Overberg Paragliding Club

by Wayne Heuer

I’m standing on a sports field being swamped by a tide of over enthusiastic, mostly inebriated adults and hundreds of children and it is late afternoon on Christmas day. My red glider sprawled out on the field, me in my red flight suit all too obviously being mistaken for Santa Clause. My level of insecurity and uneasiness escalating as my personal space is all but swallowed by this demanding and expectant crowd. I can hear calls for sweets and uttering’s about the arrival of Father Christmas and this is very disconcerting for me.

I was staying over at my In-laws’ place and this Christmas day was special because I had recently qualified at Bulwer with my basic license and wanted to share my new found skill and freedom with them. Explaining to the family about flying was one thing, but I really wanted to demonstrate and show them paragliding. So, from their yard in Villiersdorp, I scanned the mountain behind the town for a suitable take off and eventually I settled on a green spot halfway up the mountain. Coming from Durban with rolling green hills I had no Idea what lay ahead of me. I planned the hike and estimate the duration and launch time all from the comfortable hammock slung in their back yard. Every aspect I visualized in my mind’s eye and I HAD NO DOUBT that I would fly and show them just what paragliding’s about.

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