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Paragliding in Taiwan

Puli, have you been there? 80,000 people make up this township nestled in Nantou County; about 1.5 hour drive from Taichung.
Women
Water
W...Woodles...no, Mifen (Name of thin noodles that are so popular there)

This is what you hear from the locals, but ask Yuri Human, the founder of this paradise and paraglide haven , and he will tell you there are 5 W's that make up Puli. This is true when you add Women and Wine.
One thing is for sure. The view is simple astonishing and breathtaking both day and night.
Some other words came to my mind during my first few hours of relaxation. Words such as relaxing, quaint, beauty, solitude, unique, welcoming, handcrafted and rustic throughout. It's definitely convenient and quite affordable. Being alone on the mountain overlooking the nightlight's of Puli and hardly a noise but the many Chinese New Years holiday firework shows being set off and popping down in the valley resting below. We sat breathing in the fresh air awaking? gain awe most of the 4 day trip. by the evening camp fire and made some sish kabobs and fresh fire brewed coffee.
Just before driving through the two rocks to the playground entrance is a coffee truck named Vivi's. There's a few Taiwanese's who come for the view and a cup of java before possible enjoying some day tripping. Flying remote control planes or kites high up in the sky is becoming a favored pastime in this large mountainous playground as of late.

By the night I slept under the stars awaiting the sun rise, dozing off before the early morning mist and sunrise..

We were invited to stay for a pre-planned and booked a pig roast.
Weather and Wine make it the 5 W's of Taiwan.
I went to spend an afternoon and got a late start as usual.
We then packed a few extra things to do the outdoor camp style and a hot pot dinner last minute. One day turned to 4 days. Did some wood crafting helping hand at making a multi purpose table? What an experience.
After feeling a bit tired and weary, we eventually made our way back down the mountain to the hot spring spa. Massaged the sore spots from the abundant jets speckled around the 7 separate pools. There are hot, semi hot and cold pools and tubs. I was ready for another round of something...possibly some cold beers? I was inspired and surely ready for another adventure. Thinking to myself, Should I do a river trek or a possible a long peddle on a mountain bike no .....maybe just drag a folding chair and rest it next to the runway and get some sun and inhale some more fresh air.

There's a pig roast beginning to transpire . With some supplies from cooked some potatoes in the available community equipped kitchen

Stay in a cabin transposed from a shipping container in with its own porch and patio lanterns supplied with power and a fridge to keep your milk cold or beer depending on your tastes.

Always being asked from the hosts if anything else was needed to make our stay more comfortable. After our response, our gracious hosts would make the many trips from upstairs ?to downstairs , winding down the mountain 10 minutes away. You can see well lit up from the top. Downstairs termed is actually being the cafe with its internet service and a backpacker's dorm or double bed rooms.The ?Upstairs being nicknamed upstairs and ?heaven spot at the top of the mountain.
A quick drive in the car or van or scooter. Or nice ride on a mountain bike which Bo does many enjoyable trips a day. Don't forget to throw a scrap to the friendly camp dog named ......Diesel.

There's wind in the wind sock, blue skies, an anticipated crowd of spectators gathering. Waiting for my first flight I decided too interview a very friendly, likeable couple. Her being surprised apparently early thwarts A.M.
They were treated to a flight. Up they went one by one tandem style in the afternoon blue sky.

It's slower than I originally thought, but it's very relaxing and enjoyable. It's something you have to at least do once in you your life. Awesome! Said Grace from Tainan

You've probably never got a high like this before!!!
Get a different perspective of the island at a bird's eye view. It will get your heart pumping but at the same time relaxing. No regrets§

Said the gent, Ivan from Tainan.

I'm giving a full two thumbs up and I would surely recommend that you consider Stepping out from the concrete jungles of Taiwan's larger congested cities and leave your worries and hectic days of teaching or working and screaming children behind and set your mind free during your next adventure with Yuri and the guys.

Darryl Mackie

Price list

1. Cabin(over night) -------------- NT 1000
2. Camping------------------------- NT 200
3. Paragliding---------------------- NT 1200? ( 20minutes flight time)
4. Kitchen use--------------------- NT 500? ( NT 2000 refundable deposit)
5. Entrance fee-------------------- NT 100 ?(For day use)

Step Out In Taiwan
Paraglide, Mountain Bike, River Walk, Kayaking
210-9 Chung Shan Rd., Puli, Nantou County
0928681454
0917963013
Stepoutintaiwan@gmail.com

Other Sites

Green Bay, Jilung area, Taiwan's north coast

Green Bay launch

Probably the first hang gliding site in the country. A summer ridge soaring site, very close to Taipei so it is very busy with pilots and spectators alike. The number of spectators has led to an explosion in the number of tandem operators and there are up to 30 working the site on a fine Sunday. No licenses needed. Not recommended for training operations due to crowding and the fact that the landing area is not visible from launch. It is possible to ridge soar up and down the coast but landing options are limited.

Hualian, east coast

There is an inland site with some XC potential. Summer is the best season. They have an artificial training hill there which may be the best in Taiwan.

Puli, Nantou County

Inland site in a wide valley surrounded by mountains. Take off is short and unforgiving, and the landing area (which changes often) is small and surrounded by obstacles. The launch is Intermediate and the landings Advanced. This site sees strong thermal activity in it's best seasons, fall and winter. It has good XC potential but landings are small and far apart. The local club is currently somewhat unfriendly to foreign fliers and restricts instruction and tandem operations to local pilots. Licenses are required. It can get quite crowded on weekends in season. The area was hit hard in the 921 earthquake and the road up to launch has been under constant repair since. It's very prone to landslides in the rainy season. This site is totally unsuitable for training beginners.

