Adventure Sports

11
Adventure sports are extraordinary activities performed by
individuals who are in search of excitement, extra enthusiasm
and have the desire to explore nature. These sports are
invented out of adventurous interest of individuals who want
to explore nature out of curiosity. During the exploration,
different types of adventure sports were discovered, such as,
rafting, surfing, mountaineering, trekking, etc. Participation
in such sports also helps to fulfil the purpose of satisfying
robust human behaviour. These sports are classified as—
1. Adventure water sports
2. Adventure land sports
3. Adventure air sports
Further, the adventure sports in all three categories
are also divided separately for water (rafting, surfing, etc.),
land (mountaineering, trekking, etc.) and air (paragliding,
jumping, etc.). The camping has already been discussed in
the Class IX book. Here, in this chapter, paragliding and
surfing are explained for understanding as these are most
exciting and classical adventure sports.

Fig. 11.1: Paragliding

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 Adventure Sports 329

Paragliding
Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure
sport for flying paragliders. Paragliding is engine less or
motor free sport and practised by the adventurous people.
This type of sports need courage and need to be decisive.

Historical Development of Paragliding

Domina C. Jalbert, in 1954, invented advanced governable
gliding parachutes with multi-cells and controls for lateral
glide.
In one of the articles, in Flight magazine, Walter Neumark
predicted that a glider pilot would be able to launch himself
by running over the edge of a cliff or down a slope. French
engineer Pierre Lemoigne produced improved parachute
designs that led to the Para-commander.
David Barish, during 1965, developed the ‘sail wing’
that was used to sail slope-soaring as a summer activity for
ski resorts.
In the year 1985, Canadian authors Patrick Gilligan and
Bertrand Dubois from Switzerland, wrote the first flight
manual with the title ‘The Paragliding Manual’, officially
coining the word ‘Paragliding’.

Classification of Paragliding
Paragliding is classified as—
1. Light-weight gliding
2. Free flying glider
3. Foot-launched glider: Foot launched glider is like an
aircraft with no rigid primary structure.

Sitting Position
The paraglider (pilot) sits in a harness, suspended below a
fabric wing comprising a large number of interconnected
baffled cells. Wing shape is maintained by the suspension
lines. Despite not using an engine, paragliders, flight can last
many hours and cover hundreds of kilometers. Though, the
norms for flight of one to two hours that covers around some
tens of kilometers are considered valid for gliding purposes.
By skillful exploitation of sources on lift, the pilot may gain
height, often climbing to altitudes of a few thousand meters.

First World Championship 1989

The first official Paragliding World Championship was held
in Austria, in 1989.

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Strength of Paraglider Structure

Do You Know?
Canadian Domina Jalbert Paraglider lines are usually made from spectra that are
invented and patented (in 1963) immensely strong. For example, a single 0.66 mm diameter
parafoil in an aerofoil shape; line (about the thinnest used) can have a breaking strength
an open leading edge and a of 56 kg. Paraglider wings typically have an area of 20–35
closed trailing edge, inflated by square meters (220–380 sq ft) with a span of 8–12 meters
passage through the air. (26–39 ft) and weigh 3–7 kilograms (6.6–15.4 lb). Combined
weight of wing, harness, reserve, instruments, helmet, etc.,
weigh around 12–22 kilograms (26–49 lb).

Speed of Paragliders
The speed range of paragliders is typically 20–75 kilometres
per hour (12–47 mph).

Carrying Capacity and Storage of Paragliders

For storage and carrying, the wing is usually folded into a
stuff-sack (bag), which can then be stowed in a large back-
pack along with the harness. The complete equipment packs
into a rucksack that can be carried easily on the pilot’s back,
in a car, or on public transport.

