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Authors and Structure

The main authors are Bruce Goldsmith, Théo de Blic and Greg Hamerton. Other authors include Bastienne Wentzel, Russell Ogden, Till Gottbrath and Marcus King, as well as many others. Anyone who reads Cross Country Magazine regularly or follows the paragliding scene will also be familiar with some of the other authors. It is clear that the book has its roots in Cross Country Magazine. Anyone who reads the magazine regularly will therefore find that one or two of the articles seem familiar.

The book is designed as a reference work. The chapters and their corresponding pages are colour-coded, making it easy to find your way around. It is richly illustrated and contains many infographics, for example on the development of the polar regions between 2012 and 2022. The book is divided into nine thematic sections. Each chapter consists of several topics, most of which have been written by different authors. The individual articles often feature a box summarising the key points, which concisely summarises the main arguments.

One example of this is the topic ‘When should you step up?’ by Théo de Blic. The summary ‘At a Glance: Stepping Up’ includes, amongst other things, the following points:

• “Everyone has a breakdown from time to time”
• “Stay in a B if you don’t want to compete”
• “Two-liners only make sense if you’re always in a bar”
• “Don’t downsize too early in acro, especially women”

The book is written in English, but it is easy to read even with a moderate knowledge of English, as it does not contain any particularly specialised vocabulary.

Contents: The nine chapters

The introduction makes it clear that the book is aimed at both beginners and experienced pilots. It emphasises that pilots are responsible for their own actions. According to the author, the book is packed with hard-won insights and practical advice. Below, I present some highlights from the individual chapters.

Chapter 1: Choosing Equipment

How do I choose the right paraglider for me? How do I find the right size? And what are the consequences of flying a glider at the upper or lower limit of its weight range?

Chapter 2: Fundamentals

This course covers the basics of paragliding and focuses on improving your skills. Topics covered include improving ground-handling skills, active flying of the glider and the correct use of the speed bar.

Chapter 3: Thermals & Thermalling

This chapter deals with efficient circling in thermals and the question of where thermals can be expected. It also covers digital aids for thermal circling. However, Bruce Goldsmith’s article, which provides instructions on flying inside a cloud, is somewhat puzzling. It should be common knowledge that flying inside clouds is prohibited and that paragliding is only permitted under visual flight rules.

Chapter 4: Cross-Country Masterclasses

This chapter is aimed particularly at cross-country pilots. Among other things, it covers navigation through airspaces, cross-country flying with an EN-A glider, and the specific considerations to bear in mind when flying in competitions.

Chapter 5: Flatlands

This section is about thermal flying in flat country. It covers how to find thermals and how to master a so-called ‘low save’ – that is, how to reconnect with a thermal after a steep descent.

Chapter 6: Mountain Flying

This chapter covers the formation and influence of valley wind systems, flying in the lee, and planning your first bivouac flight.

Chapter 7: SIV and your Reserve

This article looks at why you should attend a safety training course and what you need to bear in mind if you’re organising one yourself.

Chapter 8: Safety

This chapter focuses on safety and preparing for emergencies. Topics covered include putting together an emergency kit, preventing accidents and knowing how to react in an emergency.

Chapter 9: Headspace

The final chapter deals with the mental aspects of paragliding. It looks at how to cope with a fear of flying and how to get back into flying after an accident.

Conclusion

Paragliding: 101 Ways to Fly Better offers a collection of experiences and practical tips from various areas of paragliding. The expertise of numerous authors is brought together in this book, providing plenty of inspiration for your own flying development. However, in keeping with the book’s central theme – 101 ways to fly better – some topics are only touched upon briefly, even though they are important for us pilots. These include, for example, meteorology and aviation law. Whether knowledge of these subjects is part of being a good pilot is something everyone must judge for themselves.

The division into individual topics is more reminiscent of a magazine than a traditional book. Some topics build on one another across chapters, whilst the chapters as a whole follow on logically from one another. The book is therefore not so much intended to be read from cover to cover, but is primarily suited as a reference work.

Anyone who regularly reads Cross Country Magazine or other relevant magazines, attends talks or watches YouTube videos on paragliding is likely already familiar with much of the knowledge compiled in this book. However, for those who wish to draw on the combined expertise of many authors in a single book, this book is highly recommended. I couldn’t find anything that was truly new to me, though I have only read excerpts from the book. It remains unclear exactly what the number ‘101’ in the title refers to. No explanation for this is provided in the book.

I take a critical view of Bruce Goldsmith’s guide to flying in a cloud. It should be common knowledge that flying in clouds is prohibited. Such a guide is therefore, at the very least, confusing. Furthermore, the book is only available in print, which, in my view, is no longer entirely in keeping with the times.

Price and availability: The book *Paragliding: 101 Ways to Fly Better* costs €44.00 and is available from the Cross Country Magazine shop or in bookshops under ISBN 978-1739343446.