Soaring through the air with the greatest of ease, novice paragliders have experienced a view of Crowdy Head that can't be seen from the ground.
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Instructors from Laurieton based High Adventure Paragliding put six eager flyers through their paces from the south launch of the headland on Friday, June 12.
Regarded as one of Australia's best instructors, business owner David Wainwright said the site is one of a dozen on the Mid North Coast where paragliders practise techniques and learn the flying fundamentals.
"We come down to Crowdy Head when the conditions are suitable," David said.
With 10 to 15 knots needed to take to the sky, the crew aims to fly daily weather permitting.
"We go whenever the wind is right and the sun is out," David said.
WATCH: PARAGLIDERS IN ACTION OVER CROWDY HEAD
The business regularly runs a one week course for beginners as well as other training options and refresher sessions for those needing to sharpen their skills.
The Mid North Coast is arguably one of the best paragliding locations in the country.
Khatabundah Mountain, near Wingham, is a popular spot to jump off.
"It depends if we get sou-easterly to nor-easterly winds or thermals," David explained.
"With the thermals, we catch the hot air bubbles and fly up to the clouds."
Given the right conditions and a downwind thermal, paragliders have made their way past North Brother Mountain and Laurieton and flown over Taree, Wingham and Mount George.
So why would you willingly jump off a cliff with a flying apparatus strapped to your back, the more conservative folk may ask. Put simply, it's very addictive.
"You see the world from a new perspective and go to places that very few people have experienced before," David said.
David first took up paragliding in 2008 and launched the business in 2012.
"It started getting really addictive, I was living in Kempsey at the time and spent time chasing the winds," he said.
He has many claims to fame in the paramotoring field. These include bronze medals at the 2018 Australian Paramotor Championship and 2018 FAI World Paramotoring Championships, seventh place at the 2017 European Paramotoring Championship and the first in the 2016 Australian Paramotoring Championship.
