That Little Moment of Zen
Although the weather did not look promising this morning, I had tandems to do, so I made my way out into the Fraser Valley today.
I still find tandems very interesting and they most definitely excite me. Admittedly, a bit of confidence in lacking on my part but I know it just comes with experience. Tandem flying is very different from flying solo and because it's still pretty new to me, concentration is something I need.
My first tandem launch wasn't particularly good, and conditions were fairly strong. The flying part is easy and landing was fine but when I stood on launch the second time around, I noticed what was missing from my first launch: my moment of zen.
If there are 100 people standing on launch watching me, I always make a point of having my zen moment, after which I launch. It's like a split second in time when it's just you and the elements and you think of nothing...you feel the wind on the back of your neck, you hear it through your helmet, and as you grip the risers tensioned between your fingers and stare at your glider, for that one little moment in time, you and your paraglider are one.
Today I was reminded of how important it is for me to have this "moment", especially when I fly tandem. If I ever feel anxious, nervous, intimidated, etc., that all goes away when I pause, if only but for a split second.
My second tandem flight today was amazing. The rain clouds had broken up and big puffy cumulus slowly started to fill the sky. After launching we ridge-soared for half an hour where we flew next to eagles, a couple of other gliders, and cool fluffy stuff in thermals. After a few minutes of flying and of me yacking about thermalling, my passenger was rather quiet, and so I asked, "Well, what do you think?" She paused, and replied, "For one of the first times in my life, I am absolutely speechless." I looked around and thought about how cool it was to be flying right there and then sharing paragliding with a complete stranger, and I thought the very same.
A magical tandem flight - I love it.
I still find tandems very interesting and they most definitely excite me. Admittedly, a bit of confidence in lacking on my part but I know it just comes with experience. Tandem flying is very different from flying solo and because it's still pretty new to me, concentration is something I need.
My first tandem launch wasn't particularly good, and conditions were fairly strong. The flying part is easy and landing was fine but when I stood on launch the second time around, I noticed what was missing from my first launch: my moment of zen.
If there are 100 people standing on launch watching me, I always make a point of having my zen moment, after which I launch. It's like a split second in time when it's just you and the elements and you think of nothing...you feel the wind on the back of your neck, you hear it through your helmet, and as you grip the risers tensioned between your fingers and stare at your glider, for that one little moment in time, you and your paraglider are one.
Today I was reminded of how important it is for me to have this "moment", especially when I fly tandem. If I ever feel anxious, nervous, intimidated, etc., that all goes away when I pause, if only but for a split second.
My second tandem flight today was amazing. The rain clouds had broken up and big puffy cumulus slowly started to fill the sky. After launching we ridge-soared for half an hour where we flew next to eagles, a couple of other gliders, and cool fluffy stuff in thermals. After a few minutes of flying and of me yacking about thermalling, my passenger was rather quiet, and so I asked, "Well, what do you think?" She paused, and replied, "For one of the first times in my life, I am absolutely speechless." I looked around and thought about how cool it was to be flying right there and then sharing paragliding with a complete stranger, and I thought the very same.
A magical tandem flight - I love it.
posted by Veronica at 11:37 PM
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