping adrenalin, and deafening
wind noise! In 2002 a small group of us hit Oludinez Turkey for a fix. We had heard about this trick called
a SAT and tried to teach ourselves... Needless to say, two of us splashed into the Mediterranean, shrink-
ing our egos. I used this trip as an opportunity to test AVA Sport's acro harness, and wasn't disapointed.
Being popular harnesses around the world, they quickly took off here in SA too.
In 2004 we toured to Brazil and Reunion to compete in two pre-PWC events. With both sites delivering
only very light conditions, the SA pilots generally struggled to get any points on the score board. At both
comps, the French team were in full force and this is where I was first introduced to the Kortel range of
harnesses. A year later, they too are now available here in SA.
Today, I do most of my flying at Hartebeespoort. After being chairman of 1st Paragliding Club for two
years, I'm back on a very energetic committee. My favourite local sites must be Bulwer and De Aar. So
far, my furthest flight is 240 km which I flew from De Aar last year on my demo Golden in a time of 3h30!
Influenced by two passionate and crazy flying mates, Dirk and Walter, I'm a big fan of acro. After many
hours of great flying on my Avax XC, I've recently downgraded slightly to an Aspen II as I feel more
confident on it for doing tricks.
Cheers
Jimmy the Blade
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