Paragliding Adventure in Westland New Zealand | 2 DAY Out and Return
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- 3 mates going on a paragliding adventure in new terrain in the Westland South Island New Zealand. Fox Glacier ~ 150km to Arthurs Pass and (nearly) back the next day.
Be aware of the Mount Cook mandatory broadcast zone near Fox Glacier and Franz Joseph.
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keep going with these vids, they’re the first i’ve seen like this. i’ll support you you’re whole journey
Thank you! i just posted another one!
Nice little excursion! For those of us that don't know the local area well, it would be helpful to include an overview map showing your route. 🇨🇦♿
Hey awesome, thanks for the feedback! I have done maps in the past, not sure why I didn't with this one in the end to be honest!
❤
🙌
Fly hard! Wow Ben this flight in tiger county is amazingly bold. Incredible how relaxed you are. Fantastic
Thanks mate! It’s truely an awesome place to fly!
Well done chaps.
Pete Finnegan, Deane Landreth and myself as the Gopher chopper arranger spent some time in Franz around 1996 setting up a heli-paraglding business.
We were using an irregular concession landing license. All was well until Air Safaris made a complaint to DOC.
DOC then wanted us to obtain a regular landing concession license. We made the application and waited and waited for the Conservation Board to make a decision. Vested interests on the Board led to them to declining the concession license. We were left with a big bill to pay for nothing.
Pete and Deane also flew from Mt Fox. Pete did a bit around the Whataroa area.
It was recognized Long ago that a the flight you just accomplished, was possible. Just that circumstances conspired against both Pete and Deane.
Again, well done.
Amazing! That’s awesome to get some history!!
Thankyou.
The potential might be something you would like to investigate further going into the future.
The wind does go round to the North after a day or two of fine weather. That might lead to an even longer flight from North to South.
Happy flying.
@@robinmccarthy9435 interesting! The potential is huge, the ridgeline is pretty straight and keeps going. I think this is probably the easiest place in New Zealand for 200km+ out and return. I think it's probably easier to start in the N and head south first then finish by heading back N again. I also think 300km open distance could be on here too, you'd have to go all the way to Murchison though.
There's no corruption in NZ...we just look after our mates.
I just discovered your channel and it is everything I ever wanted from a paragliding video/channel. Very well done. You nailed it down to the right formula and it gets me excited for my 2024 flying season! Keep it going!
Thanks mate! I'm a bit slow to reply to this one, did you have a good season!?
It's like you have Earth Repelling magnets in your back protection, with all those low saves!
I LOVE Your content and adventures!
haha!! Thanks mate!
😮 Simply beautiful and amazing. Jealous on how high you keep your altitude through your whole flight! You make it look effortless
Thanks mate! It was from fear of landing in a river bed 😂
Amazing. Hope to see more videos!
Thank you! You will! It's been a while since I posted here so i apologize for that 😅 but fear not, more is coming from all the trips I did over the northern summer. Pakistan dropping any day now
Ben, you’re a flying machine. Thanks for showing us what’s possible in NZ. West coast flying takes huge kiwis!
Nice one Ben, looked like an awesome area for flying!
Cheers mate! It really is!
Hope to hear from you again on here soon, Benjamin! Love your videos - my wife and I have been inspired to get our paragliding training, licenses and gear in 2025. Thank you!
Oh that's awesome! I love hearing that! Where are you learning?
@BenjaminKellett Andalusia, southern Spain. We're fortunate to live in the region, and there appear to be a couple of good options for courses. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
Incredible.
Thanks!
Amazing hobby
It is! Keen?
Just discovered your channel and I love it! My brother-in-law, sadly passed, used to be a bit of a 'daredevil' and very amateur paraglider and he would have loved to do something like the stuff you do in the mountains. Really looking forward to watching more of your stuff! 👍
Thank you very much! Sorry for you loss. I'll be posting again here now so more is coming!
Thanks!
Hey thank you so much for your support!! I really appreciate it!! 🙌🙌
Thanks for all the great content! It was great meeting you yesterday and glad to hear the landing was safe.
Love these longform videos. Thanks for sharing
No problem! Thanks for watching!
You are one of the few to successfully capture the essence of paragliding. The epic views, the excitement and the aerial chess game. I love how well you show the decision making on your videos, it almost makes it seem possible for us mere mortals!
You are so inspiring 🤩
Ahh thanks mate!
Just started flying myself earlier this year. I love watching your videos and the commentary is great. Please keep doing what you’re doing.
That's awesome! I will, thanks for watching! 🙏
Going where no-one has gone before... the ultimate adventure dream!
