Mistakes are a reality of daily life, but in extreme sports like paragliding, even small errors can be dangerous. And there are plenty of mistakes that we see time and time again in those just getting into the sport. If you’re new to paragliding, be wary of the following:

Learning the wrong way

In today’s world of YouTube videos and countless amateur blogs, there’s no shortage of voices trying to make themselves heard. You could try to self-educate on paragliding techniques (just as with any other topic), but in an extreme sport like this there’s just too much risk. Seek out qualified paragliding instructors – proper training is a must – and learn from their experience.

Overestimating your skills

Once you’ve got a grasp on the basics, it becomes easy to get overconfident. The excitement and adrenaline become almost overwhelming, and you start thinking about trying some acrobatics or launching in high winds. Even expert paragliders aren’t immune from this kind of thinking, so just remember to stay safe out there. Don’t put yourself at needlessly increased risk – it’s a recipe for disaster.

Excessive pride

This goes somewhat hand-in-hand with the previous point, but it’s worth stressing again. There’s a certain amount of “overcoming your fear” involved with any extreme sport, but if you’re feeling genuinely uneasy about the situation, there’s no shame in stepping back. Sometimes people fear landing early or launching themselves in less-than-perfect weather conditions, but we say it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Overspending on gear

Because your paragliding gear is what keeps you alive, a lot of people tend to rush into expensive purchases – associating “more expensive” with “higher quality”. In addition, nobody wants to buy the cheaper stuff and find that it’s just too limiting, right?

The good news is that today’s entry-level wings mix durability, stability, and agility in an incredible impressive way. Safety is at the forefront of design in cheaper rigs, but there’s still so much you can do in them. We’ve actually prepared a list of several good choices for your first paraglider, so check it out if you’re starting to shop around.