It was new years day on the side of the Halaeakala volcano, Maui, HI 2011. I was mountain biking with my best friends down the Skyline trail, an epic 7000’ decent on mostly singletrack through 6 distinct biomes. We came to a grassy clearing after the first 3000’ or so and stumbled upon a trio of paragliders getting ready to take to the air. As they checked their gear and got setup, the New Year’s resolution talk began. Getting healthy, living life to its fullest and travelling the world were common denominators. “I’m going to fly like these guys” was my response. In saying so, it precluded the obvious; money needed to get into a rather pricy new sport required less money for beer (less partying), a clear head to learn a new sport (less partying), and of course living life to it’s fullest (travelling and flying). Thus, learning to paraglide looked like a way to be a healthier human being, while learning to fly and travelling the world doing so. All three resolution criteria were met.
Upon my arrival back in Squamish, BC, I started searching around for local paragliding instructors. Some research, some phone calling and web site browsing brought me to Dion Vuk at www.iparaglide.com. We had a phone conversation followed by a coffee outside his downtown Vancouver apartment. We discussed the sport, lessons, prices and equipment. He sorted me out and made me feel more than confident to begin that spring.
It started at Vanier park ground handling the wing and learning the equipment. My kiteboarding experience certainly helped in understanding the paraglider and its behavior, especially as it pulls through the ‘power zone’! Then we moved to Diefenbaker park in Tsawwassen to do ‘slope soaring’ aka takeoff and landing practice.
My first ‘flight’ and freedom from the earth’s confines was upon me. I was hooked, and pumped! The following day with much ado about nothing we headed to Agassiz to do our first solo mountain flight. The group was excitedly nervous, as one should be when about to fly solo in a non-powered aircraft and head into the sky. My first solo paragliding flight was calm, free flowing and absolutely spectacular as the scenery of the site is breathtaking, never mind you’re flying with vultures, eagles and hawks. A safe landing and another quick shuttle up the mountain for a second and third flight, ecstasy is being in the air!
Weather and work scheduling over-riding my weekend training I did not manage to graduate my Novice P2 course that summer of 2011. I did however, get eleven solo mountain flights, slope soaring training, kiting training and a beautiful end of the year flight off the intimidating, yet totally mind blowing, famous Bridal falls.
Summer 2012 arrived and more adrenalized than ever I took back to the skies with Dion in the lower mainland. I was making all kinds of new friends and nothing was greater than sharing the stoke with fellow students as they came down from their 1st, 3rd or 20th flight. My flights climbed and the summer drew near an end. It was time to get serious. My last mountain flight of the year took place in Pemberton during the Canadian Paragliding National event, and it was an amazing experience to fly in a new setting amongst the best in the business in Canada.
After dialing in the whole flying, take off and landing thing, it was time to sort out the emergency training skills set, an SIV course delivered by Dion up in Lillooet Lake, north of Pemberton, BC.
It simply was the best and most exhilarating thing I have ever done, to destroy and rebuild my wing, spiral, spin and descend in the air in a controlled environment with an angel on my shoulder. Not only was the course amazing, but the tow launch from a jet boat indeed made it a world class exercise. No dusty, bumpy logging roads for this guy. Beach, sun, sand and acro training over the beautiful Lillooet Lake is certainly something I’ll be doing every year, and every new gear.
I’m so blessed to have chosen such a positive paragliding mentor, instructor, and fantastic person as Dion to take me to the air and set me free. Never once put me down, handed out high fives and stoke like candy, and let me gain confidence at an appropriate level.
After graduating my course, which involved a 6 minute kiting session, I had my first solo flights at Woodside and the then Blanchard in Bellingham. As I write this I am sitting in south central Mexico in Valle de Bravo just having flown my first couple of paragliding flights in a truly international setting.
Paratour from Jeff Bertoia on Vimeo.
I guess I fulfilled my resolution; living a healthier life, flying the friendly skies and travelling with my wing to meet new friends, discover new places, and keep my adrenaline habitat satisfied.
Blue skies amigos.
Monday, April 8, 2013 at 8:49 
