Let's Go Fly A Kite!

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With summer just around the corner, the alpine hills will soon be alive with the sound of whooping and squealing as novice paragliders go over the edge for the first time. As an avid paraglider, I can confirm that soaring high over hills and rooftops, carried only by the wind, is one of the most exhilarating, thrilling and uplifting experiences you can have.

And almost anyone can do it. You don't have to be a world-class athlete: physical conditioning is less important than caution and alertness. Patience helps, too. Before you can venture solo, you will need to undergo at least two to three days of rigorous training on the ground and in the air; you can also opt to just fly in tandem with a certified instructor. In Switzerland, where I do most of my gliding, expect to pay roughly $450 for three days of training and about $150 for flights thereafter. The prices include the rental of a glider and protective gear as well as instructors' guidance from the ground.

To learn more about paragliding, visit the website of the Swiss paragliding association, www.shv-net.ch (in French and German), or its British counterpart at www.bhpa.co.uk. You can also find contact details for certified venues and instructors from the local tourist board in practically any alpine town.