Instruments
Instruments used in paragliding are—
1. Variometer: The main purpose of a variometer is to
help a pilot find and stay in the ‘core’ of a thermal
to maximise height gain and, conversely, to indicate
when a pilot is in sinking air and needs to find rising
air. A variometer also indicates the climb rate or sink-
rate with short audio signals (beeps, which increase
in pitch and tempo during ascent, and a droning
sound, which gets deeper as the rate of descent
increases) or a visual display. It also shows altitude
— either above takeoff, above sea level or flight level at
higher altitudes.
2. Radio: Radio communications are used in training
to communicate with other pilots, or to report where
and when they intend to land. These radios normally
operate on a range of frequencies in different
locations. In rare cases, pilots use radios to talk
to airport control towers or air traffic controllers.
Many pilots carry a cell phone so they can call for
pickup if they land away from their intended point of
destination.
3. GPS (Global Positioning System): GPS is a necessary
accessory while flying in competitions. The recorded

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GPS track of a flight can be used to analyse the flying

technique or can be shared with other pilots. GPS
is also used to determine drift due to the prevailing
wind when flying at altitude, providing position
information to allow restricted airspace to be avoided
and identifying one’s location to aid the retrieval
teams after landing out in unfamiliar territory.

Flying Techniques
There are different ways of flying as with all the aircrafts,
launching and landing are done into wind. Paragliders, like
hang gliders do not ‘jump’ at any time. There is one assisted
launch technique used in flatland areas and two launching
techniques used on the higher ground.
1. Forward launch: In low winds, the wing is inflated with
a forward launch, where the pilot runs forward with
the wing behind so that the air pressure generated by
the forward movement inflates the wing.
2. Reverse launch: In higher winds, a reverse launch is
used, with the pilot facing the wing to bring it up into
a flying position, then turning around under the wing
and running to complete the launch. Reverse launches
have a number of advantages over the forward launch.

Landing
Landing a paraglider, as with all unpowered aircrafts which
cannot abort a landing, involves some specific techniques
and traffic patterns. Paragliding pilots most commonly lose
their height by flying a figure of 8 in over landing zone until
the correct height is achieved, then line up into the wind and
give the glider full speed. Once the correct height (about a
meter above ground) is achieved the pilot will ‘stall’ (pause)
the glider in order to land.

Control through Speed Bar Mechanism

Paraglider can be controlled with the help of breaks and
accelerator attached with the paraglider. These are the speed
bar mechanism called control breaks, which are held in
pilot’s hand. Breaks are used to adjust the speed of the glider.

Types of Competitions
1. Cross-country flying is the classical form of paragliding
competitions with championships in club, regional,
national and international levels.

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2. Aerobatic competitions demand the participants to

Do You Know?
George Freeth (8 November perform certain manoeuvres. Competitions are held
1883–7 April 1919) is often for individual pilots as well as for pairs that show
credited as being the ‘Father of synchronous performances. This form is the most
Modern Surfing’. He is thought spectacular for spectators on the ground to watch.
to have been the first modern 3. In Bivouac flying competitions, a certain route has to be
surfer. flown or hiked, which may take over several days.
Sky Parachutes have the maximum resemblance with
paragliders but the sports are very different. Whereas with
sky-diving, the parachute is ‘only’ a tool to safely return to
earth after free fall, the paraglider allows longer flights and the
use of thermals.

Surfing
The term surfing refers to the act of riding a wave, regardless
of whether the wave is ridden with a board or without a board,
and regardless of the stance used. Surfing is an event to be
inducted in the Olympic Games from the year 2020. Surfing
is a surface water sport in which the wave rider, referred to as
a surfer, rides on the forward or deep face of a moving wave,
which carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitable
for surfing are primarily found in the ocean, but waves can
also be found in lakes or rivers in the form of standing wave
or tidal bore. However, surfers can also utilise artificial waves
such as those from boat and the waves created in artificial
wave pools.

Fig. 11.2: Surfing-1

Historical Development of Surfing

For centuries, surfing was a central part of ancient Polynesian
culture. Surfing may have first been observed by the British
explorers at Tahiti in 1767.

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Governing Body
The highest governing body for surfing sport is known as
International Surfing Association. It is played all over the
world. In 1975, professional contests started. That year,
Margo Oberg became the first female professional surfer.

