Adventure

Fly with the greatest of ease

Fly like a bird... haven’t we all wanted to do so at least once in our lives? Now you can, and it’s so easy! Québec is bursting will all kinds of marvellous sights for you to take in from high in the sky.

First, let’s give credit where credit is due. Skydiving, the reigning discipline in aerial acrobatics, is practised by an incredible number of experts throughout Québec. Tandem or solo, from 4,000 or 10,000 feet, whether you want to learn about the sport or become a certified skydiver, there are many options. Just a word of warning to all thrill-seekers with no time to lose: prepare yourself for a fall lasting mere seconds... at 200 km/h (125 mph)!

Gliding into the breeze

Paragliding is another aerial activity that’s fashionable in Québec. And while it may resemble a parachute, a paraglider floats in the sky and surfs on rising air currents to soar upwards! It’s actually very easy to handle once you’ve acquired all the necessary techniques. If you’re a greenhorn but don’t feel like taking lessons, don’t despair! Many places offer tandem flights with a pilot instructor sitting behind you. And you’ve nothing to fear: the wing used is larger and designed to easily support the weight of two people. So you’re seated comfortably and completely free to admire the magnificent panoramas below you.

The best spot for enjoying this kind of experience is without a doubt Libre comme l’air, a flying school in Baie-Saint-Paul, in Charlevoix. For a reasonable price, you can sign up for a "journée découverte" (discovery day), during which you’ll learn the basics of paragliding on the ground, and then put your new skills to the test on the school’s practice slope. Other suggestion: AeroStyle airsports, in Beaupré, near Québec City. At these schools you can receive complete training or take an upgrading course followed by a flight over the famous Tremblant or Sainte-Anne mountains, respectively. By the way, did you know that Mont Sainte-Anne’s 2,000-foot vertical drop is not only the highest in the province, it’s also the only site where you can paraglide year-round?

Let’s play superhero

Last, but not least, how about giving hang-gliding a whirl- Imagine... you’re stretched out beneath a triangular kite, hands grasping the bar... The flight is very stable unless, of course, you decide to show off with a few acrobatic moves and piloting one requires a minimum of strength and training. What’s more, with top speeds exceeding 100 km/h (60 mph), it’s the best way to pretend you’re Superman! If your interest has been piqued, contact Distance Vol libre, the oldest and most reputed flying school in Eastern Canada. Just 45 minutes from Montréal, you’ll enjoy excellent service and find everything you need in terms of training, equipment sales and repair in order to try your hand at hang-gliding... or even paramotoring! Are you beginning to feel light as air?

Guillaume Rivard
2008-04-11