KOTA KINABALU (Bernama) – Paragliding is definitely not for the faint-hearted but it is a truly rewarding experience for those who are game to try out this extreme sport activity.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the scenic Bukit Kokol in Manggatal – which is a 40-minute drive from the state capital – used to be a paragliding haven for foreign and local adventure sports lovers.
This writer recently had the chance to go on a tandem paragliding flight in that area with experienced paragliding pilot Major (R) Haznain Ngamil, 51, in tow. Having done tandem paragliding flights twice previously and enjoyed the exhilarating experience, the writer eagerly looked forward to gliding once again through the air more than 800 metres above sea level.
(A tandem paraglider is designed to carry two people – the passenger and the pilot. The passenger is securely strapped into a flying harness that is positioned in front of the pilot.)
They arrived at the Bukit Kokol launch spot, located about 2,650 feet (807.7 metres) above sea level, at about 9.45 am but had to wait nearly an hour before taking off as it was foggy and the wind was not blowing in the correct direction.
“We’ll have to wait until the wind starts blowing from the front,” said Haznain, who has served as a paragliding instructor for over 10 years.
They could make out the wind direction from the Sabah and Malaysia flags flying on the majestic Mount Kinabalu in the background but other gadgets have also been installed at the Bukit Kokol take-off site to indicate the direction of the wind.
FLIGHT EXPERIENCE
After waiting for almost an hour, the fog became thinner as the sun rose higher. To ensure that the weather conditions were safe for paragliding, Haznain used a walkie-talkie to communicate with his wife Asmah Ahmad, 42, who is also a tandem paragliding pilot and helps to monitor the weather in that area.
Before taking off, Haznain checked the paragliding equipment, which weighs about five kilogrammes, to make sure it is complete and ready for use. The writer was given a helmet to wear and strapped into a harness that was attached to the glider (or wing).
Before taking off, Haznain reminded the writer not to jump, instead, all she had to do was run towards the edge of the cliff about five metres away.
“Walk a bit to the front… run… run… run,” he shouted. By then, the writer was already gliding in the air. For a moment, nothing was visible below as a thin layer of fog was still present. Eventually, it cleared up, revealing splendid vistas of forested areas, hills, rooftops of village dwellings and roads.
Also visible was the expansive South China Sea and even outlines of Menara Kinabalu and 1Sulaman in distant Kota Kinabalu.
After gliding for 15 minutes, it was time to land, with the landing spot located in the vicinity of Kampung Pulutan in the foothills of Bukit Kokol.
KG LOHAN, FIRST PARAGLIDING SITE
Haznain, who is the managing director of Borneo Paragliders which he founded in 2012 to offer paragliding flight services, took up the extreme sport as a hobby at the Negeri Sembilan Aviation Sports Club in 2007.
“I treated paragliding as a hobby at first but later decided to turn it into a business,” he said.
In 2008, he scouted for suitable locations to carry out paragliding activities in Sabah, where he had been living since 1995.
“The first place I came across was Kampung Lohan in Ranau, then I found two more places in Bukit Kokol (in 2010) and Kota Belud (2019),” said the retired army major who hails from Banting, Selangor.
Haznain, who is also vice-president of the Kinabalu Paragliding Club, said permission must be sought from the Civil Aviation Department and other relevant authorities before an area is turned into a launch spot for paragliding flights.
His company Borneo Paragliders, which started operating with just one set of paragliding equipment costing RM13,000, now has 15 pilots, including his wife – who is the only female tandem paragliding pilot in Sabah – and 30 other staff.
Haznain, who coached the Malaysian paragliding team that participated in the 2011 SEA Games, also runs a centre that offers courses for paragliding enthusiasts who wish to become a pilot or instructor.
“It’s a two-week course for which we charge about RM5,000. After completing the course, one can go on a solo paragliding flight,” he added.
Sources: BERNAMA