Tags: Extreme Sports
By Nikka Garriga
ANGELES CITY, PAMPANGA– Along with representatives from Malaysia, Spain and Australia, Filipino paramotorist Jerson Pinongcos made his own mark during last week’s Hot Air Balloon Festival.
In fact, during the opening ceremonies at Air Force City, he was carrying the Philippine flag during his descent while the national anthem was being played.
Powered paragliding is no different from the typical paraglide activity except for a paramotor suited at the pilot’s back.
Originally from Cotabato, Jerson and his cousin Neil stumbled upon the activity when they met Anthony de los Reyes while researching for local training schools a year ago.
De los Reyes owns the Philippine Paramotoring School and is said to be the first and so far the only accredited paramotoring instructor in the country.
“Sir Anthony flew in to General Santos (city) to train us on the ways and means of paramotoring until we eventually flew for the first time in Antique,” Jason recalls.
His smooth glide during the exhibitions belie the fact that he had no formal background on aviation save only for his passion for the craft.
Unlike paragliding, he says paramotoring involves a series of procedures starting with the set up of the wing. This is followed by ground handling and towing where the pilot gets airlifted a few feet above the ground to test the wind condition.
Powered paragliders usually fly at under 500 feet above ground level at 25 to 70 kilometers per hour. Its slow forward speed makes a paramotor unable to take flight in high wind or turbulent conditions.
Pilots also use a special net as protection from any debris that the engine might pick up while airborne.
Jason belongs to a group of paramotorists that conducts training for those interested to learn, with guidance and supervision from De los Reyes.
“There is freedom of flying here because you can fly in low or high altitudes almost anywhere so long as you have your engine with you,” he says.
Despite the risks that come with the activity, Jason hopes to encourage more Filipinos to experience the same high daredevils like him derive from paramotoring.
“Of course, it’s not always easy at first and you get to encounter some frustrating challenges along the way. But once you get yourself high above the ground, it really becomes all worth it.”
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