Parapenting at Lake Annecy for my 60th Birthday!

For my 60^th birthday my wife bought me a framed photo of someone parapenting and said that if I wanted to do it when we went on holiday to Lake Annecy later in the summer she would pay!

After checking my life & travel insurance and sanity I said yes. Then my wife and grandson said they were going to do it as well, all was set.

We had been recommended to go and see FBI Parapenting who were really helpful and so easy going. All the time we were there people were flying into the landing field it was a magnificent sight and introduction to this sport, if you weren’t careful, you risked cricking your neck trying to take it all in.

The drive up the mountain was eventful but when we arrived the view from the top was breath taking. We all looked at the lake down below and just said wow! A group photo with their GoPro camera and we got ready.

Harnesses on, and a brief, simple lesson on how to take-off and we were ready. I went first being the heaviest, oldest, keenest – take your pick. The feeling was unbelievable, soaring on the thermals like an eagle, with just the wind blowing past, we climbed up to 2000m and saw Mont Blanc in the distance. It was absolutely marvellous, nothing I have ever done before prepares you for the experience and I just couldn’t stop grinning, it was amazing.

After about 20 minutes Oliver asked if I wanted to do some stunts on the way back to the landing field, of course I said yes, what happened next was the best personal roller coaster ride ever. Starting with some bunny hops where you went weightless on the ends of the line, we then did really tight spirals dropping several hundred metres each time, my daughter on the ground said it looked like we were freefalling, it certainly felt like it.

The landing field arrived gently into view and we just stood up and stopped it was effortless. The grin on my face took ages to go it was a wonderful birthday present, one I will never forget.

Definitely one for everyone’s bucket list!

Lake Annecy

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alancruden

Ex-AA patrol, salesman for Aon, Account Manager for HomeServe, Administrator/Scrum Manager for Allfiled and as of April this year semi-retired. I am now Chairman of the trustees of Marwood Community Hall Charity, a Cider Maker, a Dog Walker, a Rock Climber and always up for a challenge.

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• Parapenting at Lake Annecy for my 60th Birthday! - October 1, 2014