Beautifull !!!
My favorite kind of mission! 😎
Unreal !
🙏
Pretty awesome!
Thanks mate!
So sick my bro 👌🔥🍻
Thanks mate! 🍻
Great video thanks
You're welcome!
Epic! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the BEST paragliding content on the internet. Your flying, the locations and the videos are amazing and inspiring. I simply can’t understand why pilots aren’t rushing into NZ from the world over? A bit more of this kinda stuff and maybe they will! Great stuff Ben and greatly appreciated for your sharing of it.
Ahh thanks mate, you’re too kind! Very much appreciate it 🙏
So beautiful ey❤
Its such a cool spot! Have you been to the west coast of NZ?
Awesome watching your videos, I’ve never flown the South Island it looks amazing
Thanks mate! You should come down!! It’s an awesome place to fly!! 😎
incredible flying skills
Cheers mate!
insane new camping hobby
Best way to get in the back country I reckon 😎
Awesome ! Greeting from Réunion Island ! Also known for paragliding ;)
Wow what a beautiful place to live!! What's the best time of year to visit for flying?
Awesomeness
Thanks !!
So awesome to watch!
Thank you!
Pleasure to watch as always!
Thank you!!
Fantastic mate!
Thanks!! 😁
well done epic adventure
Thank you! I appreciate it!
Finally subscribed
Thank you!! I really appreciate the support! 🙏
Awesome flying!
Thanks!!
Amazing stuff, can't believe the spectacular views, and what beautiful country!
Thank you! What an amazing place!
Nice!
Thanks mate!
Amazing adventure!
Thank you! I really love flying the west coast, we went back again this season. Have you been before?
Great flight and beautiful images
What a view man ! Can’t wait to start paragliding 🤟
Thanks!! Yeah you should!!
Excellent video as usual
Thank you 🙌
Your commentary is so educational. Thank you! Love the hyperlapses too!
Thank you! I appreciate it! Is there something you'd want to hear more about that I didn't cover?
Brining the sickness... as per usual. Thank you.
😎🙌
Ditch the line catching, helmet mounted, Ego-cam or expect one day you wish you did!
Also good to know you can fly in clouds without a transponder
I’ve flown around 1500 hours with a helmet camera and it has never even been close to being an issue. If you’re in a situation that your head is passing through the lines the issue isn’t the camera it’s your complete lack of glider control that is the danger.
Obviously (as you clearly know) you can’t fly inside clouds on a paraglider or without a transponder and I don’t. You must maintain cloud distance rules as any other VFR aircraft, in New Zealand below 1000 ft AGL you have to be clear of the cloud and insight of the surface.
Amazing
Thanks!
beautiful views
Thank you! It’s a special place
You're livin' the dream you lucky!
😁
Great stuff!
Thanks mate !
Lovely! Thanks for sharing 😊
My pleasure! Thanks for watching!
king of the low saves !!
😁🙏
Epic Ben! Awesome and inspirational.
Cheers mate!!
Amazing Ben - we don’t fly but love watching your adventures! 👍🏼
That's great! Thanks for watching!
Dude! That’s such a good flight and even better video!! Was watching at work with a power-pilot workmate who was thoroughly interested too.
If you ever need a ground support person, let me know, or if you want to jump in the other seat in a glider, happy to take you up
wow thats awesome thanks mate!
awesome mate
🙏
Really loved your video. It’s such a cool idea to paraglide long distance, never heard of it before I knew your channel
Thank you!! Yeah it's a great sport! Do you think it's something you could do yourself? or nah? 😅
Love your edits , keep them coming 😎🙏🏻
Thank you very much! I will, the next one is coming any day now!
Fantastic video as per usual Ben 👏
Thank you very much!! 😁
Stressful flying 😮
It was at times eh, another 1'000ft would make all the difference! You'll have to come with next time show us the way 😎
AMAZING!!!! Would love to fly New Zeland!
Thanks mate! Yeah you should!!
I am really glad for the full video again. So much better than the shorts.... Thank you
Thanks mate, yeah the shorts are so much easier to make though 🤪😂
Epic stuff. As a pilot from South Africa this is definitely putting NZ on my bucket list
Epic video Ben. Loved the low saves and experienced the emotions that I have felt many times myself. The NZ part of me keeps calling me back to NZ and I would love to fly this route myself. Great video mate.
Thanks mate! Sorry for slow reply, you should definitely come back for a fly! Its an amazing place for it! Where do you live normally??
Proper adventure!! Nice job!
Thanks mate!!
great flights, looked like some committing decisions there, and awesome editing. nice one.
