Written by By Malcolm Vargas / Translated by Doris Vargas

Paragliders are constructed like parachutes but fly like hang gliders. They are launched by stepping off a mountain into a flow of air much like a kayak is launched into a flow of water.  It can be a relaxing drift or a wild white water ride; recreational or ‘extreme.’ Aviation is a sport where one decision error can cost you your life. Survival requires that you are extremely well informed or extremely lucky.   

Many third world coaches enjoy a technocracy, exploiting serial ignorance to their economic advantage. 

But, in a sport where information is survival, this marketing strategy is homicidal. Taiwan has some very good coaches and excellent pilots. But until they start conforming to international standards, the good coaches are not recognized amidst the bad news. 

I learned to fly in Luyeh, Taitung in 1999 in a manner which puts a strange twist on Jacques Monod’s famous quotation.  Well, thank God, and Bill Gates, that I was able to get online with coaches worldwide for wing tips and tale spins about learning to fly, equipment variations, micrometeorology, theories of flight (Bernoulli  was wrong,  by the way), training techniques, best conditions for training and leaving NOTHING  to chance. The information skyway saved my life through thousands of flights, without injury. I worked with the coaches and tried to learn as much as I could through the language and cultural barriers. Meanwhile, I grew close to my Taiwan comrades, visiting many of them in the hospital.     

2004 was a tragic year for paragliding with numerous serious injuries which included two of my coaches and three fatalities. The fatalities were each young, only-sons of Taiwan families. “This is ridiculous,” I thought. “This sport is supposed to be fun. We’re doing something wrong.” Meanwhile, the government was subsidizing the sport with hundreds of millions of dollars. The money was going in the wrong direction. Nothing was spent to prevent accidents. Each of the incidents could easily have been prevented with more thorough training. These issues resulted in my withdrawing from my paragliding club. I opened other sites and flew elsewhere.

Ah Loon was a college student with a passion for the sport. He was intuitive and learned quickly. He had come to me several times with questions about paragliding. 

I replied, “Go ask your coaches. That is what they are paid for.”  I was having problems with my spouse and with the club which prohibited my involvement.

“They don’t answer my questions. They are too busy.” 

I gave him a book in English hoping it would help. I guess not. A judgment error caused the accident that took his life far too prematurely. The events of 2004 were just too much. I saw his face twisting in the night, his voice whistle in the wind, “Teach me. Help me. Save me.” I had an emotional breakdown. It lasted a week. I resolved to do what I could to prevent future injuries and fatalities - to prepare suitable training materials. It should direct learners toward the right sporting attitude. 

I moved to Puli in Nantou County, rented a large piece of land at the top of Tiger Head Mountain. I bought a forty-foot freezer container and converted it into a cabin and garden café fifty meters from the new take off zone. I thought the solitude and hard work were just what I needed to recover from my recent divorce, there at the epicenter of the “Big One” of 1999 when the previous paragliding take off zone slid down the mountain, crushing the houses below. It is also the geographic center point of Taiwan Island, the proverbial Heart of Taiwan. It is one of the most breathtaking views in all of Taiwan.

In 2006 I left the Heart of Taiwan in the capable hands of my partner, pilot, Y.B. Human. I sold everything I owned to pay for instructors training at the prestigious Torrey Pines San Diego, California.  The owner and founder is a board member of the USHPA. He had been flying for over 25 years. He and his son certify 10 % of the new pilots in the US. They are among the best. I worked with several coaches from the U.S., Italy and Korea. 

I studied paragliding, aviation, micrometeorology, risk analysis, sports psychology and CPR. Paragliding is entering a whole new domain, a new level of complexity, balancing forces which most people don’t even realize exist. We attend to the macrocosmic at the astronomic level, the microcosmic, dust particles in the air, and everything in between. Understanding the aviational environment involves dynamic complex systems.  

When I returned to Puli, I began work on my book. I turned to the Theory of General Systems, Complex Systems and Cognitive Sciences for a Holistic transition -  senses, mind, emotions, musculature, ego, socio-economic self - to the domain where eagles soar. When the writing got tiring, I worked on the extensive graphics. When the graphics got tiring, I flew.

Sport aviation follows the adage, “Know thyself, then conquer the world.” So, the first chapter introduces perceptual and emotional psychological issues that are at the core of a GOOD ATTITUDE. 

I divided the training into three stages; ground training, take off and landing, and soaring. A spiraling curriculum allows students to pace the academic with the practical learning through the three topics, 1) pilot  2) equipment 3) procedure. This prevents information overload while allowing students to progress at their own rate. 

Written at a high school reading level, the book serves as a workbook between student and coach. DO NOT attempt to learn paragliding on your own.  Make sure that your coach is trained and certified. Would you go to a dentist who did not pass his medical training? Your life is in your coach’s hands.

In 2006 I did a paragliding presentation in Hsinchu. In the audience was Doris Wang, who turned out to be the perfect mate. She can drive a four-wheel drive, speak English, import, travel, translate, has a desire to fly and pray. Most importantly, she is patient - very patient. We went from the chapel to the take off zone for a tandem flight. 

“Marriage is a lot like tandem flying. Things are smoother when we coordinate our efforts. When I say lean left, we both lean left, OK?” 

“OK.” 

“On your mark, One. Two. Three.” 

We have been flying ever since, and, leaning left all the way. Lift, drag and thrust.

It took another year to train Doris to the depth of understanding needed to do the Chinese text of the book. She accompanied me on a number of trainings, and to critique other instructors. This gave me the opportunity to refine the material for the Taiwanese thinking and learning style. (I have to admit I take a perverse joy in telling my wife to run off a mountain and she gladly obeys, then comes back for more).

We lived on part time work and cobbled together cash to print the book. Selling ad space covered a small percentage. But I had known from the start that this project was not going to be profitable. It was missionary work - for a lesser god. The paragliding image and industry in Taiwan needed a major overhaul if it were to thrive. 

There will always be small pockets of tandem pilots making an arduous living, and coaches adding just enough pilots to justify government subsidies. But Taiwan will never achieve its potential as an international paragliding paradise with year round flying. Even though it has coastal, high mountain, valley and cross-country flights with swimming or surfing in between while staying in good hotels at low prices. You can even land your glider and take the train back to the take off zone.

Until we change the focus from performance to safety; from competition to recreation, sport aviation will be nothing more than a Darwinian selection device. Competition is driven by ‘courage’. Recreation is driven by safety. Our goal is to raise the whole playing field.

The book sells for NT$450. We get about NT$40. The rest goes to the printer, publisher and distributor. Go figure. We decided to self publish making the book available to coaches, clubs and sport stores at a very low price. We got mixed responses. 

One coach who had a student fatality several years ago, remarked, “If only we had this information years ago.”  Another remarked, “Nice work. Very readable. Very thorough.”

We got numerous messages that the wind direction at To Cheung in the book is wrong. Oops!!

We sent out free copies to libraries and universities. We gave out books for donations. The book is available at www.learningparagliding.com  The English text is available as an insert.  Proceeds from all future sales will go to social development in Pingtung County.

Malcolm Vargas, a long time resident of Taiwan, is a volunteer and contributor to numerous charities and NGOs, including child and social welfare and drug rehabilitation. He teaches English and paragliding, flies tandem and consults on small business start-ups in the recreational industry. He writes sci-fi stories, songs, plays guitar and whatever else he can to make the world a better place to live in.