Reverse Connection to a Paraglider

Harness Connection Checks / Launch Set Up

This article describes the set up procedus and safety checks required for a reverse or turn transition launch. The system begins with connection of the risers to the harness and assumes that a complete wing pre-flight has already been done. This checks are done at the beginning of every paragliding flight you make.

Built into this system is that almost all steps are done with left as the direction. That is, you turn your left shoulder to the wind, after conecting to the glider – the left riser should be on top, roll the risers to the left, … etc. For a pilot that wants to turn to the right, all steps could be reversed with all steps to the right.

Connect to the Paraglider
Begin by connecting the risers to the harness. After completing a thorough preflight of the wing, line up the risers with the A lines side by side, making sure there are no twists in the risers. (Photo A)

Photo A

Next, rotate the risers at the bottom connection loop 180 degrees to the left. (Photo B)

Photo B

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The risers can now be connected to the karabiners in this position. The karabinerslay out horizontally. Keep the risers oriented the same as they were (with the 180 degree twist) as you connect each respective side. (Photo C)

Photo C

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Once you have finished connecting the karabiners, you will connect the speed system. Align your risers so that they are all in parallel with the A riser untwisted and facing the ground. Take the connector from the A riser to the outside and connect the speed system line to this. Make sure that the speed system line has a clear path from the harness pulley to the connection point. It should not wrap around anything on the way from the pulley to the connector. (Photo D)

Photo D

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HHRB
Now that you are properly connected, you can begin your Harness Preflight aka connection preflight. The steps are broken down into the pneumonic Helmet, Harness, and Risers & Brakes. I recommend verbally stating each phase of the following checks as you do them. It gets you in the habit of the full checks and helps build the system that promotes safety not only to you, but to those around you as well.

Helmet
The Helmet check is to see if your helmet is on and secured. To test this, simply pull on your helmet’s chin strap. I use the chin strap because this ensures that not only is the helmet on, but the chin strap is secure. If you just tap the helmet, you could take off with your chin strap unsecured.

Harness
The Harness check involves a list of components.

Leg Straps – Check that leg straps are connected and secure

Waist Belt – Check that it is secured

Karabiners – Verify gates are closed and locked

Speed System – Verify that it is connected, routed right and ready for use

Reserve – Reach with hand to verify if reserve handle is secured to harness and has not become dislodged.

Risers
The Riser check is done to ensure that the risers have been correctly routed. The method to check the riser routing, I call the Half Turn Check. This check ensures that the risers will be routed correctly after the turn from facing the wing to facing forward.

Begin the Half Turn Check by at the carabiner and, with each hand, group the risers in parallel up to the brake handle. The brake handle should be on top. The thumb should be just below the brake. With the risers grouped this way, do a 1/2 turn to the left, passing the right hand under the left and lifting both hands to simulate the turn to forward. I call this check a “Half Turn Check”.

Hand Setup for the Half Turn Check

Thumbs below brakes, risers carefully aligned …

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Turning to check the Risers

Rotate to left, pasing right hand under left

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A Full Half Turn check, final position

Notice that thumbs are rotated to bottom/back of risers

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A Variation of the Half Turn check is pictured here.

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In this position, look at the speed system lines and check if they are routed correctly for the turn transition. Check that the front of the risers will remain the front as you do your turn transition to the left.

Brakes
The final step is to separate the brakes from the risers. After completing the half turn check, keep the risers in your hands as you had them in preparation for the half turn check. From this position, you can just release the risers and grab each brake and punch both hands to unsnap the brakes. During flight, following the turn, the brakes will be in your hands. Ensuring that they lines go straight to the pulley and do not wrap around anything is critical.

Photo F

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Photo G

After all Checks
After separating the brakes you just need to arrange the risers for the correct A risers to be in each hand. To do this, you will cross the left riser set over the right and rotate it to the right so that the A riser is on top.

Top Riser goes to the Right hand – Keep the brakes in your hands and grab this A (the one connected to your left hip and now crossing to the right) riser with your right hand. Before you place each A Riser, ensure that it’s lines are on top as they go to the wing.

Bottom Riser goes to the Left hand – With the brake in the hand, reach around and below the top set to the bottom riser set. Find and place the other A riser into your left hand and, again, make sure that it is arranged to have the A lines on top as they progress to the wing.

Photo L

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This completes the connection and harness preflight. You are now ready to lift the wing, kite and or launch.

It is noteworthy to say that the entire harness connection checks must be done after putting the harness on and connecting to the glider. When on the training hill, prior to each flight (as long as you have not gotten out of the harness or anything similar), you should do the Half Turn Check and Brake setup for every flight. It would not harm you to repeat the entire set of checks, but should not be necessary unless you have changed or disconnected any part of your gear. To further ensure your safety, never undo buckles or such unless you are going to fully exit the harness.

If you have not been out for a paragliding lesson yet, get as familiar as possible with this system. Don’t worry about memorizing it, it takes some repetition to get there. For those that have been out, use this article to refresh the technique sequence and steps with the goal of better memorization of the checks and quicker familiarity with the procedure as a whole. Of all the tasks I teach, this system is one of the hardest for most people. That alone is a main reason I wrote this article.