After skiing for four days in Chamonix on a Yoga Retreat with Tony Horton of P90X, Karen and I got to fly paragliders. We brought Karen's glider and I rented one from Chamonix Parapente. We were also loaded down with two ski bags, two boot bags and our carry-ons with out clothes and yoga mats.
Karen launched first and had a nice flight of about 20 minutes from the mid-station launch at Brevent Ski Area(1000 meters above the valley floor-- 2000 meters msl). You launch right over one of the ski slopes. It was a morning flight and I was expecting a sled or extendo. There were a bunch of students flying plus lots of other rated pilots. I had shoved my vario in the back of the harness not expecting to need it. Don't ask the name of the glider- I have no idea--- it was an upper end DHV-1. While I checked the lines, Fred (the owner of Chamonix Parapente) pointed out that one of the pilots almost had a thermal. So I got my vario out and strapped it to my leg. I found the thermal the other pilots couldn't quite get and it was up Up UP! I was on top of the stack the entire flight-- getting 800 meters above launch and 300 meters above the Brevent Peak. Lift was very light and only a few of the pilots were able to soar-- and they usually lost it after one thermal. After 90 minutes in the air with the most amazing views ever, Fred radioed that he wanted his glider back. So I went out and landed. I could easily have stayed up all day.
The next time we go-- I'll bring my wing and rent skis.
Matthew
Flying in Chamonix
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Re: Flying in Chamonix
Nice - maybe it was yogic levitation... - Hugh
Re: Flying in Chamonix
Awesome flying. Were you able to take pictures? Tell us more about Tony Horton and the yoga.
Bun
Re: Flying in Chamonix
No in-flight pics. Karen got a few from the ground.
Tony is just like he is in the vids. I worked out with him at his house in CA on my 50th Birthday last fall-- Karen's Mega-Surprise present to me. He asked us then to join him in Chamonix.
We did yoga each morning for an hour fifteen-- then skied, then more yoga and/or working out at night. The yoga instructor is Ted MacDonald who is Tony's teacher. Best yoga teacher I've ever had. Tony taught a couple of workouts.
There were 9 of us plus Tony and his girlfriend, Ted and his girlfriend and our ski guide. The ski guide and one other guy didn't do the yoga-- a great group of people.
Karen was the hand stand champion-- she dusted everyone-- stayed up easily twice as long as Tony.
Matthew
Tony is just like he is in the vids. I worked out with him at his house in CA on my 50th Birthday last fall-- Karen's Mega-Surprise present to me. He asked us then to join him in Chamonix.
We did yoga each morning for an hour fifteen-- then skied, then more yoga and/or working out at night. The yoga instructor is Ted MacDonald who is Tony's teacher. Best yoga teacher I've ever had. Tony taught a couple of workouts.
There were 9 of us plus Tony and his girlfriend, Ted and his girlfriend and our ski guide. The ski guide and one other guy didn't do the yoga-- a great group of people.
Karen was the hand stand champion-- she dusted everyone-- stayed up easily twice as long as Tony.
Matthew