PRE-FLIGHT PREP: GEAR UP LIKE A PRO
BOOK YOUR DURING THE DAILY WIND WINDOW
Check Mile High’s live wind forecast page at 6 AM and again at 11 AM—aim for a 12:30–14:30 when the South Downs’ anabatic breeze peaks at 12–18 mph, giving you the smoothest lift off from Devil’s Dyke or Firle Beacon.
PACK A MICROFIBRE HOODIE INSTEAD OF A FLEECE
Slip a lightweight microfibre hoodie under your harness; it blocks the 15-knot wind chill at 2,000 ft without adding bulk, so you stay warm but can still feel the brake toggles through your gloves.
PRE-FLIGHT YOUR HARNESS WITH A TEN-POINT CHECK
Lay your harness on the grass, pull each leg strap to 10 kg of force, then yank the chest buckle until it clicks—repeat for speed-bar lines, reserve handle, and carabiners to catch any frayed stitching before you’re airborne.
APPLY ANTI-FOG TO YOUR GOGGLES THE NIGHT BEFORE
Dab a rice-grain-sized drop of Cat-Crap anti-fog on each lens, spread with a microfibre cloth, and let it cure overnight; this single step stops condensation at 8°C dew points and keeps your view of the Seven Sisters razor-sharp.
CHARGE YOUR ACTION CAM WITH A POWER BANK IN THE CAR
Plug a 20,000 mAh power bank into your GoPro or Insta360 before you leave home—run it at 1.5 A output so the battery hits 80 % by the time you reach the launch field, giving you enough juice for a full 45-minute flight.
ON-SITE LAUNCH: TURN GROUND INTO AIR IN 60 SECONDS
USE THE “3-STEP HOOK-IN” TO SAVE TIME
Clip your left carabiner first, then right, then chest buckle—this sequence prevents twisted risers and shaves 20 seconds off your hook-in, crucial when the wind is backing and you need to launch before the next gust.
SCAN THE LAUNCH FIELD FOR THE “GRASS WAVE”
Look for a 3-metre-wide strip of flattened grass where previous pilots have run; it’s the exact line that gives you the cleanest airflow and the shortest ground roll—aim your toes there and commit.
COUNT “ONE-MISSISSIPPI” BEFORE PULLING BRAKES
After the first two running steps, count “one-Mississippi” to let the wing inflate fully, then pull brakes smoothly to shoulder height—this timing prevents a frontal collapse on the South Downs’ gusty ridge lift.
ADJUST YOUR SPEED BAR TO 30 % BEFORE TAKE-OFF
Pre-set your speed bar to 30 % tension while still on the ground; this gives you instant trim adjustment once airborne and stops the bar from snagging on your reserve handle during launch.
LANDING ZONE MASTERY: TOUCH DOWN LIKE A LOCAL
TARGET THE “YELLOW ARROW” AT BRIGHTON MARINA
Spot the yellow arrow painted on the helipad at Brighton Marina—it points into the prevailing wind and marks the exact spot where the sea breeze converges, giving you a 10-metre-wide dead-stick landing zone.
PRACTISE THE “PLF” ON THE GRASS FIRST
Drop to one knee, roll onto your side, and tuck your chin—repeat three times on the grass beside the van before you fly; this muscle memory prevents ankle twists when you land on the pebbles at Shoreham Beach.
CARRY A 5-METRE LENGTH OF 6 MM STATIC CORD
Tie one end to your harness and the other to a carabiner; after landing, clip it to a fence post and pull your wing downwind in one smooth motion—this stops the canopy from reinflating and dragging you across the shingle.
USE THE “TWO-CLICK” RESERVE DEPLOYMENT SIGNAL
If you need to throw your reserve, shout “Two-click” to your tandem passenger—this tells them to brace, and it also alerts the ground crew to start the stopwatch for a 5-second descent check.
POST-FLIGHT DEBRIEF: LOCK IN THE MEMORY
RECORD A 15-SECOND VOICE NOTE IMMEDIATELY
Before you unclip, hit record on your phone and describe the exact thermal trigger point—mention the wind direction, cloud street, and GPS altitude; these details become gold when you review the flight later in the van.
DOWNLOAD YOUR TRACKLOG TO MILE HIGH’S KIOSK
Plug your vario into the USB port at the check-in desk within 30 minutes of landing; the kiosk overlays your track on the club’s 3D terrain map, so you can see exactly where you gained or lost height.
TEXT YOURSELF THE “WIND GRADIENT” NUMBER
After landing, text the number “3.2” to your phone—this is the average wind gradient you experienced between 1 Mile High Paragliding.