Thanks mate!! Yeah was step by step at times 😬
So rad
Cheers mate! 🙏
Always a pleasure watching your XCs. Thanks for sharing + keep them coming!
Cheers mate! I will, been a bit inactive on here of late but I'm bac posting again now. New video online today, let me know what you think!
@ yesss my guy. Looking forward to it! Been seeing you IG updates and hoping you’d be cooking up a vid. Let’s go 🔥🍿
Awesome edit and epic adventure. had the pleasure of sharing a 200+ flight with you out of Fiesch last spring - keep them coming!
Oh cool! Yeah that was an incredible day! Would love to do that one again, I’ll be back in Switzerland in summer 😎
So amazing!!!!
Cheers mate!
Such a sweet journey to watcn along with. Thank you!
well done guys, beautiful
amazing flight!!
Cheers mate!
Epic! What amazing views and flying!
Thanks!
Yes! once again Ben, fantastic video, flying, commentary and entertainment! Legend!
Thanks mate!!
You are the best and thanks for taking us with you all the time, best paragliding channel out there! Cheers mate!
Ahh thanks mate! Super kind!!
Inspirational! Thank you for sharing
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Wow! Great job boys!! Best pg channel out there. Got to love the soft landings after a long flight. Great low saves, you guys got balls✌️🇨🇦
Thanks mate!! Appreciate it!
Keep the videos coming! 👏🙌👏
Will do!! Thanks mate!
Another stunning video.
Cheers mate!
Wooohooo!! Ballsy flight! Wow! Epic video and editing. Perfect editing for other pilots, sort of showing in real-time how the paraglider's mind works. Well done
Thanks mate! Appreciate it! 🙏
Absolutely wonderful Ben, thanks for sharing.
Epic video dude!!!!
Thanks!
Beautiful
Thank you!!
When is the India series coming?
First will be Pakistan, that'll be 2 videos fist one dropping soon (any day now). Then after that will be India, I expect end Jan 25
Love this type of video, shorts are fun but this is epic. Thanks Ben!
Cheers mate! Yeah just have to dig to find motivation for the long ones sometimes 😂
Phenomenal adventuring, Ben. Love it. Surprised you aren't getting more views.
Thanks mate! I appreciate it!
Have been absolutely hanging out for this vid after all of the teasers and certainly didn't disappoint great as always
Thanks bro, appreciate it!
Best vid I've seen in weeks. Wat a ride!
Just wish for more footage of this adventure.
Thanks mate!! Yeah i have more but trying to find a balance of keeping it interesting 😅 there's more POV content in the shorts I made of it!
What a video!!!
Thanks Benjamin for keep Sharing all you amazing adventures!! 🤙🏼🤙🏼
What an incredible zone to fly, a bit scary, but you definitely should come fly at West Cost in Canada 🇨🇦, pretty similar views and a lot of trees too haha …
Great to see how decision in group help flying further, so far great video! did you ever get collapses? Haha would be nice a compilation of the most stressful turbulent moments for you overall haha..
Cheers mate and thanks for keep us entertained during winter haha 🤙🏼🤙🏼
Thanks mate! I’d love to fly in Canada! It’s on the list for sure!! No collapses on this trip, don’t get many to be honest. 😬
I'm about as 'beginner' as it gets in this sport (1 solo flight to my name), but god, this gives such a good insight in to the sorts of things that can be achieved in it. Not saying I'll ever reach something of this scale, but it sure is inspiring. The fact that it's combined with considered, thoughtful filmmaking too is really quite special. Thanks a lot!
Mate awesome! One solo flight is where it all begins! 🤘 Trust me, every pilot was a beginner once. The journey is half the fun, and you’ll surprise yourself with how far you can go. Have you set any goals for your next flights? Stoked the video gave you some inspiration! Keep chasing it!
What an awesome adventure! You were very lucky with the weather!
Yeah we were eh!! Was worth the drive in the end!
love these videos
Thank you! I'll be posting another one tomorrow, sorry its been a while 😅 but I'm super happy with this one
Awesome new Adventure, thanks for sharing the beautiful footage! 🥳
Thanks!! You’re welcome!!
Amazing ❤
Thanks mate!
I remember seeing some scenes of this flight in your reels. Ever since, I was hoping to see the whole flight.... And what a flight it was!
There you go! Thanks for waiting! 😁
Yeeees, finally the whole vid. Really loved the shorts!
Thanks for waiting!! 🙏
Awesome!
Cheers mate!
Amazing video as always Ben.What a beautiful place. Such a special place to fly.
Well done