A bird's View from a parachute!!. Review on Paragliding

Para Sailing

Ok Ok..The product says it is para gliding..but the people at that place called it as ParaSailing

The Eleven of us, after a tizzy day of White water rafting (review added in MS) - had decided to go to Lake Tahoe from Sacramento, CA.

Lake Tahoe is a huge lake bordering California and Nevada. The speciality of this lake is that -- Rivers flow into this lake and there is only one outlet to this lake -- called river truckee.

The water is so deep that the ''Statue of Liberty’ can be immersed 4 to 5 times (i was told). The water is very pure and considered fit for human consumption. Lake Tahoe forms an all-year round resort In the winters the mountains play host to a number of Ski resorts and in the Summers -- the lake becomes a paradise for water sports.

No prizes for guessing that we had been to lake tahoe on a summery day.

We had called ahead to the Reno Water Sports Club in the nevada part of Lake Tahoe that we would be interested in doing some para sailing.

None of us were familiar with how things worked in a parasailing setup. We inquired about the kind of clothes we need to wear, whether we need to know swimming (some of us did not) etc etc. pleasantly surprised to know that We would never get wet in the whole process of Para sailing and we could wear jeans and t-shirts for the same.

We reached lake tahoe at around 10 AM and were able to locate the sports club because the Highway goes on the border of the lake completely and the sports club was situated in the banks of the lake.

A friendly counter-salesman told us that he could accomodate only 6 people per sail...We were all disappointed but had to accept -- The first six (including me!! ofcourse :) ) boarded the small motor launch. One the rear edge of the boat was a small platform with a long flag pole stuck to it. To this was tied a Parachute which was still wrapped. The assistant chief of the boat started it and we reached the centre of the lake -- and as neared it the captain unfurled the parachute...he allowed it to bellow for some time so that the air could reach every nook and corner of the Chute.

Then he beckoned to my friend. He strapped him to the Parachute and the signalled to his assistant who increased the speed of the boat a bit..simultaneously he started another motor which started reeling out rope to the parachute...My friend was blown in a upward slanting direction...There was no heed paid to his screams....and the other five of us were a silent lot ..something similar to a flock of sheep looking forlornly at the butcher :)

More rope was let loose, Higher speeds were gained as my friend started becoming a tiny speck in the horizon...He was pushed to around 800 feet above us. By now , it had been quite some time since we had heard from him. Then the captain signalled maliciously to the assistant who acknowledged. With the same increased speed, the asst started to weave the boat in a zig-zag direction!!!! The movements were transmitted across the rope as we saw a tiny speck swaying like a lone coconut on a tree. I am sure he would have uttered some choice xpletives at these 2 insane people in control here!.. then the asst flicked another switch..the motor started to rewind the rope slowly..within a few minutes my friend was visible and could hear him laughing with glee...then as he came near to the platform.. the chief asked him to stand straight and walk onto the platform from mid air....he did so...and he was on the boat within a jiffy. Not a single drop of water had fallen on him. He then said that this was the most enjoyable thing he had ever done in his life.. All of us scoffed at him..

Each of my friends who went next echoed the same opinion. So by the time, it was my turn.. I was a braver soul...So I asked the chief whether I could take a camera with me to the top. he readily agreed. I walked onto the platform and was fastened to the parachute. The camera was also weaved into the setup so that it did not have a 800 feet watery plunge. I stood there....and as the motor started to push me up and way I felt my stomach being felt by the tonsils of my throat...I think the tissue is very soft :)

This was a very very good experience....and I was being pushed further away.. I became aware of the peace around me...There was no rev of the motor..there was no guzzle of the wind...there was no pitter-patter of the friends...I was experiencing Silence for the first time in my Life...It's true...just think --- How often have u experienced silence in life? I did and it was the coolest thing to experience.

Since Lake tahoe is surrounded by mountains..the view was simply stupendous...I had to use both of my eyes to the fullest to take in this view..then I remembered my camera..Took some pics of the scenery but was not sure how they would turn out to be.. Then I turned to camera to myself and took some self-portraits.

I looked down at the water and saw that I was causing a shadow on the water!...Coool! I took a snap...by then I became aware of a slight sway..those guys below had started the zig-zag dance....I was swaying like a pendulum now from side to side...and...and...and... I was actually enjoying it!! cool Experience..and I was pulled back to reality as the rope started to tug at the parachute. Within minutes I was on the boat again...

That ended our Para Sailing adventure.....

All of you who want to do Para sailing..please go ahead and do it.... its by far the most harmless adventure sport I have ever seen and the exhillaration you experience after this is boundless....So do drop in a line if you feel the same about parasailing

Cheers

PVm