WHERE ARE MY ‘L’ PLATES?

STORY  BY  DEBORAH TEEBOON

As a CPA who works long hours, about to take on a double Masters degree, have a fear of heights and have major ear problems going up and down mountains (yes planes are a nightmare) when my partner gave me a tandem paraglide, with the aim of helping me to decide whether I wanted to get my Paramotor pilot certification, I was skeptical and concluded that my partner  needed to get back on the ground for a reality check.  What sort of present was that?

You can do it, I was told, ah yes but do I want to, I replied.  I had met Andrew and some of his team previously and was confident if they couldn’t convince me to get my feet off the ground, no one could. Well the weekend arrived and after a day and a half of learning basic ground handling skills, Andrew took me for my tandem. 

Wow!  Wow!  Wow!  Wow!  Everyone who was there on the day kept saying “that’s nothing, wait until you are up there by yourself, it gets even better”. 

That was it. Sign me up. 

After some juggling of work and family commitments, I arrived for my course.  Ten days later,  after losing quite a few days due to windy and or rainy weather, another couple of days due to self injury (well fitting ankle boots are a must) and half a tube of Dencorum later, I can proudly say that I have done a couple of ‘sled’ rides, one unplanned tree landing and one very average 1min 20sec ‘flight’. 

Doesn’t sound a lot to some but to me this was HUGE!!!  

Am I hooked? definitely. Will I finish the course, without question.  Would I recommend it to other people

Yes! Yes! Yes!  Stay tuned because I will be up in the air before you know it as I definitely plan to celebrate my 50th birthday soaring.

Special thanks goes to Andrew and Jan for their one on one tuition, Glen for his inspirational speeches (definitely needed them when I was feeling my age), my fellow classmate Andy who at 24 was up and flying before I even thought of leaving the ground yet continued to encourage me to get up in the air with him, my husband for suggesting the course and looking after me throughout it just so I could complete as much as possible in the time frame we had, my daughter and her partner for their inspirational messages from Rockhampton and my sons who although old enough to look after themselves endured their Grandmother’s presence to give me peace of mind while away on course.

See you in the air
Deborah Teeboon