Kåseberga
Total opposite of parachuting
The feeling is sensational each time you leave the ground and soar with the wind high above the earth. Paragliding is complete freedom. The equipment weighs less than 15 kilograms, is packed in a backpack and is ready to go within five minutes. Paragliding is the complete opposite of parachuting. The paraglider tries to stay in the air as long as possible, while a parachutist prefer to freefall as fast as humanly possible. Nonetheless, they have the same origins.
It was in the French area of Chamonix that parachutists successfully launched themselves from a mountain slope with a steerable parachute in the 1970s. Soon, special canopies (wings) were developed. Their modern performance is exceptional, with a glide ratio of 1:11. This means that you glide eleven metres horizontally for every metre lost vertically. The world record in distance paragliding is 450 kilometres (USA) and the greatest altitude gain is about 4500 metres (South Africa).
Paragliding is about hunting the thermals – warmer air that rises through the surrounding colder air. If there are no upwinds, the canopy starts to descend towards the ground. Paragliders therefore like nice weather with sun and just the right wind speed (not too fast). The flight reaches about 30 km/h. Wind speed should therefore not exceed 8 m/s, which is about the equivalent speed. Paragliders are used to having to wait.
Kåseberga in southernmost Skåne is one of Sweden's most popular paragliding destinations. Here, the steep cliff coastline of the flatlands extends 40 metres over the sea, creating an upward hangwind.
Sky Adventures provides paragliding training in Kåseberga. To earn a certificate, you must be at least 15 years old, pass a student course and then pass a basic course to start in hang, with winch or from a rock face. For topographical reasons, the latter cannot be done in Kåseberga. The canopies are also divided into three classes and beginners may only fly class A. Other mandatory equipment is helmet, boots, harness, back protector and emergency chute. Kåseberga is also home to Ale's Stones, which was erected in about 600 A.D. and is Sweden's largest stone ship.
Follow E65 to Ystad. Continue on route nine east to turnoff southeast (8 km) and on Östra kustvägen to turnoff Ales väg (8 km) to the end of the road (1 km).
PANORAMIC ROOF
Volvo XC60
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With a simple press of a button, you can open the front section of the panoramic roof. Or you can angle up the rear section. When the sun is heating things up, an electric-powered sunblind can be extended to provide cooling shade. The glass is both laminated and tinted dark to increase safety and comfort while providing protection against UV radiation.
No 39 PARAGLIDING / KÅSEBERGA
GOOD TO KNOW
- Activity: Paragliding
- Location: Kåseberga, Sweden
- Season: April-September
- Degree of difficulty: Everyone is welcome.
- Other facts: Along the village street in Kåseberga, there are countless lovely, low houses with slate roof, transom windows and finely-painted double doors. The village is also home to a sea rescue museum in the old lifeboat station, where you get a glimpse into the work of Sjöräddningssällskapet (the Sea Rescue Society) in both historic and modern times.
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