Dean Eldridge is the author of Paramotoring – The Essential Guide, the new book from the Cross Country publishing team. Dean, or Deano, is always travelling, so we fired some questions at him between check-ins.
Dean Eldridge. Photo: Sophie Bolesworth
Deano, you have a new book out, Paramotoring – The Essential Guide. What makes it so essential?
Well it’s a pretty bold title but actually I think it’s because it encompasses just about every aspect of our sport, from technical help with equipment, to understanding flight and how to improve and continue to be safe up there in the big blue. Hopefully it’s all in there and will be helpful to a pilot throughout all his/her years of flying.
Who’s it for? New pilots? Old pilots? Bold pilots?
It’s aimed at giving something for everyone in the sport, from those just starting out, occasional pilots who need a bit of a refresher, seasoned pilots who wish to continue improving their skills and even something for those contemplating or currently involved in competition.
You’re well known in the PPG world but pilots coming into the sport might not know you. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? When did you start flying for example?
I started to paraglide way back in 1994 with Paul Farley up in Wales. The weather was not often favourable though so I took another course in Colorado in 1995 and continued on motor-less from then, until…
Until?
I ‘saw-the-light!’ in 2005. I did a swift conversion course and that was it, I was off flying at every opportunity. In fact I very often used a field near my folks in Hampshire at a place called Five-ways. It was soon nicknamed ‘Skive-ways’ as I was always there instead of at work!
Did you think straight away, “This is IT!” or did it take longer, coming from free flying?
My flying hours immediately went up ten-fold when I purchased the motor and I started flying in all the places I couldn’t with a paraglider. No contest, I was immediately hooked and still am.
You’ve been writing for Paramotor Magazine for several years, and now this book. Does writing come naturally to you? What do you like about it?
Wow, I suppose it has been several years now! Time is enjoyable when you’re flying yourself… did I get that right?! Actually I don’t think writing comes naturally, I’m not amazingly creative, but I do enjoy it when I have the time although I’m almost always on a tight deadline when my articles are due! I like it when an article starts flowing though and I think, through teaching various disciplines in the past, it’s possible to help people visualise things through words.
Paramotoring – The Essential Guide, by Dean Eldridge and friends
You’re one of the sport’s top instructors. What is it about teaching flying, rather than say, chasing records or competition flying, that you like?
With teaching you are quite often starting with someone completely new to the sport, it’s like an artist having a blank canvas. In a number of days you have given skills to someone that has then taken to the skies under their own efforts and consequently have a smile that is impossible to erase. You have helped create something very positive and that is good for the world.
Saying that, you’re a pretty good comp pilot and a world record holder. Can you give us a rundown of your achievements in the sport. Come on, don’t be shy…
OK, I’ve got a few trophies, we’d all like more but I’m going to be a half century next year so it’s not too bad for an old codger! The world record for speed over 15-25km doesn’t stand any more but if I had known then what I know now it might have been harder to beat.
I did it though on technically an old wing (Fusion 20) and to make it fast I strapped 25kgs of bullets (honestly!) to an already heavy, fully fuelled Parajet Cyclone motor. The whole thing weighed as much as me! I also didn’t take advantage of any meteorological conditions as folks do these days. Watch this space though, I’m not finished yet…
With the competitions I started out in the UK domestic, classic scene achieving ‘Best Newcomer’ at the first attempt and won the title a few years after (2012). I have been part of the British Team at the world championships twice and always start really well and then make silly mistakes for some reason.
I’m much better these days at slalom flying, being on the podium at Parabatix and Slalomania events and winning the Fly Games World Champs in Quebec also in 2012. There hasn’t been one since so that still makes me ‘Fly Games World Champion’ (if you’re creative with your words!).
Sky-Racing with the Parabatix team in Dubai
As an instructor, what are the top three pieces of advice you’d give a new pilot, or one coming into the sport from paragliding?
Find a good, recommended instructor, don’t buy equipment until you’ve had some motor experience and don’t try to fly before you can run…
And what advice would you give those experienced pilots out there who’ve seen and done it all?
Keep flying hard, but remember to land soft, that way round…
They say you never stop learning in this sport. What was the last thing you learnt and how did you learn it?
I still try to learn something from every flight. I get to try out lots of wings and motors during my travels and they all demand certain respect in different areas so I always try to learn to be as smooth as possible, on any equipment.
If there’s something like a stall/SAT/loop that I’d like to try on a certain wing I’ll free fly it in those situations first, a lot, before introducing the motor as well.
Turning back to this book, can you give us your elevator pitch for it? Tell us why we should read it in 25-seconds or less?
In addition to my words there are some excellent articles from other, well respected pilots whom I’ve had the pleasure of being acquainted with over the years and to top it off there are lots of high quality informational diagrams and photos in there too. Lots of hard work from many people around the world, a real global team effort!
And your Oscar’s acceptance speech… who would you like to thank?
Well actually those lovely people from Paramotor/Cross Country Magazine have to get the first mention for having the insight and belief that we could pull it all together! Thanks folks! Parajet have been very supportive of me for many years now and we are like one big family down at the factory, it’s a fantastic environment there.
Paramania boys have also been very helpful to this ‘old-boy’ when there are so many hot young pilots out there. And then there are all the hundreds of other pilots out there at all levels whom I’ve had the pleasure to meet over the years and who all share the same passion.
OK, thank you, that’s enough, give the microphone back. Actually, you are very happy with a microphone and camera aren’t you? You are globally famous in Brazil from making a travel series based on paramotoring. Tell us about that – what have you done, how did you get into it? Where can we see the films?
Haha!! Well, I think I’m actually better behind the camera than in front of it but, yes, there is a TV program in Brazil starring myself and documentary film maker Sylvester Campe, traveling and flying around all the most gorgeous places in the world. What a job!
We’ve actually just come back from Africa filming the third series and are already talking of locations in Spring 2015 for the fourth season. Sylvester is the brother-in-law of Parajet founder Gilo Cardozo. They met at the family wedding and after Gilo talked about paramotoring, Sylvester asked who he could learn to fly with. The rest, as they say…
Unfortunately, the series is destined only for Brazilian cable TV, but I’ve heard that every episode after being aired is on the Vimeo website and that I may have the passwords…
Is it true you were mobbed at an airport because you are such a TV star now? Or is that a wicked rumour?
That sounds like I’ve been accosted by a bunch of beach babes but in fact it was just some fat old bloke asking if I was ‘that flying chap?’
OK, we’ll leave you alone now. Many thanks for your time. What’s next on the horizon for you?
Thanks so much too, a real privilege. I’m working on some new projects at Parajet and will be off for some pylon racing at Parabatix Dubai on 25 November, whoohoo!! A bit of promo stuff to do in Brazil over the New Year and then it’s off filming again in February. Life is tough sometimes.
Well good luck with that. I look forward to seeing you up in the sky sometime soon.
Me too, cheers to everyone. Safe flights to all.
See a preview of Paramotoring – The Essential Guide
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