Strong Lines, Safe Flight: Why You Don’t Need to Lose Weight Before Paragliding
Strong Lines, Safe Flight: Why You Don’t Need to Lose Weight Before Paragliding A paraglider has about 25–30 lines. They may look thin, but they are made from ultra-strong, military-grade materials. Each main line can withstand around 200–400 kg, and the entire line system can handle about 2,000–3,000 kg in total. Meanwhile, the combined weight of the passenger and pilot is typically only about 140–200 kg — meaning the lines are 10–15 times stronger than the actual load. In the photo is a Vietnamese national wrestling champion just after takeoff at Sapa Paragliding. So you don’t need to lose weight before flying — even if you’ve just finished four big bowls of pho for breakfast, you can still confidently soar in the sky!