Types of Surfing

Fig. 11.3: Surfing-2

1. Stand-up Surfing: The modern-day definition of

surfing, most often refers to a surfer riding a wave
standing up on a Surfboard; this is also referred to
as stand-up surfing. Long surf-boarding and short
surf-boarding are the two types of stand-up surfing.
Both long and short surf-boarding have several major
differences, including the board design and length,
the riding style, and the kind of wave that is ridden.
2. Body Surfing or Body Boarding: The surfer riding a
wave on a body board, either by lying on the belly, or
drop knee, is called body surfing. In body surfing, the
wave is surfed without a board, using the surfer’s own
body to catch and ride the wave, this is very common
and considered to be the purest form of surfing.
3. Surf Matting: An other type of surfing that is surfed in
inflatable mats, using foils, is called surf matting.
4. Tow-surfing: Tow-surfing is most often associated
with big wave surfing with a motorised water vehicle,
such as a personal watercraft, which tows the surfer
into the wave front. Water-craft help the surfer to
match a large wave’s speed, which is generally higher
than a self-propelled surfer can produce.

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Types of Surfboard
A long board (10 feet) causes more friction with the water,
and is slower than a smaller lighter board (6 feet). Longer
boards are good for beginners, who need help in balancing.
Smaller boards are good for more experienced surfers who
want to have more control and manoeuverability.

Dangers during Surfing

Seabed
The seabed can pose danger for surfers. If a surfer falls
while riding a wave, the wave tosses and tumbles the surfer
around, often in a downwards direction. At reef breaks and
beach breaks, surfers have been seriously injured and even
killed because of a violent collision with the sea bed, the
water above which can sometimes be very shallow, especially
at beach breaks or reef breaks during low tide.
Rip currents
Rip currents are water channels that flow away from the
shore. Under the wrong circumstances, these currents can
endanger both experienced and inexperienced surfers. Since
a rip current appears to be an area of flat water, tired or
inexperienced swimmers or surfers may enter one and be
carried out beyond the breaking waves. Although many rip
currents are much smaller, the largest rip currents have a
width of forty or fifty feet. However, by paddling parallel to
the shore, a surfer can easily exit a rip current.

Surfing related Sports

Surfing-related sports, such as, paddle boarding and sea
kayaking do not require waves. Other water related sports
such as kite surfing and wind-surfing rely primarily on wind
for power, yet all of these platforms may also be used to ride
waves. Recently the use of V-drive boats wave surfing, in
which one surfs on the wave of a boat, has emerged.

Safety and Security in Paragliding and Surfing

The security and safety of the gliders and surfers have to
be kept in mind as there is high risk involved during these
adventure sports. Safety measure should be followed and
observed by the individuals taking adventure sports.
1. A paraglider should be certified and highly skillful
before taking adventure sports.

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2. A paraglider should keep all type of safety instruments

before going for paragliding. These instruments are
Virometer, Global Positioning System and Radio to
get update about all kinds of dangers.
3. During practice, proper safety equipments like helmet,
knee guards, chest guards and other protective
equipment should be worn.
4. Gliding should not be permitted without proper
assistance (licensed personnel).
5. A surfer should recognise the wave current flowing in
sea for keeping himself in the safe zone.
6. A surfer should also be able to recognise the deep face
of the moving wave that can be dangerous sometimes
to the surfer.
7. Surfer should practise his surfing skills in the
artificially created waves before introducing himself
in the deep sea.
8. Paragliders should inspect their paraglide breaks and
other necessary lining for safety measures regularly.
9. Enough practice should be done before taking long
route paragliding.
10. Fitness standard (physical and mental) should be
maintained, which is considered as the key factor
that helps in meeting out and taking quick decision
during any untoward situation.

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 Assessment
I. Long Answer Questions
1. Write down the use of Variometer in paragliding.
2. Explain ‘tow- surfing’.
3. Discuss the safety measures to keep in mind during paragliding.
4. Briefly explain Sea beds and Rip Currents.
5. How does Global Positioning System work?

II. Short Answer Questions

1. Name the person who invented paragliding.
2. Name the two flying techniques in paragliding.
3. Classify the categories of adventure sports.
4. In which year, the first world championship for surfing was
held?
5. What are the different types of surfing?

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