Saijia, Pingdong County, south Taiwan

Probably the second hang gliding site opened in Taiwan and one of the most famous. Best season is winter, though it may be flyable year-round.

Saichia launch

Saijia is very popular with Japanese and Korean pilots who flock here in the winter months when it's too cold to fly at home. Saijia features a cliff launch, the largest landing area in Taiwan and is actually within a legal flight park set up under the national government. No civil or military aircraft are supposed to operate in the area without issuing a NOTAM and no power lines are allowed to be erected above ground. It can get quite busy on weekends and especially Lunar New Year. There are some tandem operators though they are not as prevalent as at other sites. This site is more suitable to training operations than most others but the cliff launch is still very daunting and requires special care and preparation.

Taidong, east coast

There are several sites in this area. The most popular is Kaotai at the south end of the Huadong Valley. It's very popular with tourists and tandem operators are flourishing there. Good XC potential though there are a lot of high voltage power lines around. Up on the side of the valley is the Taishan launch which is used in the Huadong Valley competition. It is possible to launch in winds north through east to south, but it's only really worth flying there when it's south.

Tucheng, Ilan County

Another a summer site with ridge soaring. The launch is quite short and there is tall bamboo immediately below the takeoff so special care is required. Intermediate launch not suitable for students.

Kaotai launch

There are several places to launch from the coastal mountains but the local club discourages this and at least one is within Taitung airport's TCA (Terminal Control Area). The Taidong club is run largely by tandem pilots so they prefer to keep all flying at Kaotai where it is visible, and they are somewhat intolerant of solo gliders when business is good and the sky is crowded.

Zhengwen Reservoir, Jiayi County

Launch is on a hillside overlooking a large reservoir with little to no shoreline and few places to land. Best season is fall and winter. Very limited XC potential due to lack of places to land beyond the official landing area. The local club is struggling to keep the site open since the pilot numbers are low and visitors are scarce, so the reception there is friendly. Not suitable for training operations due to restricted landing field. Best season is fall and winter.

Chunan,Hsiinchu County

Another inland thermal site, but on the cusp as regards to season. This site was opened around 2003 and so far seems to work better in the summer and fall. It has a short launch with a steep drop and trees underneath it so again it is not suitable for training operations. XC potential is limited due to the topography but some small local competitions have been run here.

Costs

Tandem flights

A flight on a tandem paraglider is by far the easiest and fastest way to get into the air. Typical price for a short tandem flight is NT$1,000. That may vary by a few hundred NT$ if business is particularly good or bad. Remember that you are putting your life into the hands of the pilot flying you so be aware of the risks involved before agreeing to anything. Some pilots are able to arrange insurance on the spot and that's a good sign they are taking your safety seriously. You should ask how long the pilot has been flying both solo and tandem since it takes a few years to build sufficient experience to fly a tandem glider safely. If there are no solo pilots flying at the site but the tandems are busy, you should ask yourself why. For example the conditions may be so light that the gliders cannot climb above launch height or stay in the air for more than a few minutes. You might want to opt to postpone until the conditions allow a flight of 10 or 20 minutes. If it seems very windy, gusty or the wind is blowing across the launch instead of straight up it, you might want to postpone unless you are very resistant to motion sickness. If the solo pilots are not flying you should be very wary. If the flight is going to take place at a coastal site it is easy tell if the wind is too strong by the presence of white caps on the water. Do exactly what your pilot tells you. You will have to help some at take-off since launching a tandem is a little like running a three-legged race. If he asks you to run at the edge of cliff as fast as possible then do so unless you're told to stop. Similarly, he needs you to be standing for landing and running when you touch down. Land and then run does not work as the pilot's momentum (he's behind you) will knock you down. Note that it probably is illegal to operate a tandem paraglider for hire or fare under CAA regulations. You would want to be wearing long pants and sleeves in case of a tumble. Wear sneakers as sandals will get lost and don't offer any protection.

Flight instruction

Prices range from NT$6,000 to NT$10,000 and should include all equipment use until you are qualified. Ask when the instructor last flew a paraglider. There are coaches out there who have been flying for just a few months, those who haven't flown in ten years, those who only have novice licenses, or none at all, and those who have never even flown a paraglider, yet they will take your money and yell encouraging things as you huck yourself off a cliff. There are more unlicensed 'instructors' out there than real ones, and there are foreign imposters as well as locals. It takes a minimum of two people to safely teach in the beginning high flight stages, one to help you launch and one to guide you through the landing approach. It is not acceptable to do this with only one instructor, or one and an untrained buddy who happens to be in the landing area. Ask to see the full training syllabus and be sure it includes theory classes on aerodynamics, weather, aviation law and emergency procedures.

Equipment

Due to an oversupply of vendors the equipment market is fiercely competitive and that has made Taiwan one of the cheapest places in the world to buy paragliding equipment. Shop carefully and bargain hard and you may get yourself discounts up to 50% off the market prices in the West. Some typical prices for entry level equipment:

• Novice level paraglider: NT$50,000~80,000
• Harness: NT$15,000~20,000
• Reserve parachute: NT$13,000~18,000
• Helmet: NT$5,000~8,000
• Boots: NT$6,000~9,000
• Radio transceiver: NT$3,000~8,000
• Variometer: NT$8,000~12,000

You could start out using a scooter, helmet, sneakers and gardening gloves to save a bit of money, and a vario isn't needed until you start soaring. Be aware that some vendors are carrying outdated or substandard stock. A responsible vendor should not sell you a paraglider without seeing that you have the ability to fly it, or are going to use it under the supervision of a qualified instructor.

Pictures