1978 Paragliding THEN and NOW 

45 years later I'd like to say thank you to those crazy pioneers from the bottom of my heart for laying the foundation for a sport that nowadays is by far the very best that I can imagine and that I enjoy doing so much❤ I couldn't imagine doing that sport with the gliders they had in 1978 but without those people that still went for it our sport wouldn't be what it is today.

I ran/jumped down rolling hills , down valleys, rocks, thorns and cactus everywhere, under a discarded early square canopy. Understood joy and pain, flight, lift aspect ratio, wind weather rain, desperation, hope and despair, cameraderie and selfish fools, deep lasting friendships too. 70's and 80's a drug like no other. I was young and daring, beautiful and stupid. In the later days, wild confidence turned some take offs into quasi base jumps. But what a time we had on those hills ! Years later did aff and after regular jumps from aircraft, But I miss those wild days more. I am now old but regret non of this.

Thanks a Million to all those heroic pioniers, without whom we wouldn't be able to enjoy this amazing sport today.

No one will ever be as cool as that bearded french dude repeatedly trying to send it on a 1970s skydiving wing.

"Speedglider then and now"

More like Speedflyers, paragliders usually aren't as agile as the gilders shown in the video :)

So much fun i learnt in 89,great times.still doing it everyone so serious now

imagine life before reverse launches with those boats above their heads! So great to see people back innovating and setting the path for us now, you all my new heros :)

"Surrounded by professionals, it can't be dangerous" 🤣🤣🤣 (Note, I'm a professional tandem pilot in Switzerland)

Great quote; "You've got to be dumb enough to want to do this, but smart enough to get back to the ground safely."

- is it dangerous? - no *fails launch couple of times* *lands almost breaking legs up*

So nice to see how it all started :) Much respect

Also, 'is it a safe sport'? Then proceeds to land on his face ten times hahaha

Gerard Bosson (1943 -- 2017) is sadly forgotten paragliding pioneer.

You had to be absolutley nuts to try it out back then ... now people in their 70s are flying ... not speed flying but still paragliding :D amazing progress.

WOW they drop like stones after takeoff! I am so grateful for all the advancements in designs and materials since then. I love my wing I couldn't even imagine flying one of those and I can't imagine where we'll be in another 45 years.

What's the location of where the group of speedflyers fly above a bike park? Apls of course but do you know the city or which video it is from? :)

Man we have come a long way!!

Omg how did they live after that lmao!! The paragliders have evolved so much.

Wow, grew up under the Rogallo wing.

👍👍👍

Le Dues Alpes?

Paragliding only starts at ~5:04 but still nice. Misleading title, though, which makes paragliding look like an adrenaline sport (aka proximity speedflying)...

What's the song's name

Archery then and now. Shows clips of carbine weapons